Latest After Treatment discussions http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/after-treatment/1,0,120.htm Fri, 16 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT Fri, 16 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ I was on Tarceva for two years.  I took it after my chemo treatments were over.. I lost my hair after the chemo and it was growing in, then I went on Tarceva.  Did anyone else have slow hair growth while they were on Tarceva??  It has been 6 months since I have been on the drug, and my hair is just really growing now.  I am just wondering if anyone else has had the same problem?? Feeling great, Life is Good, Keeping busy Vette   http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,23964,0.htm Vette Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hi All,Did anyone have superficial thrombosis after chemotherapy?  That is blood clots in a "superficial" vein, which I guess means it is not a major vein. About 10 days after CHOP + Rituxan chemotherapy in the arm in which I had received the chemo, fom the wrist to the biceps was swollen, red, warm to the touch and sensitive. Ultrasound led to the diagnosis of superficial thrombosis. The oncologist was quite cool about it and told me to apply hot water compresses several times a day. That helped somewhat. But a month after the treatment I have areas on my wrist and forearm which are red, swollen and sensitive.  Would like to learn anyone's experienceThanks, Irv http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,23830,0.htm Butyl Wed, 07 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hello everybody. I have been searching online for some place where i can find experience and encouragement for this sometimes i don't feel like sharing with my family becaue i have to be the strong one even if i'm the baby in the family.My father has Stage 3 advance stomach cancer they removed 15 cancer tumors but there is more that they couldn't remove he will start treatment in 3 weeks he has respond very well to the operation (he is 71) but the hardest part hasn't come yet.We have no tell him how his treatment will be becasue he gets so nervous and we need him to be relax so it can help him.our issue right now is that he is a permanent resident for 4 years and he needs 1 more year to qualify for help with the treatment and we dont know where to go. He doesnt have insurance and we don't know where to look for help. The hospital right now is helping us but once he gets out they won't be available to help. What it gets me angry is that the public service lady told us because he came in with his SSN and he is a legal alien they couldn't help him with free treatment .So because we are trying to do the right thing how we are  suppose to thinking we will getting more help we are being punish and people who has plenty money and LIE about their names and legal stats go to the hospital for a simple pain in the nail and they get free.I'm sorry i didnt mean to mix the issues here but it is really upseting.Anyway since I got this out of my chest. I will keep updates about him and I will be glad to received any kind of support or help with this Thanks http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,23817,0.htm Lourdes05 Wed, 07 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT My wife was diagnosed with Stage Ib NSCLC lung cancer three days after Thanksgiving, 2007.  She had successful Thoracic surgery on January 16, 2008 where they removed her lower right lobe.The Oncologist mapped out a strategy that included Chemotherapy over a 13 week period,  On march 29, 2008, she received her certificate for successfully completing her program. Question?  Accepting the notion that everyone is unique, what are the transitional "signs" to prepare for?  Granted, it takes time to "recover,"but why am I feeling so bad, says Jane. Sharing wisdom will be appreciated.ADH  http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,23719,0.htm Janie07 Sat, 03 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT It's hard enough being single - but then to have cancer really too?   Discuss the issues of how to create a support system,  sexuality and companionship.  Cancer Survivor Singles Yahoo Discussion Grouphttp://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Cancer_Survivor_Singles C is for Cancer - Online dating for survivors!http://www.cisforcupid.com San Francisco Bay Area - Cancer Survivor Singles Meet-Up Group http://cancer.meetup.com/34/ Join Us! http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,23637,0.htm Sharon in San Francisco Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT Am trying to find out if vaginal bleeding is okay after having a leep procedure done a month ago.  I have only had intercourse once & that was 2 weeks after the procedure & ok according to my doctor.  I also had a follow up appt. 2 weeks after & was told the bleeding at that time was normal.  I also exercise regularly 3 times a week & am 53 years old & haven't had a period in several years.  Today the bleeding was somewhat heavy & contained some clots.  Is it normal for me to still be bleeding a month after the leep procedure was done??????  My doctor seems to be evasive on this which concerns me. http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,23552,0.htm stormimama1 Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hi all - I've started a blog www.aftercancernowwhat.wordpress.com for all of us that are trying to deal with where we are now. Please come by and take a look. http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,23214,0.htm Katbur Sat, 19 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT My mom's breast cancer is now in her spine and she just finished radiation treatments.  She has tumors on her neck and the radiation burned her throat severely.  She is still having difficulty swallowing and losing weight which will interfere with chemo.  I read one time about aloe vera gel or oil that could be swallowed to help heal the throat.  Any suggestions?  