On 5/9/2008
lland wrote:
HI everyone,
I wanted to see if anyone has had the same experience as what my Dad is going through.
He was diagnosed with esophageal cancer with mets to the liver (4 tumors on the liver) in October 2007. He went through chemo for 5 months, but it didnt work at all so he decided to get off of this poisin, it was doing way more harm than good. He recently (two months ago) started Vit. C infusions, apricot seeds, and many herbal supplements. Prior to a few days ago, he was getting HIGH fevers, nausia, and was always tired. Three days ago, after he finished his vitamin C infusion, he all of a sudden had an extreemly LOW body temprature, (34 degrees c.) which is sooo ODD because he usually has a HIGH fever, he began feeling VERY restless, his stomach and ankles began to swell, and because of this, he can't sleep. He didnt sleep for 2 nights, and had very light naps in the daytime, but mostly is just walking around from room to room day and night. He can never get comfortable in one spot because his ascites is bothering him. His doctor said it's not bad enough to get drained yet.
I want to know what to expect. I always had hope that he could get better, but at this point, it does seem impossible to come back from this. I just dont know what all of this means. Because his temprature went from being a high fever, to being abnormally LOW, does that mean his liver is getting better? But then does the ascites mean the cancer in his liver is getting worse? His nausea is gone, so what does that mean? What is the restlessness about? Also, it seems like his speech is kinda slurred but maybe that's from lack of sleep. I just dont want to have false hope here. Does anyone know if this sounds like my Dad is taking a turn for the WORSE or the BETTER? My Dads doctor is useless, he just doesnt care or know what to tell him. So I am turning to anyone who has any ideas or have gone through any wierd changes or things like this.
Hi, I can relate to what you are describing. I spent two years in Bangkok Thailand with my son Mark who was treated in the cancer center at Bumrumgrad Hospital. He received radiation and old cancer drugs..nothing new and the esophageal tumor which was huge was radiated away and the liver tumors which are numerous were shrank some. For two years during treatment and some afterwards, Mark had poor appetite, nausea and vomiting, tired, extreme cold and shivering at times and hot at others,loss of feeling in feet and hands and was pretty sick. people tried to talk him into Thai natural medicine (lots of herbal supplements) which would mean giving up all care by modern cancer doctors or talk him in to cancer diets or seaweed cures or rare tea leaves that they were selling but he stuck with radiation and chemo for two years and the doctor changed up the drugs some when he thought one wasn't working or was causing too much damage. Mark is three years out from his diagnosis and has spent most of the last year without chemo and for six months he has been on the beach in Thailand. I don't know, but I think your dad is having some symptoms related to the recent chemo drugs he has.symptoms similar to what Mark had. Chemo is hell on the body but there is no proof that herbal supplements cure cancer. My opinion is that the body can only use so much vit. C and there is no proof as far as I know that apricot pits work to deal with cancer, My advice would be to get a consultation from another oncologist to see if anything else can be done for your dad.You can read about my son's experience by googling the next adventure. It should turn up. I hope things get better. Miss betty the mom