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• May 4, 2010 2:35 a.m.

  Thanks for all of your supportive posts for each other. It looks as if many of you are discussing additional side effects from treatment. I will plan a future blog posting on peripheral neuropathy. This is a common side effect of chemotherapy, which can be long lasting and challenging to deal with.

  - Sheryl

• May 4, 2010 2:29 a.m.

  This post is in response to Louise. Your mom's treatment plan including lasix (which is a diuretic) is to help relieve the fluid around her heart. This will help improve her heart and lung function. She might have had a little shortness of breath, which can happen when fluid forms around the heart. I hope that this gives her some relief.

  - Sheryl

• May 3, 2010 10:50 p.m.

  I had squamous cell tongue cancer in 1998, had a radical neck dissection and reconstruction of my tongue, followed by 30 radiation treatments that left me with little or no saliva function. I had to learn to eat all over again - stay away from all acidic foods, spicy foods, anything extremely sweet, even apple juice was a problem for awhile. But I got better after a uear or so, and returned to work, teaching music. In 2008, I was shocked to find a tumour growing in my mouth, and had another radical neck dissection and reconstruction of my tongue and part of my left lower jaw. Of course, radiation was not an option this time - I've already had as much radiation as a human body can manage. So the surgery was it, and they have been following up with me very carefully since then. I've had several biopsies of "suspicious tissues", but so far, no cancer. Thankfully ! I am again back to teaching, but my speech is not optimal; I have trouble with certain sounds , partly because of the tongue reconstruction, and partly because of teeth that I have lost since the riginal radiation (extractions). I've found a product that really helps my dry mouth, especially at night. It is called Biotene Dry Mouth Liquid. You just squirt it into your mouth, and the dryness is relieved for a period of time. You don't have to spit it out, you eventually swallow it. Hopefully someone else will be helped by this product! The company also makes a mouthwash and a toothpaste that really help

  - Marilynn

• May 3, 2010 2:56 p.m.

  My 84 y/o mother was diagnosed w/Hodgken's Lymphoma over a year ago. Within in the last 2 months, she has lost 40 lbs, has various symptoms, but the one symptom that scares me is fluid around her heart. Could you tell me why the doctors would give her lasix for this? Thank you so much....

  - Louise

• May 3, 2010 1:38 p.m.

  I had stage 2 rectal cancer and took Xeloda and radiation treatments combined for about 6 weeks. The skin on my hands, feet was very tender and quite a bit of it shed. Toenails were also affected. The nurses at the clinic where I was getting treatment suggested a balm/ointment that is prevalent in rural / dairy productions areas. It is in a square green tin. I put it on twice / day wore rubber gloves at night and as much as possible during daytime; and used plastic food wrap on soles of feet to keep the ointment on then socks over the wrap. It really helped to save what skin there was left. It's been about 10 months since last chemo/radiation; 8 months since 1st surgery to remove most of rectum and portion of lower colon; 4 months since ostomy take down / reconnection surgery. It has been hard going at times. Fatigue hangs on a while longer I guess; what's left of my colon is still trying to figure out how to handle its new role. BUT I am alive. I am not a patient person and it's been a struggle some days. Sex life has virtually been turned off since abdominal surgery. Some say it might come back to life someday. I will be 60 on my next birthday - so hope to see my 12 year old daughter grow up and travel with wife at retirement time. I'm going to give it everything I've got to get there!

  - Bruce

• May 1, 2010 11:08 p.m.

  I HAD PROSTATE CANCER 14 YRS AGO,TOOK OUT PROSTATE AND DID RADATION.IT HAS NOW BEEN ABOUT 14 YR.NOW I HAVE LUNG BONE AND LIVER CANCER,SAID PROSTATE DIDNOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT.SEX LIFE WENT ON WITH A PUMP,THAT WORKED OUTWELL.ENJOY YOUR LIFE SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE READY TO LIVE AGAIN.

  - clay

• May 1, 2010 10:59 p.m.

  I HAVE LUNG BONE,LIVER,CANCER,THEY ARE TRYING THE NEW DRUG ADVASTIN,THEY CALL THIS IS A STAGE 5,DOES ANYBODY KNOW ANY THING ABOUT THE THE SARAH CANNON RESEARCH, OR ADVASTIN

  - kenneth

• May 1, 2010 11:21 a.m.