Nene H  http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,23119,0.htm NeneH Wed, 16 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT Could someone tell me how long neuropathy after chemo therapy in my legs and feet lasts? http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,22769,0.htm Girly Mon, 07 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT I have been off chemo now for 1 month.I'm still experiencing side eefects. The one that bothers me most is my nails. They are lifting off the nail bed and where they have lifted the nail is white, looks like fungus but its not.What can i do? I will be returning to work and i use my hands  with the public.When i called my doctors office they say its from the chemo (taxotere) and its a normal reaction.This is very embrassing and i was wondering what i can do to make them better.Grannydiva   http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,22479,0.htm grannydiva Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT My dad has lived w/ non small cell lung cancer for 5 years (he's 83), but the last round of chemo ended up being too much for him, and he's now been in hospice at home for the past 3 weeks with supplemental 24/7 nursing assistant care. His condition has quickly deteriorated, and even though he's in hospice, I still stay in touch with his oncologist. When I described the symptoms, he feels that Dad is suffering from paraneoplastic syndrome, which is pretty rare. What I've read online says that this syndrome more often appears before tumors are detected, not during late stage cancer, such as my Dad. A patient in hospice can't accept active medical treatment, but I'm not reading conclusively if paraneoplastic syndrome is actually treatable (as opposed to being managed), and at Dad's advanced age and stage of cancer, is it even feasible to pull him out of hospice to undergo treatment? If he stays in hospice, does he eventually succumb to the eventual shutting down of his physical capabilities? Has anyone else found themselves in this situation?Thanks,Mary  http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,22342,0.htm DaughterCaregiver Wed, 26 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT Has anyone been on Aromasin, etc. for 5 years and finished the treatment?Did the side effects go away permanently like the joint and muscle pain or were you left with any effects of the treatment. http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,21387,0.htm Lizanne1 Wed, 27 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT My mother is 61 and had a double mastectomy in September 2006. She completed her chemo in March 2007. She has been doing fairly well and in October of 2007 she had reconstruction surgery which was successful. She was recently diagnosed with diabetes and her levels have not been good, but not above 170. For the past 3 weeks, she has had a high fever, followed by a rash that appears only on the left side of torso and partly on the back. She's taken benadryl and it clears up. Then it occurs again, same scenerio. This is the third time that it has happened. She has been to her family doctor, and to the plastic surgeon who did the reconstruction. They are perplexed. She is taking Femara, Mobic, and Actos. Any ideas? http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,21385,0.htm concerned15 Wed, 27 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hi all, this is the first time that I have actually posted here – coming from the UK it is not a site that I'd come across before. Brief history, three years on from SCC of the right tonsil – treated with right side dissection followed by 35 radiotherapy treatments.  In my own case everything went well for about two years – I can speak clearly (despite my Welsh accent), eat most things reasonably well and have only limited problems in swallowing. Where I have had issues is dealing with the after effects of the cancer surgery and radiotherapy. The surgery itself was fine medically – took me a while to get used to looking different and the radiotherapy went well – physically healed well with minimal scarring and bearable discomfort. The psycological after effects of the cancer experience took hold about a year after the treatment had ended - resulting in PTSD and subsequently depression which has caused havoc with both my work life and personal life. I have ended up on antidepressants (Elavil ) which have helped but do have some unfortunate side effects. The real issue I have now is with motivation, I work in for a large international company and my own performance over the last year has been poor but I have received little understanding from anyone other than my immediate family and to be fair the medical profession in the UK who have been as helpful as they are reasonably able to be. On top of all of this my mother is recieving treatment for breast cancer and this has brought back all of the troublesome emotions/anxieties and fears. Any comments/help would be greatly received. http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,21345,0.htm Beader1304 Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT My radiation ended Nov. 30th, my chemo a month before.  During chemo it was nothing for me go gain 12 lbs of fluid the day after treatment and then loose about 9 of it before the next treatment.  I am allergic to Benedryl so I had to take extra doses of Decadron the night before treatment as well as an IV during treatment.  After chemo was finished the fluid retention was up and down.  In Nov. I began radiation.  My ankles began to swell again but this time was accompanied with intense itching.  At first burning, stinging and then itching.  (This itching was the same as twice during chemo treatments  but was very short lived.)  This time however, it was unbelievable itching.  There wasn't any red in the area that itched but inside of the area it itched like itching powder under the skin.  I could also feel the fluid build up in the area that itched.  About a week later the calves were holding extra fluid and itching too.  