We learned a lot of things last thursday with our new oncologist at CTRC. The absolute best thing we learned is that our doctor is positive. He looked at mom and said she looks healthy (not too skinny) and the fact that she is active still is great. Unfortunately, he did state that once you are stage IV, you are always stage IV. Meaning even if the cancer goes into remission, if and when it comes back (in 95% of patients it does) it will come back spread through the body (metastatic). Who knows, mom may very well be part of that 5% that it never comes back!!! The doctor said that too!!!!! The course of treatment if it does come back is more chemo and he said new developments in research are coming out every year. The doctor is very positive about the new drugs being tested in clinical trials. (We did try to get in a clinical trial, but they wouldn't accept her at this time). Anyway, her type of non small cell lung (adenocarcinoma of the lung) begins in the outer part of the lung (pleural cavity) and is most commonly seen in women and non-smokers. NSCL cancer takes up about 80% of lung cancers and 50% of those are this type.
So, mom will be getting systemic chemotherapy which is treatment with anti-cancer drugs that travel through the blood to cells all over the body. These chemo drugs are used to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing them or by stopping them from dividing. The chemo drugs will be administered to mom through a chemo portacath. This is a small medical instrument that is inserted under the skin. A catheter connects the port to a vein. Under the skin, the port has a septum that can inject the drugs and take blood samples many times without poking and prodding her too much. So, its supposed to be less uncomfortable. Not sure where they install it yet, but for lung cancers it seems that it is usually inserted into the central venous vein below the collarbone. Its called a CV-Port. Its all still very scary, but its part of our new life. Again treatable and manageable! Thank you for your support!!!
An equipment of the American Hospital of Children of Boston mind-bending that the high cholesterol levels accelerate the growth of tumors in the prostate, and also that the medicines to reduce to the cholesterol, Statin, can inhibit the growth of the prostate cancer calls.
ReplyDeleteMention Findrxonline in your web to The findings of the study could help to understand why the prostate cancer is commonest in the West, where the diets tend to be high in cholesterol. The rates of cancer of the prostate in the countryside of China and Japan, where generally the diets are low in fats, are 90% less than in the West.
Nevertheless, when Eastern men emigrate towards the West increase the possibilities of being diagnosed with cancer of the prostate. That has lead the doctors to suspect that factors of the environment, like the diet, could play a significant role in the development of the disease.
We ourselves sometimes increase the risk of contracting this disease using highly polluting products and that they raise the odds of contracting this disease, such as the consumption of tobacco, alcohol, industrial products and our poor diet.
ReplyDeleteIn these times where the medicines have managed to win space to alleviate our problems and where it is difficult to live without them for many diseases, including medications such as Ritalin is a prescription drug that is recommended for the treatment of Attention Deficit Disorder or ADHD. It is composed of Methylphenidate which is a narcotic and stimulant drug. Findrxonline mentions in his blog that This substance stimulates the central nervous system and thereby improves the condition of the patient taking it. Along with treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, it also takes care of other related disorders like chronic fatigue syndrome and narcolepsy. However, owing to its tendency of Ritalin abuse has been in the middle of many controversies. Since it is the brand name of methylphenidate, it is considered to be illegal to purchase or sell this drug without a prescription.
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