Is it possible for lymphoma to spread to elbow?
Hi doctor,
I have just finished three rounds of R-CHOP for stage 1A diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and currently receiving radiation to my hip or groin. Recently I found another lump on my elbow bone, not inside crease but outside. Two weeks ago, my elbow was red and sore. Possibly bursitis but can feel a small lump underneath the fluid. Is it common for lymphoma to spread to these parts?
20 May 2024 - 1 min read
Are skipped heartbeats and dizziness a serious concern?
Hello doctor,
I have some problems with my heartbeat. It has been three days today and still, I am feeling the same thing. My heartbeat skips for a few minutes and then go on. I went to the hospital and get it checked. The doctor at the hospital ordered for x-ray, blood tests and ECG as well. All results came back normal. But why am I feeling uncomfortable?
There is a skip in a heartbeat and a bit of dizziness, but no chest pain or breathlessness. I still can breath normal but sometimes when the heartbeat skips I can feel having trouble breathing a bit. Though it is not serious the only thing I am worrying about is the heartbeat skip tats all. Please let me know is it not serious and can I get back to my normal life? And the doctor at the hospital told me there is no medication for this. Is this true?
14 May 2024 - 1 min read
Other than Sutent, which medicine can I opt for papillary renal cell carcinoma?
Hello doctor,
My father is recently diagnosed with papillary renal cell carcinoma type 1, and he has no BP or sugar. However, he had undergone bypass surgery ten years ago. Our doctor has suggested targeted therapy is better for him as there is another mass found in the lungs too. Our doctor has prescribed Sutent 37.5 mg, to begin with, and slowly increase it to 50 mg.
However, due to our financial conditions, we cannot afford Sutent as it is pretty expensive for us. As we do not have any insurance. Is this the only drug available for this type of cancer, or do we have any other affordable and similar drugs with minimal side effects? We want to get your suggestion on this. Kindly help.
08 May 2024 - 1 min read
What to feed stomach cancer patients who take just liquids?
Hello doctor,
My mother is 65 years old. She is diagnosed with stomach cancer stage 4. We consulted the situation with five top oncologists and based on their suggestions we decided not to put her under chemotherapy. We are keeping her under supportive care at home. She is not taking any medicine for cancer as of today.
The current concern is that she is 45 kg in weight and is able to take only liquid food since diagnosis. She does take semi-solid (mashed) food sometimes but it maybe twice or thrice in a week. As you can see in her PET scan attached, the tumor may be causing physical obstruction for the food to pass from stomach to the path down and also from time to time she feels some liquid with stale smell raising up her stomach. She wants to eat but unable to do so because of this weird nausea-like feeling.
Can you please suggest some medications to overcome the above problem? Or is there any other way she could be given enough nutrition to manage the situation? Looking for your help at the earliest possible.
26 Apr 2024 - 1 min read
Will Keytruda drug cure stage 4 bladder cancer?
Hello doctor,
My father has started Keytruda end of October and has received two treatments. His third is coming up early next week. For the past three weeks, he has developed this tickle cough that comes in jags, and he coughs very hard to try and pull up what he says feels like a thin stick substance in his throat. He has had something similar in the past as he always had terrible allergies. But I am worried about Keytruda's risk of lung inflammation. It seems his cough happens mostly when lying down, and for the past two weeks, he has had some shortness of breath with the cough. When you take his oxygen levels when he sits up, it is usually 97 range but always in the 90s; after some coughing jags, it goes into the 80s but quickly returns to the 90s. What should we do? Because this is his last hope, and we do not want to stop treatment. He has no fever, no chest pain when breathing, no retention of fluids, and when the PA listened to his lungs said they sounded good. Shortness of breath upon exertion, too, which they have said is from the radiation he also got in October. Please help.
Thank you.
25 Apr 2024 - 1 min read
Medical Oncology