Lasix did not help, support stockings did not help and may have caused the inital reaction as I am allergic to latex.  Testing showed no Hepatitis & Thyroid normal.    Many nights I was up scratching and soaking in the tub with Aveeno.  I ended up at a Derm. He gave me some topical cream.  I returned to him one more time.  This time he gave me Clobetasol Propionate and said he had never seen anything like this.  I next went to an Allergist.  She took me off Claritan and put me on Allegra and prescription Pepcid.Both the Derm. and Allergist said they believed the rash was from the radiation.  The chemo nurses explained to me that chemo messes around with your immune system and allergies and what you WEREN'T allergic to before treatment you might be allergic to now and what you WERE allergic to before you might not be now.  The Derm. and Allergist explained that radiation can rash you out anywhere on your body while you receive treatment somewhere else on your body.  Radiation compromises your immune system as well.    If anyone out there is familiar with what I have shared here, please write back.  The doctor said to give it 3-6 months and the fluid should adjust.  I am still holding fluid and my weight goes up and down.  Thank you.             http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,20616,0.htm Survivor07 Mon, 04 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT we were lucky to find this cancer but by the time i got in to the doctor it had gone from pre cancer cells to stage 2 we think we got it all but the wound will not heal i am not to sit on the area i did not the stitches broke open went back to the doctor and was told that one we could let it heal on its own it was surface and looked like it was a different form then what it turned out to be the wound is from the rectum to include a large area in the crack of the ass i hate to say that as it is in a bad way sleeping in a bed can not get out with out sitting up can not sit have been sleeping on the couch there are not stitches now and he say we can go back in and re operate or we can let nature heal it it is like bleeding more then ever and more than when i first came home what would you recommend i am looking at chairs beds you name it but something that i can not sit down on name on please Thank you notbroken      http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,20373,0.htm notbroken Sun, 27 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT My mom was treated for SCLC (chemo & radiation) followed by prophylactic radiation to the brain. She was starting to get her stamina back 6 months later, starting to get her hair back, but then her hair stopped growing, she was increasingly fatigued, she stayed cold even in the summer, and last she complained of having bags under her eyes. There was concern that she may have a cancerous tumor in her esophagus, plus she has a pleural effusion that remains from the original cancer. So, everyone and every doctor assumed her symptoms were related to the past and/or present cancer. It wasn't until we took her to the hospital with an intestinal ileus (bowels stopped working) that one of her doctors looked for an underlying cause other than cancer. While one was looking for mets, he was checking her thyroid function - ZERO thyroid function. This causes all of the symptoms including the ileus. He started her on thryoid replacement, her bowels regained function and over time the other symptoms will improve as well. He explained that while they try to protect this area, it is often damaged and that over time the function continues to lessen until there isn't any...fitting perfectly with her recent increase in symptoms.  It is painful to know that we could have prevented the pain and this recent hospitalization, that she could have felt much better and perhaps be without her wig by now had we known to ask for this or had her physicians monitored it for her as a standard of care. I hope this helps someone else. http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,19885,0.htm Blessed2 Sat, 19 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hi everyone,I am glad to find out all this sharing.  I have Leeps done on 4th Jan.,08 and my last menstruation was on 8th Dec.  My doctor told me that I might bleed for 1-2 weeks together with my menstruation.  The bleeding increased on the 7th Jan, then reduced on 11th Jan, however, it increased again on 16th and yesterday (18th Jan) it suddenly increased crazily and 2 bloody lumps of size 3 inches deliver out from my body... and now the bleeding reduces.  I don't feel any pain so far, but tiring.  I don't know if there is anything I can do before my report comes out 4 wks later. If any of you experience on it, feel free to share or comment it.Thanks,Cathy http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,19880,0.htm vccathy Sat, 19 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT I have been on Aromasin for 4weeks and after taking it my body tingles all day has anyone experienced this http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,19669,0.htm june63 Sat, 12 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT I have been scanning this web site and others since May 2007 when my father was diagnosed with stage 5 inoperable stomach cancer.  I knew he did not have long to live but no-one seemed to be able to tell me what it would be like for him when he eventually would die.  My father died on 12th of December.I feel at the moment I am suffering from post traumatic stress syndrome.He got his final report on the 5th of November that the chemo had not worked and it had actually spread quiet aggressively into his liver.  I feel that a man of 71 years at this stage in his cancer should never have been offered chemo. Hindsight is a great thing .  We were grasping at straws that maybe just maybe he would be the statistic that would beat the odds stacked so highly against him.Once I realised things were not going well for him, I started to search for what it would be like for him when he died.  I could not find the info.  