Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with chemotherapy

Is cancer treatment better in the US?

Estragon — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:09:23 -0800

Looking to help a Canberra, Australia acquaintance recently diagnosed with estrogen-receptor-negative breast cancer, and wondering whether they would receive better treatment from the US. No politics, please. Someone I know was just diagnosed with breast cancer. It has spread to a lymph node under her armpit. The biopsy report was on Wednesday, and she's having a CAT scan later this week, so I don't know how far it's spread, but she's never had a mammogram, so there's a good chance it's pretty bad.

She has a lot of money. What I'm wondering is, would seeking treatment at a top US cancer hospital appreciably increase her odds of survival? I'm from Australia myself, but I live in the US, and work in medical genetics (the statistics side) so I have an inkling of just how much bigger the research over here is. I guess it comes down to how quickly new treatments are disseminated to the rest of the world.

I'm imagining shipping a biopsy sample to MD Anderson or somewhere like that, to get someone there to study the histology and maybe do some genotyping, and recommend a chemotherapy which could then be applied back in Canberra. Is that crazy or useless?

Please, no politics. I'm currently totally disinterested in comparing the overall value of the US and Australian healthcare systems, though I acknowledge the general contemporary importance of healthcare politics in the US.

What happens if we don't give our dog chemo?

misskaz — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 09:11:03 -0800

My dog has just been diagnosed with lymphoma. For various reasons, my husband and I are probably not going to do the chemo and radiation treatments outlined by the oncologist. If you have made a similar choice with your pet, can you tell me what happened? Our dog is the sweetest, most wonderful 10.5 year old greyhound. The form of lymphoma she has (T-cell) is more aggressive and resistant to chemo than the more common form of lymphoma. Given her age (although before this she's never acted or felt like a senior dog), the cost, the potential for it to not work at all, the emotional trauma for us and the physical trauma for her, and everything else, we are probably not going to try the chemo and radiation treatments. We have heard that prednisone can keep the swelling down and her appetite up for a little while, so we may try that. The one really swollen lymph node was already removed a couple weeks ago when we and the vets thought it was just a stubborn infection. (The first biopsy only showed an infection.) That's when they found a mass on her tongue and the subsequent biopsies revealed the cancer.

She has been somewhat lethargic for a while now, and we have to encourage her to eat. It seems like she will eventually eat a regular amount of food, but does it in several small meals rather than wolfing it all down at once. Unfortunately, with the antibiotics and surgery and everything else (she had a hard time eating dry food prior to the surgery, so we had to try soaking, pureeing into a gruel with a blender, etc.), she has lost a few pounds and as a greyhound, she doesn't carry much extra weight. She still seems happy and loves being with us and cuddling. She doesn't play as much on her own, but still gets excited to see her doggy and human friends.

Basically, we want to know what to expect in terms of her health - Will she have a long, slow decline or feel mostly ok before things go downhill quickly? What signs should we look for that she's unhappy or in pain? What kind of treatments, medicine, foods, etc. are available/should we be prepared for in terms of pallative care? We know that the timeline without treatment is short, but we just want to be prepared. If you have had the misfortune of a lymphoma diagnosis in your pet, and chose not to do chemo, would you mind sharing your experience?

By the way, we do have a call in to the oncologist to ask these questions as well - hopefully we can get some answers without having to pay for another consultation, but we will pay if needed. We know that chemo in dogs doesn't have as bad side effects as in people because it is administered at lower doses, but we think (hope) we are making the right decision here.

Continue chemo?

frankie_stubbs — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 15:16:51 -0800

Should my grandmother continue chemotherapy? My grandmother has advanced stage breast cancer, and she has the choice of whether or not to continue chemotherapy. She asked me for advice, and I was at a loss as to what to tell her. Can anyone point to any scientific papers or the like that give me some evidence one way or the other?

Would advising her to continue not be in her best interest since chemo obviously adversely affects her appetite, physical strength, and mood?

Or would her decline be greater if she were to discontinue chemo?

Info Sought on Childhood Leukemia

slowtree — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 16:51:30 -0800

Childhood A.L.L. Luekemia My 2 year old niece was just diagnosed with this today and we are scouring the internet trying to find out all that we possibly can. She starts CHEMO tomorrow. Any personal experience or ideas of informative websites would be appreciated. Not generic websites but detailed and resourceful sites. Her doctors will certainly keep us informed as we go but since we are in the very beginning stages its all we can think about. Anyone that has anything at all to offer, it would be appreciated. Even if its on info on CHEMO and its effects.

