NetWellness Cancer

Chronic Pain-Metal Rod/Radiation

Patrick Getty MD — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 20:01:00 EST

Question: My 57 year old father was diagnosed with a cancer mass which is attached to his femur bone. (Spread their from having lung cancer the prior year). They have explained that it can`t be removed because cutting it will cause the cancer to "break off". He`s gone through chemo & radiation a . . .

Answer: Based on the description, it is difficult to tell what the problem is. The comment about concern for the cancer to break off is odd. This tumor is already metastatic, so I am not sure what that means. That said, if the femur lesion is not causing the pain then it is not your primary concern. It soun . . .

Ask an Expert: Patrick Getty MD, Cancer

Bone Marrrow Donation

Paula Silverman MD — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 10:12:00 EST

Question:

I`m looking for an opinion, not really medical advice, about donating bone marrow. I`m a 55 year-old guy who is in excellent health. Twenty years ago, my platelet count dropped and for a while, it was thought that I might need to get a bone marrow transplant so I got put on the register. I ended . . .

Answer: If you have no evidence of ITP now and have a normal platelet count, you can be a donor. I am sure that whoever is requesting/harvesting the marrow will carefully screen you for any underlying blood disease before committing you to bone marrow harvest.

Ask an Expert: Paula Silverman MD, Cancer

Sarcoma

Paula Silverman MD — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:12:00 EST

Question: Will a sarcoma appear on a chest xray? I recently had a chest xray and the result showed a soft tissue shadow post thorax. I am worried it is sarcoma. I was asked to repeat the xray in 4 weeks. The xray was done due to heart palpitations which the heart appeared normal but then this shadow showed up . . .

Answer: Yes a sarcoma would show up on an xray if it is in your lung. However, most "shadows" that show up and are thought to be artifact are usually just that: artifact, which means it is something not really there or of no significance. I would ask your doctor to repeat an xray to be sure it is nothing.

Ask an Expert: Paula Silverman MD, Cancer

Nodules All Over My Body

Paula Silverman MD — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:12:00 EST

Question:

I am a 32 yr. old Korean female and a mother of 3 beautiful young children (5,3 and 2). Please stick with me because this has been a long 6 mths. of tests and meeting with several doctors. I`m scared, emotionally and physically drained so I would like any suggestions, ideas and hopefully some ans . . .

Answer: It seem that you can be reassured that what you are experiencing is not cancer or a serious illness, as you have seen multiple specialists and no cancer or other disease has been found. If exams have been performed, areas have been biopsied, and lab work is normal, then there is no sign of cancer an . . .

Ask an Expert: Paula Silverman MD, Cancer

Cancer in Common Bile Duct

Steve Rudich MD, PhD, FACS — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:11:00 EST

Question: My father is 53 years old and has been diagnosed with obstructive jaundice. He has been advised to undergo a ca 19-9 test and the result was initially >1000. After about a week he had undergone the test again and the result was >25000. Then a stent was successfully placed in his bile duct to f . . .

Answer:

Based upon the markedly high CA 19-9, one would be led to the conclusion that he has a cancer of his bile ducts, called cholangiocarcinoma. Usually, any CA 19-9 value over 150 or so, we define that as being a bile duct cancer.

He needs to be evaluated for bile duct cancer. Often, this entail . . .

Ask an Expert: Steve Rudich MD, PhD, FACS, Cancer

Elevated Labs

Steve Rudich MD, PhD, FACS — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:10:00 EST

Question: Today I received the results of some of my labs. I already was dx yrs ago w/ stage 4 chirrosis from hep c and non-drug induced autoimmune hep from Lupus. My abdominal mri this yr showed a bunch of stuff. spleenameglia,impacted gall stones, diverted veins, etc. As I had stated my labs showed; elevate . . .

Answer: I am afraid that your message is confusing. You must have liver disease. You state that you have cirrhosis from hepatitis C. The concern may be that you make have liver cancer, that is what the alpha fetoprotein means. I am not sure what you are asking. You need to see a liver specialist. You may be . . .

Ask an Expert: Steve Rudich MD, PhD, FACS, Cancer

Liposarcoma

Jeffrey Sussman MD — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 01:10:00 EST

Question: My grandad was diagnosed with Liposarcoma a year ago. He is 75 yrs. old and the tumors are now spreading and they are now in his lungs. What type of life expectancy do you think he has and what can he do to help make it better?

Answer: Life expectancy depends on how fast tumors are growing, the number of tumors and their exact location and his underlying health. In general though, likely measured in weeks to months rather than years. Depending on the number and extent of the tumors in his lungs, sur . . .

Ask an Expert: Jeffrey Sussman MD, Cancer

Post Hodgkins/Chemo Problems

Paula Silverman MD — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 21:10:00 EST

Question:

In 1995 I was diagnosed with stage IIB nodular schlerosing hodgkin`s lymphoma. I underwent 8 cycles of treatment with the AB-MOPP regimen. I skipped the recommended radiationas it was found I was pregnant. Over the years since, I have been found to have vulvular carcinoma, early stage which was s . . .

Answer: Thank you for visiting NetWellness. You have a very complicated medical history. If you have any questions about the recommendations being made by your oncologist, please obtain a second opinion.

Ask an Expert: Paula Silverman MD, Cancer

What Does `In Complete Remission` Mean?

Paula Silverman MD — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 21:08:00 EST

Question: My best friend had chemo and radiation for breast cancer. After she finished her treatments they did a bone scan and said she was "in complete remission." What does that mean? Does it mean that she doesn`t have cancer any more? Or does it mean she doesn`t need more treatment but she still . . .

Answer: The term 'in complete remission' means that there is no sign of cancer on scans/x-rays. It does not mean that the there is not more cancer; just that it cannot be seen. Sometimes 'complete remission' equals cure, and sometimes it does not. People in remission may still need additional treatments. It . . .

Ask an Expert: Paula Silverman MD, Cancer

Bilirubin in HCC

Julia Thornton MD — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 05:07:00 EST

Question: My father has HCC and bilirubin is now 14(surprisingly enough the other liver functions, although out of normal range, are nowhere as bad as the bili count).

I wanted to know what bili level would effect him mentally (until now although very tired and fatigued he is completely lucid) and at wha . . .

Answer: There really is no bilirubin cutoff level where a person's mental capacity is impaired. As the bilirubin level rises, you'll probably notice increasing jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes) and more fatigue. An isolated elevation in the bilirubin level may not accurately predict the mental statu . . .

Ask an Expert: Julia Thornton MD, Cancer

UH Case Medical Center Division of Hematology/Oncology

Joanna Brell MD — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 00:12:00 EST

NW Article:

Focus on Faculty

The Division of Hematology/Oncology at University Hospitals Case Medical Center

The Division of Hematology/Oncology at Uni . . .

Ask an Expert: Joanna Brell MD, Cancer