So I am going to share with anyone what happened to his body.  He suffered greatly initially from what we thought was rhuematic pains in his legs - this was nerve damage from the chemo..  He stopped sleeping and would only nap for a few minutes at a time - he was exhausted night and day this was stress and anxiety.  His appetite stopped and he had dramatic weight loss however he seemed to get heavier   this was because his liver had stopped processing proteins so water was being leeched from his cells.  His feet began to swell which quickly extended up his legs to just below his knees. He took on a bloated appearence .  He became incredibly heavy to lift and move around. His face, neck,shoulders and eyes became yellow due to the jaundice .  He could not sit for more than a few minutes without wanting to move around . His arms were constantly moving around and he constantly needed to know what time it was- this apparently is what is called terminal restlessness. Dad died eventually heavily sedated and peacefully- I was glad it was over and he was certainly ready to go as he told me many times.I am sorry if i have distressed anyone by writing this but I would have wanted to read this and I can only pray they find a cure for this horrible illness. http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,19008,0.htm owenrory146 Wed, 19 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT It seems like I might finally have an answer to the problems  I have been experiencing since my radiation therapy.  I went to my family doctor yesterday and she has referred me to a gastroenterologist for possible radiation proctitis.  Has anyone had this?  Do you know what the testing and treaments are like?  Are they usually successful in curing the problem?   I feel so frustrated b/c it just seems like one thing after another and I can't just get better.  My cancer is in remission though, so that is great news.  I worry that this rectal bleeding is colon cancer (metastatic) rather than proctitis...HELP! http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,18560,0.htm Adoyle Sun, 02 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT Hi, I am 33 years old and have two kids. I had Endometeral,and cervical cancer diagnosed in March 2006, I had 12 blood transfusions a full hysterectomy and removal of nerves to my bladder. I had to be opened back up to fix a bleeder after wards. Then in June 2006 I was diagnosed with invacive ductal breast cancer. In July I had a bilateral mestomy and sentenal lymphnode disetion. I had stage 2 breast canceer. I had reconstruction at the same time. Then in Augest I had a port a calf put in. In september I started chemo tharopy. Adromyson and cytoxan, fallowed by taxol. I losted my hair. I shake so I no longer drive, my menapause is horable, if I get too hot the room spins and I get a realy bad headache. I am on femara now for hormonal therapy. I am tired all the time and wake up 30-40 times at night due to the hotflashes. If I keep the house under 60* I don't get sick. I suffer from depression to and am on effexor xr 75 mg. I tried to baby sit and slept rather than watch the kids. If I do too much my hole body hurts. My question is I can't get a job, because I've had cancer, and I can't get disabilty. Is there anything I can do? I have a family to take care of. My husband was fired from his good paying job and is only working for min. wage. So, I need to work.   http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,18541,0.htm jacki33 Sat, 01 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT I'm 67 years old, had my pnacreas, gall bladder, spleen, over 1/2 my stomach, and part of my upper intenstine removed in July 2007.  I was placed on a diet of 60 carbs 3 times a day and 30 carbs twice a day, with a goal of 2200 calories a day.  With very little stomach and only 60 carbs (e.g., 8 oz of milk, bowl of quaker oats, and a piece of sugar free toast is 60 carbs) at each meal there is no chance of maintaining my weight (178) on hospital release.  Additionally, I have to take enzymes (5 before every meal, 3 before the two snacks) 30 minutes before meals and insulin (novolog) before each meal/snack based on a sliding scale of blood glucose and carb totals to be eaten.  My problems at weight lose (I now weigh 154 and falling) and very erractic blood glucose.  For no apparent reason my glucose level can change as much as 200 to 250 points up or down in an hour.  The worse case is when it went from 118 at 7 p.m. to 396 at 9 p.m. to 37 at 6 a.m.  While these are the extremes, the least bit of exercise will drive my blood glucose below 70 and I have to take tablets and sugar liquids to keep from getting confused and passing out.  I also take Lantus at night for long-term (12 hours) glucose maintenance levels based on the blood glucose reading at bedtime.If anyone has found a solution to either or both issues please let me know.  I am active outdoors, but not to the point of being fanatical.  ThanksRick http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,18036,0.htm Rgmmgr Fri, 16 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT hi i am mom and my two year old son have some breating and swelling problem its long story so i strat with begining , my son was six month old and up to six month he was very healty and no problem and one day he was seek and on same day i want india and in filght his health going more and more worst and he had a lot of fever and i reached india and i want direct hospital and then he was serious over their he got bad infection and in his throut he got feringal absebs and his throut was swelling from outside and then doctor did all test and all test report came nagative means he had very low wbc in his blood, and his kidney was not working whole body was full by water and he was going puffy and puffy and his lever was not proper place and his heart rate was going high and high , his blood pressure was not in contral, blood pressure was high and some time low and heart rate also some time high and high and some time