She had a biopsy done on a swollen lymph-node behind her right ear. Turns out it was 94% Cancer. They initially thought it was Non-Hodgkins Lymphona but a bone marrow biopsy distinguished that it is Leukemia.

Again any information or suggestions where to find information is appreciated.

rituxan infusion reactions

dog food sugar — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 08:59:41 -0800

I'm looking for your experience with the chemo drug Rituxan. Have you or a family member had an infusion reaction? I give this drug a lot as an RN. I have to monitor the patient frequently during the infusion. I know what the literature says I'll see when someone has a bad reaction, I'm wondering what that experience is like from the patient / family side. I've seen blood pressures drop slightly but that's it - and thankfully not to a level where the patient was dangerously hypotensive. Help me have a better idea of what is the patient / family experience during this.

Or if you didn't have a reaction, what sort of info were you given about the drug beforehand? Did that help you? Was there any other healthcare support or lack of that altered your experience? Thanks in advance for any information.

How can I help a friend who will be undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatment for the next few months?

Vorteks — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 08:47:26 -0800

My friend's wife is recovering from breast cancer. They removed the tumor a couple weeks ago, and they found no sign that the cancer had spread to the lymph system. She's expected to make a full recovery. But in order to kill any remaining cancer cells, for the next 2 months she'll be undergoing chemotherapy, and then 1 month of radiation therapy afterwards. What can I do to make life easier and/or lift the spirits of her and her husband? I'm looking for suggestions for gifts or other things I can do that might be of practical help to both her and her husband. Her basic needs are being met. Her mother is staying with her and cooking meals, shopping, doing laundry, etc. I'm wondering if there's something I can do to help take her mind off the problem, cheer her up, or maybe help with the symptoms in some small way. I'd also like to help my friend (her husband) deal with seeing his wife in pain. I've thought about giving DVDs/books/sudoku, things like that. I'm not sure about her taste in entertainment though.

I'm not sure what the symptoms of her treatment will be, except that she's said she'll lose her hair. Being male, there's a limit to how much I can help with things like that, but I'd like to anticipate other problems and give things that might help. (For example, when a different friend was undergoing treatment that made their hands stiff, I included one of those squeezey stress balls in her care package). Failing that, I'd like to do anything that might cheer them up.

If anyone had any suggestions for something I can do to make life easier or lift the spirits of both husband and wife, I'd really like to hear them! Thanks in advance.

Appropriate gifts to include in a care package for a homebound friend?

librarianamy — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 09:57:29 -0800

Please help me distract, amuse, and pamper my sick friend. A friend of mine recently began chemotherapy, and will be housebound for six months. At the end of this first month, his wife has reported that he's upbeat, occasionally tired with a short attention span, and bored out of his skull. She has put out a request for funny books to keep him distracted. I would like to put together a care package for them both.

I've decided to send him a copy of "Good Omens" (for the funny) and a copy of "On Food and Cooking" (since he's a foodie). A mutual friend has already hooked him up with the entire Bill Bryson collection. I would like to include other amusing, but not crass, distractions - but am having a hard time coming up with anything. He's a very dapper, smart man, with a good sense of humor, and a positive outlook on his illness. He's a foodie, and a business librarian. He is also the first person close to me that has ever had cancer - Yes, I've been lucky, but this is new ground for me. Ideally, they'd be items I can pick up while running errands this weekend, but am not adverse to ordering something online and sending a second box in a few months. Hit me with your amusing, smart, toys and distractions that won't tire him out or can be put down and picked back up.

Bonus points if you can recommend something small to include for his wife as well - she's still working full time and his caregiver. I was thinking a teacup with good tea and chocolates, but am open to other fabulous alternatives.

Thank you in advance for your advice. I look forward to your suggestions.

It may not be radiation, but I still want a tattoo.

kendrak — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 09:07:17 -0800

Would it be stupid to get a tattoo a week before I start chemo? Four weeks after surgery, I'm finally feeling "normal". I planned on getting a tattoo before I detected my breast cancer and decided to put it off so that it wouldn't interfere with any of my tests. (I know new tattoos and MRIs don't work well together.)

Now that I'm feeling good, I thought I'd get the stupid little tattoo I've been talking about for years done. (Small scrabble tile for K to match my other one.) Of course since I'm recovering so well, they pushed up the date for chemotherapy, which will be a week from today.