  I have invasive lobular breast cancer, had mascetomy in September 2009, finished chemo treatments in April 2010, should start radiation in May 10, 2010 daily for 6 weeks, then hormone treatment for 5 years..I don't read much about this type of cancer on blogs..I am seriously thinking of declining radiation..is anyone out there with this type? I have read the survival rate is low past 5 years after diagnosis..any comments?

  - Huberta

• April 30, 2010 9:22 p.m.

  Being a survivor means, never giving up, always hopeful, having an attitude to persevere, determined to win the fight and being an encourager to others on the journey. It also means showing your family your will to survive, encouraging them as they stand beside you, and never letting them see you without hope and determination!

  - Donna

• April 30, 2010 3:25 p.m.

  In response to Carolyn's question regarding Medicare covering dental problems caused by chemo, the answer is no they do not. I have had head and neck cancer three times and the last time the radiation caused me to get 7 crowns. My dental insurance covered the first $1,500 (equal to 1 1/2 crown) and I had to pay for the rest. I also had Blue Cross as my secondary insurance and Tricare as my third. None of these would pay anything.

  - Donna

• April 30, 2010 10:47 a.m.

  Since having 2 types of chemotherapy for 2 types of cancer in the past six years, I have lost 4 teeth. I was advised that Medicare does not recognize dental problems due to cancer or chemotherapy treatment; therefore, both Medicare and my personal insurance company will not pay even though I have a dental rider. Please respond. Thank you.

  - Carolyn

• April 30, 2010 3:11 a.m.

  OOPS! I meant I take 1800mg of gabepentin a day, not 18. Big difference!!!!!

  - Carol

• April 30, 2010 3:09 a.m.

  I'd like to hear from anyone who is experiencing peripheral neuropathy in the feet and fingers as a result of chemotherapy. I do not have any pain so I am lucky. I take 18 mg of gabepentin, 600 lipoic acid, and a 250 mg resveratrol but the PN is still with me. I have been getting accupuncture but it really hasn't helped. Any suggestions?

  - Carol

• April 29, 2010 3:59 p.m.

  I am stage 2 rectal cancer survivor who has recently completed on all my cancer treatments. One comment I would like to share, use Neulasta shots only if it is really indicated. My blood counts held up well through out my 6 months of chemo without Neulasta shots. Also, I use honey now which I think is helpful.

  - Phil

• April 27, 2010 12:06 p.m.

  was diagnosed with lung and bladder cancer in late 07. thought that was the end of my life, was almost 58 yrs. old, to me it was the end. wasn't hysterical or anything. only said ok. then op for bladder, total mess at uni hospital, then lung in december, complete success according to surgeon, cracks me up. guy forgot a piece. we have 2010 now, i'm still kicking and working. found better treatment. how much longer i don't know, but feeling fairly well

  - irene

• April 21, 2010 6:49 a.m.

  Maria, i have had neuropathy for about a year. As much as possible I keep shoes and socks off of my feet. The constant irratation on the skin makes it worse. I also sleep with my feet out of the covers. Twice a day soak them in ice water for 10-15 minutes. My hands I just put up with. Needing help with buttons and dropping stuff is just a new way of life. They rarely hurt or burn so it's ok. Hope this helps your feet some.

  - Jon

• April 21, 2010 6:24 a.m.

  Kristi, I have the same small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma, very aggressive. My primary sight was my stomach. I had heartburn for a couple of months before I had it checked by an upper GI. Found the tumor right away. Because of the cancer characteristics it was treated as small cell lung cancer. The tumor is gone, nothing left but some scar tissue. The cancer has moved into some lymph nodes and I am doing chemo for that. I wish your Mother the best.

  - Jon

• April 17, 2010 10:00 p.m.

  Hello everyone, I just found this blog & I love the way everybody is so encouraging & helpful! My mother was very recently diagnosed with High Grade (small cell) Neuroendocrine Carcinoma it has metastisized tothe liver. We have not found the primary source yet but hope to next week. She has had an colonoscopy, enoscopy, MRI's, CT scans so hopefully we'll get "some" answers next week. So far nothingin her colon which is where the cancer "typically" starts...whats left of the colon, almost 1 yr ago she had"Toxic Megacolon" & had to have most it removed but at the time they said they didnt find any cancer there, but its just suspicious, & now she just happens to have this show up in her liver in the last 3 months! This is all driving me nuts...I'm trying to find out everything possible but this is the most confusing cancer. Usually it is "slow growing" but hers is "small cell" so this is fast growing, ofcourse! This is pretty rare but I was just wondering if someone has any insight about this? I'm really frustrated because I cant really get any questions answered & on the internet its so "general". If anyone has any advice or ANYTHING, I would be very greatful! Trying to arm myself with knowledge to help my best friend, the deepest part of my heart besides my children......My Mother! Thanks for anything!!

