Cancer

Free

E-Newsletters

Subscribe to receive the latest updates on health topics. About our newsletters

• Housecall
• Alzheimer's caregiving
• Living with cancer

• November 9, 2010 2:12 p.m.

  My significant other had colon cancer, gangrene, it spread to his liver. He did chemo in june made him sick and he quit, After 4 months, the cea was going back up and dr suggested another type of intrveneous plus 2 weeks pills and raised them to 6 a day, he is completely exhausted, and now feet, lips and hands are hurting him, feels like walking on gravel, etc, Dr said keep moisterized with lotion, any other suggestions?

  - Gwen

• October 12, 2010 8:12 p.m.

  This is to Linda who had such a severe reaction to taxotere, given to her as part of her chemo. I have a dear friend who just like you has had severe reactions to the taxotere she was given. Her doctors keep saying they have never seen this type of reaction. My response to that is just how many cancer patients have you treated and how many times have you used this drug??? In my research all of these side effects are clearly listed. She has been in the hospital for several weeks now because she has fluid build up in her feet, legs, lungs, and it was around her heart. They used a chest tube and got it drained from around her heart. She still has tubes in each lung draining. Although I feel badly that you have been through so much, it is encouraging to me that you survived. There have been times she has been so ill from this drug I was afraid we would surely lose her. It is frightening to me that so many doctors don't seem to have a handle on this drug, yet they use it in such high doses. Are any of your side effects permanent?

  - Judy

• October 9, 2010 9:25 p.m.

  My mistake at the end of my comment. I believe that doctors suggest treatment to patients- for patients need hope, however it's about making money! Is there someone out there that can tell us the truth, I know it is a crap shoot, only god knows when the time has come. I would like to have a true response. I have lost and watched two other family members disssolve right before my eyes, they too took the doctors word about getting better and to continue with Chemo...............it's so hard to TRUST the doctors.

  - Denise

• October 9, 2010 8:33 p.m.

  My husband was just diagnosed with Adenocarcinoma of the lung. This is stage four and it has traveled to his brain. The tests show three spots on the brain for which the doctors have said that he needs 14 sessions of radiation and then weeks later will do chemotherapy. Can anyone of the readers provide any other information or input on this, such as life expectancy? We were told 3mths without chemo and maybe a year. My husband has been smokingand drinking beer for 40 years, with weighing 130 at 5'10 and I am concerned if his body can endure the treatments and if indeed they will help. I feel that the doctor is not a straight shooter, due to the fact that there is no money involved with a cure.

  - Denise

• October 6, 2010 1:14 p.m.

  This is to ROSE, who's husband abandoned her emotionally, financially and is now requesting a divorce. I'm so sorry that you have to deal with this on top of what you are going through. I don't have the words. Focus on YOU right now. And getting yourself better. That's the most important thing. Rally your friends and family and lean on them for support. Believe me, they will be more than willing to help you out. Let them! That's what they are there for. Although you don't want to hear this now-and believe me I know how you feel in this instance-you will grow stronger and you will get better if you believe it. One day you will look back on this and tell yourself he did you favor. If he wasn't willing to stand by you and support you, then he's not a man. And he's certainly not someone you need in your life right now. You need positive people. And positive thoughts. You have to ask yourself one question: if you didn't have cancer, would he have asked for a divorce anyway? Or is he using this as an excuse? I sincerely wish nothing but the best for you and pray that you will be better soon. Please take care of yourself and focus only on the positive!! It makes a huge difference. Trisch

  - Trisch

• September 30, 2010 10:18 p.m.

  For me, "cancer survivor" means that I survived the colon resection which removed the Stage 3 tumor and a good many lymph nodes, and that now I probably should do the chemo to improve my chances of survival, but I had complications from the surgery that included incision infection, and gallbladder attacks, which delayed ,y recovery and subsequent chemo treatments. So now I have to have gallbladder removal surgery and THEN chemo after I recover from that...In the meantime, I am a congenital heart patient with pulmonary hypertension and this complicates everything from being put under general anesthesia, to which chemo to do, to if I even do chemo, and on & on & on....Thanks for Listening, Don N. in Savannah

  - Don

• September 30, 2010 3:10 p.m.

  My husband was diagnosed with Male Breast Cancer Stage IV with mets to the bone in January 2002. He had chemo, a mastectomy and radiation in 2002. He has been permanently disabled ever since. He has neuropathy in his legs. I definitely believe in chemo brain. Since chemo his short term memory is gone, he forgets how to get places and his basic understanding of simple things is gone. He takes 32 pills a day for pain, etc. I feel he is living on borrowed time because when he was diagnosed they never thought he would live this long. At times, it's hard for both of us. But, I am thankful he is still here fighting to live. Anyone else, out there with Male breast Cancer?

  - Linda

• September 30, 2010 3:08 p.m.