I've poked around a bit and I know getting a tattoo during chemo isn't a good idea, but what about before? Will it not heal properly or could I get some weird nasty infection and die? Or should I just go for it?

tastes like.......

adamvasco — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 10:15:41 -0800

A 70 year old friend has just started chemo for third time in two years. The side effect which really gets him is that for the first week / 10 days everything has a really horrible metallic taste. He is not a bon viveur but enjoys tasty meals and I think finds this almost harder than the other side effects, as eating is a social occasion. I can't find anything very helpful out there and was wondering if anyone had any bright suggestions as to improving quality of live in this difficult time for him and his wife. I've checked out the other cancer tagged askme's. A bit of background, my friend is a rather conservative traditional brit but open to suggestions, his wife self medicates with red wine but that's going somewhere else.

Tasty Weight-Gain Supplements

BigLankyBastard — Wed, 12 Apr 2006 11:49:33 -0800

I have a relative undergoing Chemotherapy, who is losing weight excessively and needs to gain some back. Question inside: The Docs have already recommended Ensure and another similar supplemental drink for trying to keep on weight, but she can't stand the taste. Her appetite is bad enough as it is, so she needs something that appeals to her palate.
My question is, are there any specific brands of nutritional/weight gain supplement drinks with an appealing taste and easy preparation? I understand weightlifters like using whey protein for bulking up - are there any products using that as a base, which genuinely taste good?

Chemo question

alteredcarbon — Sat, 26 Nov 2005 12:20:45 -0800

Chemofilter: Does anyone know or have used some good make-up (i.e. eye-liner, foundation, mascara etc.) that is organic? I'm posting this for my daughter who is going through chemotherapy treatments for breast cancer and she is looking for some make-up that is organic based and free of chemicals. Thanks for taking time to answer, it's much appreciated.

How can I help my mom through chemotherapy?

Sara Anne — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 08:34:25 -0800

How can I help my mom through chemotherapy? She has breast cancer, and has had a bilateral mastectomy and is healing well. There's a lot of cancer in my family, and I've been picking up tips from various sources, but I thought I'd cast my advice net a little wider. I've been advised to give up strong smelling foods and switch from stinky coffee to tea (ack, NO!!!), to wash all her linens and clothing in salt water to get rid of the smell of fabric softener, to have a good supply of stool softeners and hemorrhoid creams, to never ever let any doctor give her compazine. I'm looking for more tips like this, small practical things that will help make her more comfortable. Also, if anyone can refer books or websites, I'd be grateful.

Little Chemo in Slumberland

Moondoggie — Mon, 23 May 2005 13:15:02 -0800

Anyone with Hodgkin's Disease out there? Have a question about the wonders and side effects of ABVD chemotherapy. So here's the deal. I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's (stage 4b, so far) a couple of weeks ago and my first chemo treatment is on this Wednesday (first of 12). I'm getting the ABVD treatment and was wondering if any of you have had this particular cocktail and if so, what were those first couple of treatments like?

I'm getting a port put in just before the first treatment, so that's supposed to help with some of the really bad things that can happen, but that still doesn't deal with nausea, hair falling out, etc. I talked to a soon-to-be relative last night about his chemo experiences, but he has different cancer, and thus different chemo. He did mention some bizarre side effects like food cravings. Anything weird I should be watching out for like that?

I've tried googling, but I get distracted by other Hodgkin's stuff and wind up scaring the fuck out of myself. My blog and various written journals keep me mildly sane, or at least let me freak out in public. SheisMighty and I have made a vow to not read anything else about Hodgkin's until after my first treatment, but I think AskMe is a loophole :)

And please, only ABVD or Hodgkin's chemo stories only. If you have/had a different cancert, you might have gone through a chemo run much worse than I'm about to (like my soon-to-be-cousin) and I really don't need to freak out more right now.

Scheduling Chemo

troutfishing — Fri, 26 Dec 2003 11:47:11 -0800

My father was recently diagnosed with colon cancer and had about 1/2 of his colon removed. He's recovered well, but tests - done at the time of the surgery - revealed cancerous cells in three of his lymph nodes, so a course of chemotherapy has been scheduled.

Here's my question - the surgery was around Dec. 7th. The test results took over two weeks, and now there's a 5 or 6 week time lag between the positive test results and the scheduled chemo. Any opinions on whether this time lag is normal procedure? My worry is that my father - not one to be overly assertive in working the HMO system to get the best possible care - is getting less prompt or aggressive treatment than might be warranted. Also - in the "Modified Duke Staging System" colorectal cancer classification - that would be a "C1" or "C2" cancer.

In the more recent "TNM Staging System" it would be a type 3 cancer.