  - Kristi

• April 17, 2010 7:43 a.m.

  This is a response to Pamala and others who are dealing with irritation to the mucous membranes of the mouth area during and after cancer treatment. She asked about a soothing mouth rinse or other stratgies to help with this problem. Chemocare has a great overview of ideas on how to manage these side effects at http://www.chemocare.com/managing/mouth_sores_due_to_chemotherapy.asp The mouth rinse you might be referring to may contain Chlorhexidine gluconate (Peridex®, PerioGard®). Hope this is helpful to you and others.

  - Sheryl

• April 17, 2010 7:33 a.m.

  Maria, thanks for your post and positive comments about the blog. I will work on a future blog discussion on peripheral neuropathy soon. It is a side effect from cancer treatment that many cancer survivors experience. It is really wonderful to have this connection with each other around the world. Thanks for your suggestion on the topic.

  - Sheryl

• April 16, 2010 1:05 p.m.

  Dear Ms. Ness: I just learned about you helpful blog from your free "Living with Cancer" newsletter. I live in Cuba and consider myself a breast cancer survivor, although I was diagnosed in March 2009, was operated on in June and finished my chemo and radiation in Dec. 2009. Of course now I appreciate life and my family and friends a lot more. I'll continue reading your blog regularly. But would appreciate counsel about how to deal with peripheral neuropathy in my hands and feet. Thanks for caring for all of us.

  - María

• April 15, 2010 2:07 p.m.

  I have been fighting metastisized breast cancer for almost 3 years. The Dr tells me that every case is different. But, I want you to know that the mammogram showed nothing, an ultrasound scan showed nothing - so it was metastisized before the primary site was every found.

  - Aileen

• April 15, 2010 10:01 a.m.

  I do have a question for you! I have AML Leukemia, but was diagnosed with "Sweet's Syndrome" a year prior to first having the MDS Leukemia...always with sores around my eye area & orally. I had my first Oncology group provide me samples of a small white bottle of a liquid to swish around my mouth & throat & spit out that was most helpful...I think it began with an "F", but since they were drug rep. samples, it was never in my chart! I have been given that "Magic mouthwash" that makes me sick to my stomach & does not last / work as effectively as the clear fluid that numbed all my mouth & throat sores...any idea what it may have been? I want to say it was called something like "Floracett", but I have been told there is no such thing! I did get it from "Florida Cancer Specialists" on the Gulf Coast of FL., my husband was relocated to the Miami FL. area & no one has heard of it here! It had a long-acting numbing effect & did help speed up the healing of my mouth & throat sores...they will write an RX for it here, if I can only find out the name of it & as I said, am quite certain it began with an "F"! Thank you & God Bless you for your wonderful blog:)

  - Pamala

• April 11, 2010 2:52 a.m.

  Hello, not really sure how to start, new at this. When I was 25 I was diagnosed with cervicle cancer. I was really lucky, after a hystorectomy they caught the cancer soon enough that it had not gone through the uterian walls, no chemo was needed.. Then 25 yrs later I was diagnosed with large cell cancer in my top right lobe of my lungs. They removed the lobe. And again it had not spread into lymph glands. That was in 2006. Since then I have had other problems. A postive ana test. Also pheriphel neuropathy, and I show no signs of diabetis. They said it looked like I had the signs of lupus, and now fibromyalgia. I am scared, it is like I feel down inside that it may be something else. When I talk with my doctors they tell me just take my medications. Can having cancer cause these other conditions? I have lost my parents and sister to cancer. I asked questions like will the lung cancer come back, the comment was oh susan go live your life. How do you deal with not knowing?

  - Susan

• April 1, 2010 5:53 p.m.

  My worst experience with the aftereffects of chemo was when I dehydrated and was unable to recover. A side effect necessitated a different treatment drug and I was given a generic valium to combat nausea. It put me to sleep and my husband was unable to get me to eat or drink anything. I was very, very sick. We called the doctor and I went to the chemo suite where they gave me an IV and an anti-nausea med. In 1-1/2 hours, I felt completely better, and was able to enjoy my sister's visit completely. I ate non-stop all the next day. If you aren't feeling better, schedule an IV the day after chemo. What a difference!

  - Judy