I was diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma in June of '05. I went through surgery to remove the involved lymph nodes and 3 rounds of bio-chemotherapy. I returned to work, then found out that the cancer had returned, had metastized (sp?) to my brain and bone, and that it is now stage 4. I did Gamma Knife radiation to the three tumors in my brain, then radiation to my brain, spine & rib cage. I also did one round of chemotherapy that breaks the blood brain barrier. I am also taking some alternative approaches to "curing" myself. So, my sister-in-law is throwing a beef-n-beer to help my husband & I with mt medical bills. Do I attend?
214899
Being in the medical field, my answer to you would be go if you feel you can attend. The party is given to you in your honor of being a strong person. And hopefully raise money for your expenses.  Others will understand if you are unable to go. At this point you need to take care of youself.  Appreciate the fact you have people who truely care!! The ones that just want food and a party are not worthy of even a thank you note.\n\nMy name is Kim.The best of luck to you.  Please let me know how you are really doing, I'd love to hear from you.
562656
Hi Edward,\n\nI did 5fu and Leucovorin for almost 18 months for advanced colon cancer and did notice that I had a hard time concentrating on most everything.  I couldn't remember anything I read.  It caused me great concern, however my level of concentration and recall improved greatly over time after stopping chemo.  \n\nAs far as digestive problems, I too was plagued with those.  My digestive system as a whole seemed to improve and return to "normal" after finishing chemo.  I think it took about 6 months.\n\nA year ago I did a 6 month stint on oxalliplatnum.  Once again I began to notice that my memory wasn't what it should be.  And again after being off chemo for 9 months I am noticing that it is improving.  (still can't remember how to spell the name of the drug though!)\n\nHowever, when I forget to get my husband's dry cleaning or dog food at the store I can always blame it on "chemo brain!"\n\nKeep your spirits up, it does get better!\nGood luck to you.
372565
So far, I've only survived it once.  But I heard it always comes back.  When I was at radiation, there was a lady there who was on her 6th NHL recurrence.  I had CHOP/R x 6 and 18 radiations. I wish you all the best.\nHere's the site with the best info:\nhttp://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/hm_lls\nTake care!
313089
If he's getting topotecan, he must have small cell lung cancer.  And, he's probably already tried Cisplatin, Etoposide, and Camptosar.  Did he already get Whole brain irradiation?\n\nTopotecan is approved 2nd line for SCLC.  It's usually not as successful as other treatments, but if it's for salvage treatment, your f-i-l may not have too many other choices.  It can be given daily for five days, or weekly (which seems, in my experience, to be better tolerated).  It can cause low blood counts.  Good luck to him.\n\nGamma knife is good if he is a candidate.  Depends on how many lesions are in his brain.  The great thing about gamma knife is that it does not damage the surrounding brain tissue.  Most chemotherapy does not pass the "blood brain barrier" and is not good for brain mets.  The exception to this is an oral chemo called "temodar".  I have seen some lung cancer patients take this medicine, although it's not really approved for anything but primary brain cancer.  If there is no evidence of disease elsewhere in his body, it may be an option, but not while he is taking topotecan.  you cannot take both together, I don't think.
295979
I was diagnosed with a stage four ovarian cancer 2 years ago when I was 17.  I was supposed to only have 6 rounds of chemo, but I had the option of two more rounds, which I did.  I also had a surgery which took 5 hours.  I havent had any reoccurences.  It hasnt been five years, but I have had been cancer free.  I would just go with any additional treatments that the oncologists offer.  I hope everything goes well with your wife.  If she needs anyone to talk to she can email me, because I have been through it all.
587270
Dear Greensomega,\nYou've certainly brought your medical concerns to the right place! The Y!A community members are fully aware of and do appreciate the intimate conditions involving your prognosis.\nMost recognized doctors in the field of medicine would employ a holistic approach to your ailment. Greensomega, please begin your day with a well balanced breakfast to include an ample portion of fruits and grains. After your morning routines are finished, enjoy a brisk walk around the block. If you happen to meet any stray dogs along the way, it would be a good idea to antagonize the creatures in order to add some vigor to your workout.\nNow Greensomega, the remaining portions of your day should be filled with interesting activities and new studies to keep your mind active and in balance, complimentary to what you have done with the physical side of yourself.\nAfter loitering around at the public library all afternoon with a bunch of smelly hobos, you can appreciate a warm bath and time to be good to yourself. Begin to collect an archive of various music genres that you can resolve one day to enjoy after you get the rest of your chores done.\nGreensomega, if after following my advice, simply take two aspirin and forget we ever had this little discussion.\nThank you, Greensomega. Have a great day!\nDr. Zealnik
501435
It is good that they were able to remove the cancer. Sloan Memorial Kettering is a top cancer facility. But, cancer is a complicated disease.\n\nIn order to answer your question it would help to know what type of cancer your friend has, what stage the cancer was in (one tumor in one area or multiple tumors within the body) the rate of tumor growth (aggressive or slow growing), and the grade of the tumor (low means almost normal, high grade means very abnormal looking cells)\n\nOutcome of surgery and overall prognosis depends upon your friends general health, age,  and ability to undergo further treatment. It is not enough in most cases to just remove the cancer. Cancer has the ability to metastasize or spread out tiny, microscopic cells throughout the body. \n\nDepending upon the stage and grade of the tumor will determine what type of treatment that will be offered.\n\nIf the doctor was unable to resect the entire tumor and some tissue was left behind further treatment is necessary. This leftover cancer has the ability to metastasize. In order to prevent this an oncologist will recommend chemotherapy or radiation or both to try and kill off any remaining cancer cells.\n\nYour friend may also have secondary health issues that have become complicated by having cancer too. It's hard to speculate without knowing all the facts in this case.\n\nHope your friend feels better soon. She just may need time.