  My husband was diagnosed with Male Breast Cancer Stage IV with mets to the bone in January 2002. He had chemo, a mastectomy and radiation in 2002. He has been permanently disabled ever since. He has neuropathy in his legs. I definitely believe in chemo brain. Since chemo his short term memory is gone, he forgets how to get places and his basic understanding of simple things is gone. He takes 32 pills a day for pain, etc. I feel he is living on borrowed time because when he was diagnosed they never thought he would live this long. At times, it's hard for both of us. But, I am thankful he is still here fighting to live. Anyone else, out there with Male breast Cancer?

  - Linda

• September 28, 2010 3:38 p.m.

  Lee, It sounds like your physician is recommending active surveillance, where periodic prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests and biopsies are used to check to see if the cancer is growing. If there is a sudden rise in PSA levels or a biopsy reveals an increased grade or aggressiveness of the cancer, your physician may decide to pursue another treatment option. Active surveillance may be particularly appropriate if your prostate cancer is very small and not very aggressive (low grade). The most important issue is that you are being monitored on a regular basis. If you feel that you would like a 2nd opinion, it is always good to ask. It is best to be comfortable with the decision and understand all of your options. For more information on Prostate Cancer and treatment, see also our Prostate Cancer Guide on mayoclinic.com at- http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/prostate-cancer/PC99999

  - Sheryl

• September 22, 2010 9:43 a.m.

  My recent diagnosis of prostate cancer (microscopic) after the prostate biopsy was expected due to a high (8.78) PSA test as I am 74 years old. Then after a bone & C-scan that were both negative, my urologist advised me not to be unduly concerned and return in 6 months for another PSA and DRE. I simply worry about the cancer being there as I am extremely healthy in all other aspects and very active as well. He did not go into much detail and referred me to several medical publications and the internet for detailed information. Should I seek a 2nd opinion or change my current lifestyle in any manner?

  - Lee

• September 21, 2010 10:19 p.m.

  I was diagnoised with medullary thyroid cancer april 2009. Had my thyroid removed. I still deal with depression and worry over the fact it is considered a rare cancer. Im so tired of hearing rare. to me it just means they don't know about it. I know that chemo doesn't affect it or radiation doesn't effect it. So I just wonder when is it going to come back. Thats whats hard to live with. Then worrying about having no insurance, so if anything more serious happens I don't know what I would do.

  - Sara

• September 18, 2010 10:14 p.m.

  Hello, I am a graduate student at Central Michigan University. For my thesis I am conducting a research study titled 'Developing headwear for women with chemotherapy-induced hair loss'. The purpose of the study is to understand headwear related needs of women experiencing chemotherapy related hair loss and use the results as design criteria for developing better headwear for them. For this purpose, input from the ultimate users is critical. I have created a web-based anonymous survey about headwear at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HeadwearForHairLoss to gather some feedback on the issue from real users. I have also created a blog dedicated to this study where women are invited to share their comments on headwear related topics. The blog can be reached at http://headwearhairloss.blogspot.com. I am hopeful that my study will make a contribution towards improving the quality of life of women touched by cancer and cancer related hair loss. Please take a few minutes to complete the short survey and visit the blog to share your opinions. Thank you so much!

  - Armine

• September 16, 2010 9:50 p.m.

  I have an unusual story, or so I have been told. I had successful mastectomies for my breast cancer. After the first one, I started chemo and had an adverse reaction to Taxotere, one of 3 drugs I had taken. It nearly killed me and I spent 53 days in the hosital. I had blood clots, heart problems, etc. Also my entire immune sys tem was wiped out. This was in 2008. Today I am cander free but still dealing with recuperation from the reaction. Does anyone have a similar story?

  - linda

• September 16, 2010 1:48 p.m.

  When I was diagnosed, my husband abandoned me emotionally and financially. I just received word he wants a divorce. HOW do I deal with this.

  - Rose

• September 15, 2010 10:14 a.m.

  My 93 year old father has just been diagnosed with colon cancer. The doctors feel it has spread into the lymph nodes already. Surgery and normal cancer treatments don't seem logical at his age ... I feel helpless and angry that he has to suffer through this terrible disease rather than just dying in his sleep. He is a good man ... how can we keep him comfortable as I know his pain will only be getting worse?

  - Gigi

• September 12, 2010 7:26 a.m.

  This post is for Lana. It is so hard to understand at times, why a cancer does not respond to treatment. Pancreatic cancer is a very aggressive cancer that many times, does not respond well to chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. Stage 2 pancreatic cancer indicates that while the tumor may have been just a single tumor, some cells may have been detected outside of the pancreas (possibly in the lymph system). Chemotherapy and Radiation does not make the cancer spread, it is just that his cancer was probably more aggressive in this case. For more information on pancreatic cancer, see this link on Mayoclinic.com http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pancreatic-cancer/DS00357 and also this link http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pancreatic-cancer-treatment/AN01505

  - Sheryl

• September 11, 2010 9:22 a.m.

