Latest Cancer Treatments discussions http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/cancer-treatments/1,0,129.htm Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ Hi, my dad was diagnosed with rectal cancer and mets to the liver in Feb 08.  They started him on Xeloda and Oxilaplatin which we thought was working.  His CEA started at 1400 and got down to 158.  On his 6th treatment he had a reaction to Oxilaplatin and his CEA started going back up.  At that same time they found mets in the bones.  His Oncologist said even though his CEA went way down the tumors didn't shrink very much.  He is wanting to put him on irinotecan and erbitux.  I asked about the HAI pump and he recommended trying hepatic artery emobilization if he is a candidate.  We found out today that because his liver tumors are very large that he may not be a candidate.  His oncologist also said he's not sure if there is anything he can do for him.  We have contacted MD Anderson but it will take at least a month and a half to get in there.  I feel helpless and just wondered if anyone has any suggestions on treatment centers that we could get into quickly.  I just don't want to accept that there is nothing they can do for him.  Thanks for your help! katief  http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,26389,0.htm katief Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT I have now been doing chemotherapy with Avastin weekly.I had the best scan ever..75% reduced cancer cells in my lung and chest area lymph...no spreading Yea! Being on medicare it is all paid for thank goodness.So far I havehad virtually no side effects. I am now going on a trip and the doctor said it could be a long one.He is giving me a two week infusion of avastin before I leave.Question: has anyone suffered bad effects when taking a double dose of avastin.?? Another thing that I just found out is that in another country I will have to pay $6140 for a two week supply of avastin!!! I guess that cuts my vacation plans short since I would not pay such an outrageous amount of money. Aren't we fortunate,(at least those with insurance that covers!) to be among the few people in the entire world who have access to medicines with insane pricetags like this?????      http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,26265,0.htm Jane M Sun, 20 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT Has anyone used this form of chemo before;any pros& cons would be helpful!!  Being used as a last resortOf treatment..    http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,26254,0.htm Sonmae57 Sat, 19 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hello,My mother has IIIB Lung cancer.Someone mentioned a cancer vaccine Stimuvax.Has anybody heard of this vaccine or does anybody have experience using it? What are the side-effects?  http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,26248,0.htm GingerK Sat, 19 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hi,This may be your next top story?  I was diagnosed with Stage IVB Head and neck cancer less than a year ago.  Western Medical Science pretty much wrote me off with less than a year to live.  I started treatment with Salvadore Vargas MD/oncologist in Mexico last Sept. 20, and concluded less than 10 weeks later, Dec. !..........I have now been declared cancer free by Western Medical Science, and all without any damage and relatively easy treatment which included some of "our" standard treatment........chemo, radiation and 5 hours surgery.To hear and see my complete story, go to my web site www.robscancerjourney.com ?  There a short video which is pretty amazing.  I'm now speaking to groups and individuals accross the country.Blessings,Rob   http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,26208,0.htm julie777 Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT My brother is fighting colon cancer and is looking into alternative approaches as the surgeries, chemos, and two Stage 1 clinical trials have left him very ill.  He has the cancer in his lymph nodes, abdomen, liver, and rectum.  Does anyone know about the Whittaker Wellness Center in Newport Beach, CA?  Can supplements/nutrition be purchased from them?  Can Vit. C IV's been given on an outpatient basis?  Thank you http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,25996,0.htm ChrisHB Sun, 13 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT My brother is fighting colon cancer and is looking into alternative approaches as the surgeries, chemos, and two Stage 1 clinical trials have left him very ill.  He has the cancer in his lymph nodes, abdomen, liver, and rectum.  Does anyone know about the Whittaker Wellness Center in Newport Beach, CA?  Can supplements/nutrition be purchased from them?  Can Vit. C IV's been given on an outpatient basis?  Thank you http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,25994,0.htm ChrisHB Sun, 13 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT My brother Mark asked his oncologist for a referral and has an appointment with a dietician on Tuesday.  He has been fighting colon cancer for almost four years and it is now in his lymph nodes, abdomen, liver, and rectum.  He has had  surgeries and chemos.  The latest clinical trial (Stage I) nearly killed him.  He is now taking a break to recuperate and regain his strength.  He spoke with his oncologist and decided it was time to go on disability from work, stop chemo, and any tests he doesn't want to do. Rest and try to enjoy life. He has seen an Immunologist and is still thinking about the program presented at that clinic which includes massage thereapy, Vit. C and supplement IV, nutrition/supplements, and infrared therapy.  This is at a cost of $5,900 per week for a 4 week regime. ($26,000 total) While he is thinking about this he has decided to see the dietician.  Here are some questions I'm thinking to ask the dietician:For his particular colon cancer: Is there a protocol or recommendation for immunotherapy and detoxification?What foods and supplements can help him build his immune system and strengthen his cancer fighting cells?Are there foods and supplements to help shrink the tumors? Are there other recommended therapies such as massage or infrared?If  any of the supplements, IV, or therapies are not available through the dietician and his medical plan/insurance, but are thought to be possibly helpful.....are there any    Naturopathic Doctors, Nutritionists, or other alternative health clinics  in his area (understanding that he wiould have to pay for it out of pocket)?  I think my brother would prefer someplace that is more on an outpatient basis than the almost inpatient M-F all day regime of the Immunologist's clinic which I described above. Can anyone else think of questions for the dietician that I have not addressed?  Thank you for any advice you may have.  http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,25983,0.htm ChrisHB Sat, 12 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT My mother has stage 3 lung cancer and the doctor said she has only 3 months to live.  They said there is nothing more we can do for her because half of her lungs is collapsed the other has plenty of tumors and the doctor said the cancer has spread almost all over the body.  It will spread to the nearby internal organs like the heart and the liver and from there she will soon die.Hearing this news I did not give up.  I look for alternative medicines until I found this H-200 Navigator Herbal Miracle Cure.  I cannot say the my mother has fully healed.  But in comparison to what she was suffering before it was tremendously different.  Before she needs to nebulize 4 to 5 times a day because of nonstop coughing and she cannot last 4 hours without the use of the oxygen.  She was continuously having fluids in her lungs and this is making everything difficult for her.  Until I tried using this herbal drink for her.  After one month of continuously using this herbal she is no longer using the nebulizer nor the oxygen machine.  She has survived and it is almost 2 years now.  She is still in pain from time to time but her body and aura is looking great.  I am still hopeful this will help her be cured.  I do not want to mislead anyone but I just want to share with you because life is precious and we can do something most of the time we just need to seek.   http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,25952,0.htm mnavigator Sat, 12 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hi everyone! I am just wondering if anyone has anyone been treated with these two drug types. My dad has a carcinoma which was partially removed from his appendix and bowel (it is very rare to have this tumour type beginning from the appendix) 18 months ago. Initially he was treated with folfox on its own. This had no affect and treatment was changed to folfurse (sp?) and avastin. He had six months on this treatment. However the tumour markers are increasing once more and is now facing into six more months of chemo ( Cetuximab/Folfox). Really we are facing the unknown and I am wondering about the success rate of these drugs and has anyone else been in a similar situation?Thank you so much! http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,25884,0.htm ruby-81 Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT   My wife was diagnosed with Peritoneal cancer, that originated in her colon in October 07 and was told that there was no hope. She was given 18-36 months to live.  We found out about IPHC and after six months of chemo, she received IPHC and we are now being told that she has a 65% chance that the cancer will not come back..ever!  You can visit Michelle's CaringBridge site at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/michellelanham  I'm telling anyone who will listen because everyone deserves a fighting chance.Google "IPHC Dr. Levine" http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,25848,0.htm Larryv2.0 Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hi,  I start on nexavar soon, i have stage 4 rcc, my third time with rcc, been on sutent since jan 08, sutent stopped working so doctor wants me to try nexavar.  Thanks for any information any one can give.  Thanks, Lee http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,25827,0.htm Lee G. Tue, 08 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hello,My mom was diagnosed with colon cancer in March 2008, she had surgery for it, and later metastized to her liver, which she also had surgery.  She received chemo both times.  She has had acute pains in the lower side of her abdomen for some time now, and ends up in the ER.  This has happened almost on a monthly basis...morphine does not take the pain away.  The only thing that seems to help is Dilotted (if that is how it is spelled) and Percocet.  Doctors have run series of tests, and the same tests every time she has ended up in the ER:  blood test, x-rays, CT scan, and PET scan - they find nothing.  Her CEA level has been rising up to 24.  Due to that, doctors suspect the disease is returning, and decided to give her chemo, once again.  They are giving her Oxyplatinum in the hospital, and send her home with Xeloda chemo pills for 14 days.  Every three weeks she goes back to the hospital and starts the 14 day pills.  Interestingly, her CEA level went down 4 points, right before she started chemo, while for months, it kept going up and up...The oxyplatinum was induced for a 2nd time on 7/3/08, but, about 15 minutes into it, my mom started to turn purple, she began to say she could not breath, her body started shaking off her seat, got a real sharp pain in her lower back, and a strong pressure in the back, bottom part of her head.  Nurses rushed to give her oxygen and mesure her blood pressure, which marked at 290!!!  Nurses said they have never had a patient have such severe reaction to chemo medicine.  They sent her to the ER, and there they gave her Benadryl and some meds to help her ease the pain...I am very scared that this happened.  My mom also had open heart surgery (stenosis of the aortic valve) between both cancer surgeries and I fear this may have affected her.   Also, the side effects she got after her first oxyplatinum treatment was that her entire body was shaking all the way home, and then some, two of her fingers would get stuck together, as if a magnet was held between them, and had difficulty separating them. My mom has no health insurance, and is attending a public hospital.  I would like to find another source or second opinion, but, not sure how, under her circumstances. ~~ Can anyone relate to anything above and/or have any information/suggestions? ~~ Kind regards, ~Maritza http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,25799,0.htm tatie0308 Mon, 07 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT First, I would like to thank all who have replied to my post about my brother, Mark.  Mark has been battling colon cancer for nearly four years.  He has had surgeries and chemo treatments, yet the cancer is now in his abdomen, liver, lymph nodes, and we believe a tumor in his rectum is pressing on his kidney.  He was on the third week of a Stage I clinical trial, which is as I understand it is just after animal studies,  through USC and became terribly sick.  He was vomitting continously, slurring speech, falling down.  He went back to USC and they had him rehydrated.  The docotr told him that he had gone longer than any other person on this treatment.  He wanted Mark to have an MRI of his brain and ultra sound of his kidney, and then to finish the fourth week of the treatment.  Feeling that the USC doctor would continue him on it for the sake of the study and not for Mark's good, Mark returned to his original oncologist.  She talked with him about all he'd been through and where he is now and it was decided that now was the time for him to step back, stop the chemo, stop the tests, and take time for disability from work. He didn't have to do anything he did not want to do.  Mark has an appointment with an immunologist named Frereshteh Akbarpour MD in Huntington Beach,CA.  A few months ago, I had emailed Patrick Quillen, author of the book "Beating Cancer with Nutrition". He replied with a recommendation of going to her for another opinion. Part of her approach is the alternative of Vitamin C and supplements to detoxify and build up the immune system. We hope that even if Mark can not beat the cancer, at least he could regain some of what he lost from the chemo , and feel better. Any thoughts? http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,25749,0.htm ChrisHB Sat, 05 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT My son has IV Lung Cancer, but it was not found until he developed a lymph node.  Now, after two treatments, the node is swelling more than ever.  Does this mean the treatment is not working?Needless to say, it's July 4th weekend, and I'm very upset. http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,25728,0.htm valjean Fri, 04 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT My friend will be undergoing radiation therapy for head and neck cancer.  She will also be receiving chemotherapy at the same time.  She is fearful of the mask she will need to wear during radiation and if she vomits during the treatment, she could suffocate.  Has anyone had experience with both these treatments at the same time.   All advice is welcome http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,25644,0.htm arlene33334 Wed, 02 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT My 29 year old daughter is due to have RAI treatment for thyroid cancer in a few weeks. Her thyroid and some lymph nodes were removed on June 9/08. She has an 11 month old baby who is just beginning to walk. We would love to hear from others who have dealt with this treatment while being mothers of young children. Is it necessary for the baby and his dad to leave the house? If so, for how long? (Our understanding is 8-10 days). She is fortunate to have an au pair who can help with the baby, but will it be safe enough if my daughter just stays in her bedroom the whole time and keeps away from the baby and the rest of the household?If my daughter will be hypothyroid prior and during the treatment, will she be able to take care of herself, or will she be so weak that she would need assistance in the bathroom? I am planning to go out there to help (do cooking, laundry, etc.), but am concerned about monitoring her condition following the treatment should she have any adverse effects. Does anyone know if there are cancer rehab facilities in the Philadelphia, PA area that would take her in for at least the first few days? Apparently the hospital will not let her stay there. Many thanks for any suggestions you can make on this. The doctors seem to make light of this post treatment care, but to laypersons just facing it, it is scary.Sincerely,Rise Tucker http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,25606,0.htm larimi Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT I was just given Efudex cream for a spot on my nose. Everything was fine until day 6 when I started getting a strange taste in my mouth. Later the taste subsided.  