515586
go see the doc , don't worry he sees this stuff all the time , if it's cancer - the sooner the better the worst that can happen now is you be 1 stone lighter , if you  leave it there could be really intense chemo & all that fun stuff & it could even kill you \n\nGO TO THE DOC ASAP\ncheers:\npaul  :-}
404186
If the operation prolongs life, even by a year or two, then yes. I'd also seek a 3rd and even 4th opinion. Are you the person with the cancer? Whoever it is, I'm deeply sorry. I know what it's like to have that horrible disease in the family. You'll come to the right decision and remember, sometimes miracles do happen. The very best of luck to you and yours
348502
First of all, please know that you will be in my heart, thoughts and prayers.\n\nSecondly, I copied & pasted your question (into a question from me) in the "Cancer" category, asking if anyone there would please try to find your question here and respond.  You're right in asking for words of encouragement from people who have been through what you are going through.\n\nIf my plan goes right, people from the cancer category will find you here and respond.  If my plan goes haywire - meaning, if you don't get any cancer patient & survivor answers here - then I would suggest that you go to the Health section, click on the category Cancer, and re-post your question yourself over there.\n\nI'll make a point of checking back here a few times to see if you're getting any responses from cancer patients and survivors.\n\nMeanwhile, as hard as it may seem, I beg of you to try to keep a positive outlook.  Someone in here wrote to you about how negative thoughts can have a negative effect on cancer ... I've heard of that before.  Someone else wrote about your evident courage due to the fact that you're a soldier in our Air Force ... I couldn't agree more.\n\nAnd by all means, please - if you haven't already - be sure to let your family know what you are going through.\n\nI'll be thinking of you.
498479
My understanding is that it is treatable but not curable.  So if believe that there are "last stages" of cancer then I guess there could be "last stages" for Rhumatoid arthritis.  I have it and it normally dosn't bother me as much as it used to because I treated it when it was bad.  Now I just have to watch it and take care of it if it flares up.  I haven't had any replacements or illness from it so obviously mine was a lot more mild but to answer your question I don't believe there are any "last stages."
53405
So sorry. \n\nI think a good place to start would be to check leukemia or cancer organizations online to see if they list any resources or have news of experimental treatments and contact the doctors/hospitals directly.\n\nHope this helps and you get well soon.
608920
I work in cancer research, so I know a bit about the statistics.\n\nIt will depend on the stage at diagnosis.  If it's stage I or II, it's possible.  Stage III is unlikely, and stage IV has a very poor prognosis - usually those who are diagnosed at stage IV only have a few months to live.\n\nI hope that this person has had an early diagnosis - cancer is a horrible thing - I wish your friend the best.
360143
This seems to be a very severe and urgent issue.  You absolutely MUST speak with your boyfriend and his doctor ASAP about what's going on.\n\nThere are many, many types of brain cancers (as well as benign tumors, though you said this is a "stage 3" tumor, so I will assume it's cancer).  Not all of them result in the stereotypical cancer "constitutional" symptoms of weight loss, nausea, fever, etc.\n\nDifferent cancers, of course, have different survivabilities.  "Stage 3" does not always mean imminent death; in fact (using an example), a majority of people with certain blood lymphomas can be cured at stage 3.  \n\nI do not know much about brain cancers, so please do get more details on the specific kind of tumor your boyfriend has.\n\nBest of luck to your boyfriend.
485884
My 17 year old son has intra-abdominal sarcoma that presented as multiple masses within the abdominal cavity. He had tumors on the liver, spleen, large and small intestine, chest wall, lymph nodes, lungs, and right diaphragm. He was stage IV at diagnosis with malignant ascitis. He underwent 16 months of high dose chemotherapy which eliminated or shrunk the majority of tumors. He than had a debulking surgery which removed 75% of the visible tumors, and last October he had cytoreductive surgery and intra-peritoneal hyperthermic chemoperfusion. The surgeon removed the spleen, peeled the tumors from the large and small intestine and liver, and scrapped down the diaphragm before administering mytomycin C into the abdominal cavity. The idea was to remove all visible tumors and than use the heated chemo applied directly to kill off all microscopic disease. My son was in remission for 8 months. His last CT showed two small (about one centimeter) abnormalities on the dome of the liver between the diaphragm. We weren't surprised and have taken further steps to fight the disease.\n\nHe continues to do well, but we are always aware how quickly this could change.
538854
Well, to start out, nobody can ever assure you that you are in the clear. Not even a doctor can assure you that. I'm not an oncologist, but my dad has been fighting a rare form of reoccurent melanoma for over a decade. He's had lots of "spots" removed, and they have had to go back in because they didn't go deep enough to get all of it. If my dad's statistics are any indication, they often do get it all the first time. However, you still need to be viligant in watching your skin because it can reoccur.\n\nBest wishes for good health.
497862
The good news is that breast cancer is very treatable today.  My Mom was diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer two years ago.  (There is no Stage V)\n\nShe was on a few different kinds of chemotherapy, I remember Taxotere being one of them.  She also took medicines to bind estrogen and androgens since her cancer was estrogen receptor positive.  That is, estrogen feeds the tumors.\n\nOnce the tumor markers were down to a normal level, my Mom then had a lumpectomy and followup radiation.\n\nToday, about 2 years later, my Mom is in remission and cancer free!!  It can happpen!  I hope your relative has a great story to tell too!!