Hi everyone recently diagnosed with Merkel Cell Cancer due to tumor in right leg will undergo radiat

Miami, Florida
Thursday, January 08, 2009    2pm


Hi to everyone whom I considered a blessing for having this great
space to support one another in a difficult path
between many of us either patients, loved ones families and friends.
My name is Jose Lagos from Miami, Florida , I am a 44 years old Hispanic male born originally in Honduras , Central America.
Like many of us its like a 360 degree turn
as it all started when I saw a small bump in my right leg thigh last October 2008 I went to my primary doctor whom thought it was hernia and/or
lypoma a sort of fat tissue as since February of 2008 due to my overweight
back then 274 lbs with a height of 6 feet I enrolled in a nutrition club
not diet but its a cellular nutrition called Herbalife
and have lost about 40 pounds in 4 months and just when I was really taking care of myself and felt well no coffee, no smoking, and lots of
antioxidents and multivitamin whom would think this would surface but things happened for a reason.
I started to get spasms , crabs, and some pain
which i automedicated myself with hot tea and eaten
bananas it would go away and when they took my temperature
I was fine so when things worsen and the bump grew bigger
went to an emergency room for 3 days and noone
knew what it was to make matters worse.
First an xray which showed that it was not affecting my bones,
then an ultrasound then an MRI that reflected 2 months activity
and then biopsy after Thanksgiving then ortopedic
then the news that it seemed lymphoma but a week later
meeting with my oncologist he finally diagnosed me
last week with merkel a rare cancer
with a combination treatment of radiation and quimoterapy.
I asked if he needed to conduct surgery to take it out
the tumor and he said NO that with the radiation and treatment
it would and should meltdown.
They have done ct scans of bones, pelvis, abdomen , chest, and of soft tissue, to detect any metastasis and last Sunday an MRI of the brain
due to seldom headaches and last Tuesday a PET SCAN which the tech
said that there was immense and intense activity in the area as they love sugar as I had nothing to eat before the test in the morning.
Also I have been seen by the immunologist for the treatment
and finally next Tuesday I have an appointment with the radiation tech
whom will analize my results to start radiation and this is
were I would kindly apreciate any feedback of your experience
with radiation.
As far as side effects like for example loss of hair, apetite,
what can and recommend based on your personal experiences
which really would help many of us undergoing this.
Has anyone had similar tumor and treatment?
I agree that more funding should be allocated for research
as there is not many and we should contact our members of Congress.
Any thing I can help please let me know.
all of you many an inspiration!
God bless you all!
Jose L