go low and low its was very hard situation it was challange for doctor also and just me and my whole family pray god and they give lots of high antibiatic and for kidney doctor give lesix and for heat reat they gave adrina and lots of other medicine and on that time my son was on vantilater for five days and doctor gave lots of blood and there is no blood in his body so doctor give blood and other yellow things i dont rememer the name and then slowly slowly his situation comes in control and after one week we shaw that some liquid comes from his ear, doctor try to treat but it was not success and than after three weeks he was ok and on that time doctor put ngtube for feeding and one day he pull out ngtube and doctor and nursh try to put back but it was hard than in india doctor did swello study and found that its hard for my sun to swellow , doctor can not find any thing beacuse in india there is not high technology so they don't have camera so doctor cloud not found what's problem in my son throut but in india dr put feeding tube on my son tummy like gtube,but india also lot of sectrition came from my son mouth and we have to do lot's of suction from his mouth and every time we did dip suctions then when my son was stable i came in usa with my son and we live in chicago in il and we came ohar airport at april 2006 and direct we want in luthern general hospital in park ridge in il, and then in hopsital they did all study and test and dr david walner is my son ent doctor and dr walnar did broncoscopy and they found its swelling in throut and dr told me when my son grove on that time swelling will go away and esofugus will open, on that time also lots of suction i have to do and lots of sectrition came but after one month dr walnar did another broncoscopy in may-17-2006 on that day on broncoscopy time dr found my son had hard time to breath and in immergency dr had to put trach in my son throut then he was ok to breat and than after every six month dr did broncoscopy and every time dr told me its same swelling nothing improvement, and for second opinon we want children memorial hospital chicago down town and the dr name is dr holinger he was also very good dr and he did also broncoscopy and he told same thing in my son throut too much swelling and once under anathesia give and when my son sleep then everything in throut is calps and below throut dr can not see any thing same dr walnar and dr holinger same thing told me both but when my son was wakeup and on that time dr put scope through my son nose on that time dr can see every thing good dr told me when my son is awake on that time its looks good but under anathesia dr can not look any thing so dr also confuse right now dr did my son throut mri,ct scan and dr walnar did some biaopcy and biaopcy report says only inflamation in throutright now my son have gtube and trach and his progress is going very good and he is trying to speak some words and he understad every thing and he know three language he know sign language and english and out native language and he is very smart main important thing is my son is eating by mouth like thick food like thick liqid and pure and juice and drinking water and milk and supplement food we give through gtube rightnow and another important thing is we put PMV on trach whole day and no problem in breating only nap time we put humidity nose on his trach and all other time we put PMV so we feel that he is breating by his natural nose and when we put our hand near his nose we feel some air comes out side and speach therapy is coming my house two time a week and we give our lots of time to my son so he get better fastand other thing three weeks ago dr did my son ct scan and ct scan report came and dr told me in ct scan like radiologist talked with dr and and dr told me in my son throut there is scar tissue and some scar tissue in my son tongue also back of the tongue and dr told me he can not do any thing for that scar tissue , dr told me if he remove that scar tissue than its risk to going tobe a more scar tissue so dr told me just let him grove and in future he will thing some thing but right now nothing can doso any one know any mediciine or any treatment for that scar tissue i am always thing for my son and i want my son get better fast and i want he eat regular food as fast as possible and i want my son breat by his natural nose 100 % if any one have any solutions for this problem please email me or call me but please saw me some way so my and my son life going nicemy email address is --Message edited by CancerCompass staff. For personal protection, email address removed. Consider private reply. Please review CancerCompass Member Guidelines at http://www.cancercompass.com/common/guidelines.html-- thank you    http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,17966,0.htm prakruti Wed, 14 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT My husband was diagnosed with multiple myeloma almost 7 years ago.  He has had 2 stem cell transplants from siblings, and although the cancer came back, the graft versus host disease has put the cancer into remission.  However, whether due to the treatment, medicines, or who- knows-what, he has a lot of skin problems.  The main problem is not the skin cancers which have developed and been dealt with, but something that has baffled the dermatologists.  His scalp will get very mottled and red, and is extremely painful for long periods of time. It is bad when putting your head on a pillow makes it feel like needles are sticking in it. The pain is sometimes sharp, sometimes throbbing, and other times burning.  His scalp also gets very scaley sometimes.  Nothing provides relieft, and the pain is bad enough to be debilitating.   Does anyone have experience with this problem or know of a doctor that specializes in unusual skin problems resulting from cancer treatments, or possibly from the graft versus host disease? http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,17916,0.htm Patty Ann Mon, 12 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT