Wellness

[JackieHN]

Wonderul news Lannie about your son's tests and yours. Sorry about your tooth though. They'll sort it out. Take yor probiotics so you don't get a yeast infection. Let's hae a cyber drink to good health, your renewed energy and pray about your sorry tooth.

My girlfriend is doing well although she's acting like the walking wounded. She says her breast hurts. I said and it will hurt for the rest of your life so get used to it. This was an OR nurse. I dread radiation with her. She goes to her followup this week with the surgeon. Then all of her other appointments will be organized with the medical oncologist and radiation oncologist.

I had some bad news today. A friend from Australia passed away. He had pancreatic cancer but that didn't kill him. That was in remission. He had a stroke. Long medical history of diabetes and hypertension. Wonderful old guy. We were pen pals.

Shopping tomorrow. Do you know a case of water weighs about 30 lbs as per the grocery clerk. Wouldn't you know Poland springs is on sale tomorrow so I hae to drag it home in my shopping cart. Husband thinks it's too macho to push a trolley!!

Jxx

[AkaGoldie]

Lannie, I'm glad your son is doing as well as he is, yes I know all about chemo in the abdomen. I was prescribed 12 doses, so two , should be a walk in the park! No it won't be easy he will probably have some side effects, but it won't last too long with two treatments. Are they installing a port into his abdomen? Silly question I guess, I don't know how else they'd do it. But in my case I think it definitely extended my life. The dr explained that the chemo crosses the cell walls more effectively when it is administered directly on the cancer . Try not to worry , he will be able to tolerate it, and it will kill any stray cells floating around. A big hello to everyone else! Goldie

[Lyn08]

I'm just sick waiting to hear from my cousin regarding his MRI. I tried calling after dinner, and there was no answer, but I left a phone message to call me. I know he said he had an Optimist meeting after his appointment with the oncologist. I'm hoping and praying he had somewhat good news, and that he'll call me tomorrow.

I did call his sister on Saturday. He hasn't told her anything about the spot on his liver. The last thing she said to me was that he has been doing so well, and it will be 2 years in July or August since he was diagnosed. She didn't think she'd be able to handle it if the cancer spread. I just said we need to keep praying for him. I didn't say a word that I had talked with him about his tests.

I'm praying for all of you, and I hope you will continue to pray for my cousin.

[Lyn08]

My cousin called me this morning to give me the results of his MRI. He said he had good news and bad news; what did I want to hear first? I said, "bad news", as I wanted to get that over first. The oncologist told him that the tumor in his esophagus was slightly larger (this is the second time his scans have showed the tumor increasing slightly in size). The oncologist feels that the chemo he is on now might not be working well any longer. That chemo is similar to what is given people who have breast cancer. She also said that there are not enough studies on his type of cancer (esophageal), so they are not sure what treatments work best.

However, the good news was that the MRI did not show any spread of the cancer. The scan had shown what looked like a spot on his liver, but the MRI didn't show anything.

Now, they have to decide treatment options. His doctor said sometimes chemo will work for awhile and then stop working. They may try a different type of chemo. Remember me telling you that he was initially only given a year to live with chemo, and it will be two years in August.

He has such a good attitude. He almost died when he was 21 years old, and he almost died years later (not from cancer). He isn't afraid, and wants to live every day the best that he can.

[sueokie]

6-18

I am new to this board as far as posting goes but I have been reading the posts ever since I was found to have bladder tumors several years ago.

Has anyone else on this board had any experience with bladder tumors ?

[wagirl]

Lyn---glad of your cousins good news--bad news is the pits. My friend in AZ has squamous cell carcinoma that is near the area where his tonsil would be and is now undergoing chemo using cisplatin as well as radiation at the same time. He'll have 3 rounds of chemo 3 weeks apart and then 33 days of rads. He had surgery to remove the tumor and no nodes were involved. Has had a rough time with healing as it is like getting tonsils out and that is 100x worse than having them out as a kid. He is 65 and the dr have given him a great prognosis. What type of chemo did your cousin have? Please tell him we're all rooting for him!!!!

[wagirl]

Hi sue! Don't know about the type of tumors you have but hopefully there will be someone here who can help. Stick around someone will be able to help even if it is support and sympathy. We are good at that!

[sueokie]

Thanks wagirl. I know that each of you have gone through many rough issues and are doing really well. I had the bladder tumors removed in 2011. I went for my 2 year check up (after going every 3 months) and to my dismay there were signs again. The Dr. went in and did a zap. that is what I call it and all was well until 9 months later when these signs were beginning to show again. Another (zap) and for the last 5 weeks I have been getting the BCG treatment. I ask for prayer that this will fix the problem. Again thanks for acknowledging my post. God bless each of you.

[Lyn08]

sueokie, welcome to the forum. I am rather new myself, since I was diagnosed with CLL a year and a half ago. Currently, this is just being watched, and I need to go in for testing every 6 months.

I don't know anyone with bladder cancer, but stick with the forum, and I'm sure someone will be able to give you advice. We will all pray for you, as I do for everyone on the Cancer forum every night.

wagirl: I'm glad your friend has been doing well since he had surgery and with radiation and chemo.

I'm not sure the type of chemo my cousin has been taking, but the oncologist said it was something they give to people who have breast cancer. He has been taking this chemo once every 3 weeks, and he has been tolerating it very well. I'm not sure what they will do now that the tumor in his esophagus has been growing (slightly, but still growing). They may send him to another cancer center for treatment. He feels good, and has had no trouble eating. He will have been on one form of chemo or another since he was diagnosed. I don't know how long a person can be on chemo.

My cousin just called. He had a call from his oncologist. They are going to put him back on his original chemo, once a week. He'll need blood tests before each chemo session. He tolerated the chemo quite well, but he lost some of his hair. Since his chemo was changed the first of the year, his hair has grown back.

He had been taking Herceptin since January, and his tumor has grown slightly each time he's had his 3 month scan. Have any of you taken Herceptin for breast cancer treatment?

[wagirl]

Lyn--no I don't take anything except a drug (an aromatase type) for 5 years. My chemo was adyriamicin/cytoxen and then taxol. Glad your cousin can call you about all this. He needs that and you must be a very kind cousin back!!!