  I had prostate cancer surgery in Sept. 1999. My Gleason was #8. I had radiation treatment in 2005. Since then my PSA has been undetectable.

  - alan

• September 10, 2010 1:20 p.m.

  has anyone out there know someone that the chemo and radiation made the cancer spread ? my husband died from pancreatic cancer he started with a single stage 2 tumor and a month after tratment it was stage 4 and had spread to other organs. I REALLY NEED HELP TO UNDERSTAND THIS.

  - lana

• September 8, 2010 1:41 p.m.

  I was diagnosed with colon cancer at age 43. I have undergone chemo, radiation and surgery and am now have trouble with painful intercourse with some bleeding. I am three months out from colon resection. Is this normal and what can I do to help alleviate the pain and get back to a normal intimate life.

  - Trish

• September 2, 2010 5:07 p.m.

  Judy, I have had chemo for lymphoma since Dec. 2009. What meant most to me was my best friend, who lives several states away, has sent me cards, letters, and pictures at least once a week since I was diagnosed. Letters detailing what she and her grown children are doing is so much better than just writing about me. At the beginning, I got cards, flowers, food from church members and neighbors. But Mary Lou's faithfullness in doing at least 1 thing a week was special. Books with short stories and short devotions, crackers or favorite homemade snacks, and my main necessity- warm, soft clothes-sweats-were what I needed most during the infusions. Infusion rooms are usually terribly cold. I live in GA and even when it is 100 degrees outside, I wear sweats during the infusions. Sitting for long periods during the infusions gets incredibly boring. A blanket or quilt is a must have. Looking through boxes of old family pictures and travel momentoes was something I enjoyed. Maybe puzzle books or even a pretty notebook and pen for recording thoughts or even list making. Some patients take pillows. My kindle sure was nice to have. Also, it was a good time to give myself a good manicure. A small box with items for doing this is an idea. I hope I have given you at least 1 idea you can use. I hope the treatments don't bother your sister. I never got sick. The worse part was sitting all day..sometimes for 8 hours.

  - Rita

• September 2, 2010 2:52 p.m.

  I would like to see a post about prostate cancer surviving.

  - Hely

• August 28, 2010 3:44 p.m.

  This post is for Trisch. It sounds like you and your family have been through so much. You are doing well to stay informed and in touch with what is going on with your father. It sounds like at this point you have Hospice involved, which is so important at this stage of his disease. The focus should be on quality of life and comfort. Spend time with him talking, reminiscing and just being with each other. Find ways to honor him and remember special days or times that he has had in his life. Talk with the Hospice nurse to find out what the plan is for if and when he has pain or discomfort. I know that this cannot be easy; especially when it is your dad. My thoughts are with you and your family. I would like to plan a future discussion on Hospice and end-of-life care to help others talk about this very important topic.

  - Sheryl

• August 27, 2010 2:59 p.m.

  To my friends of cancer, I had written a few months ago regarding my father who was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer back in November of 09 and gave me your honest opinions and thoughts, which were all so very helpful for my mother and I. I wanted to ask for your thoughts on this-we were told right along that the cancer would spread to my dad's brain and then it would spread from there-this was all to help us prepare for what was to come. We were just informed two weeks ago that the cancer has spread downward instead of up to his brain and is now in his stomach, and quite possibly his colon, given his symptoms and other everyday problems he's having. I still feel it's in his brain due to the headaches he has, mood swings and tiredness but the MRI doesn't show it. Hospice feels it could be anywhere from 3 weeks to 2 months before it claims his life. He's 75, has asbestosis and COPD on top of the lung cancer. I would really like to know YOUR thoughts/feelings on this. This horrible disease has wiped out most of his family and left the rest of us behind brokenhearted only to relive it over again when someone else is diagnosed with it.

  - Trisch

• August 19, 2010 9:54 p.m.

  Hi fellow cancer fighters. I am trying to stay positive as I go thru my fourth battle with this nasty disease in 8 years. After numerous surgeries including a colostomy and urostomy I find this time is harder. Probably because I know it's not going away. Most days I am thankful for every minute of life. On others it's hard not to be just angry. Any suggestions for staying positive or books I would be grateful. I am keeping all those fighting and surviving cancer in my prayers

  - Karen

• August 19, 2010 7:42 p.m.

  Being a multiple myeloma cancer survivor who is cancer-free since June means that I am thankful and grateful for my Mayo team of doctors and nurses, my family and friends, and that prayers lifted me to wellness and spiritual strength. I have become a pioneer exploring this extended life that has been given me and I am praying that I use my time well not only for myself, but for others. It means that my cancer can return at any time, but I must be vigilant in taking prescribed medication to fight it's return. It's remembering those I never met who died or lived through clinical trials to make my "stringent complete response" a possibility. As a cancer survivor, I am forever connected to those who share in the challenges of needles, chemotherapy, radiation, and fear. Mostly, it means that I am a stronger person with a healthier body that has the opportunity to live with greater responsibility. I am thankful.

  - Marcia