That evening when I put the cream on my nose again, within 1/2 hour the taste came back strong, and I became light headed, and a strange sensation in my stomach. I immediately washed the cream off, and started doing research. I found out about Dpd enzyme defeciency. I'm not sure if this is my case, but it sounds like Im having this kind of allergic reaction to the cream. The next morning, I felt better, with some of the side affects still there. My question now is, Will this toxic cream naturally leave my body? and How has it affected my body? Will I die from this reaction? What do I do?Thanks for any response. http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,25590,0.htm cancunmic Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT My father-inlaw has ampullary cancer. He had the Whipple Operation done in Dec 2007 with no complications from the surgery itself. In late Jan 2008 he started with his radiation treatment. He did well and looked good, better than he has looked in a long time. In early April 2008 the Dr's put a port in him to start his chemo treatment. A couple of days later he broke out with merca (unsure of the spelling) infection. It took everything out of him and we did not think he would live through it. They hospitalized him and put him on antibiotic and took out the port. After 1 week in the hospital, they sent him home. He still was very weak and a couple of days later they put in a pick. Several days later he was near death, again with an outbreak of this merca infection. They took the pick out and treated him with antibiotic in the hospital for about 1 week (again). 3 days after getting out of the hospital, the dr's put another pick in him, he went 2 weeks (2 chemo treatments, 1 each week) for chemo the 3 rd week he was so weak from dehydration from not eating or drinking and also from the infection (again). This is the 3rd time with this merca infection. He went into the hospital this past Thursday, they took out the pick and treating him with antibiotic and fluids for the dehydration. His white & red & hemogloblin blood counts are real low. Today they gave 2 blood transfusions and gave a CT scan. We have noticed that when he talks he talks like he had a stroke. He has had a stroke before, a couple of years ago. Also in May the Dr's told my father-inlaw that his cancer has spread to his lungs and they gave him a year to live. It's hard to talk with the Dr's being availbale to gets some answers, it just seems like things are getting bad pretty quick. I was just looking for someone that has experienced some of the same things that can share any insight on all of this. I would just like to find out if we're closer to the end than the Dr's originally thought. Today when I was in to see him, he just didn't look good at all. Thanks In advance for any thoughts that you can share with me. http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,25572,0.htm vroland Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT Has anyone ever heard of this besides what's on the internet?  Ever tried it or know anyone who has?  Any success stories?? http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,25569,0.htm vjh68 Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT I need help for my brother, if sombody have NEXAVAR 200MG, pls. let me know.THANKS Enilda http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,25557,0.htm Enilda Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hello, just wondering how long you have to wait before you can have unprotected sex after chemotherapy?  Thanks http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,25524,0.htm Brown21 Sun, 29 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT My father in law  has pancreatic cancer stage 4. It is in both lungs, bone and kidney. He has already been through Gem. Chemo. The Dr suggests he use xeloda and floxatin. He is 75 years old. Has anyone seen any miracles with these drugs. I do not want to see him suffer any more than he is now. I know also the worst is yet to come. For the first year, the Gem. worked great, but is not working anymore. He tried Tarceva but was not able to tolerate it. He was diagonosed December 2006. If anyone out there has any suggestions, please let me know . Thank you. Susan  http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,25470,0.htm helphermann Fri, 27 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT Has anyone heard from the 20 year old twins whos mum was in last stages. They were having hard time dealing with this. http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,25468,0.htm ladybrat Fri, 27 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT My mother's MM has progressed, and its time to change treatment.  The Doctor originally decided to go to revlimid and dex, now thinks velcade and dex... however Dex really did a number on my mom last time.  She had the shakes, was weaker, and more importantly it really made her depressed and a bit psychotic.  For quality of life, it seems transplant is a horrible, but near term, trade off to make to hopefully have years of no drugs.  She's only 59, so probably healthy enough to get through transplant, but just wanted to hear from others' experiences... caregivers and patients. Would love to hear thoughts, Erica  http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,25438,0.htm ericainbrooklyn Thu, 26 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT