 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Breast Cancer / September 2004tumor fever? and do you find that people sense how much time they have left?
Dear folks, It's me, Catharine Honeyman's sister, again. A brief update: I had three rounds of a colon cancer regimen (Folfiri) then a CT scan last week, which showed that 3 of the 4 liver tumors had grown. Not a lot--each about .5 cm, (my largest is 13cm!!) but the oncologist said even slow growth would eventually be a problem (of course). The tumor marker for colon cancer, CEA, had been 76 (0-3 is normal) when I was first at MDA on 7/12, then 303 two weeks later on 7/29, and had continued to rise a month later, this past Monday, to 476. All that was enough to convince him that the chemo was not working. So I get to be enrolled in a clinical trial, starting next Fri 9/10 (if I'm still healthy by then). It's a phase II trial for a new colon cancer chemo, DJ-297. In the meantime I've been battling severe constipation (lots of milk and molasses enemas, Lactulose, upped the Senekot, etc.) At least I got my CVC out, though, so now I can shower (the experimental drug is oral, once every three weeks). If I have to switch back to an IV chemo, I'll go with a port-a-cath. So here are the questions: starting Saturday night I've been running a fever every evening, around 101 or so. My blood counts are okay, chest x-ray is okay (I had worried about aspiration pneumonia after a bad vomiting fit last week), and there are blood and urine cultures going. If those come back okay, both my local oncologist and the one at MDA say "tumor fever." Has anyone ever heard of this? Such a verdict sucks, of course, b/c it sounds like I'd keep running the fever everyday until my tumors shrink, which may never happen. And then a much more maudlin question--do people generally have an idea of how much time they have left? I felt bad enough this weekend to doubt that I'd even make it to the experiment trial, which is only about 2 weeks ago. Perhaps it's the fever making me feel so maudlin. Thanks for all the support you've shown in the past--things are definitely getting rather dicey, rather quickly. Jennifer P.S. My brother had a colonoscopy last week, which found (and removed) 3 small polyps. I'm glad he got looked at and found things early. Jennifer, I am so glad to hear from you. I was wondering how you were doing. Of course, I was hoping to hear that you were great and too busy to write, but.... I have never hear of tumor fever, although I have run mysterious fevers for short periods of time that go away. Only when traveling far away from my medical team, of course. I am glad that have a new plan. Folfiri just isnt for you. I am glad the new one is pills. That makes it so easy. Why in particular did they like this one for you? Hopefully it will work and work quickly. Still, it would have been nice if you had that the first time. And for the big depressing question, I don't know. I think that physically feeling badly usually affects people a whole lot more than they recognize at the time, so I would vote that at least a part of what you are feeling is that. On the other hand, in my position, I tend to think a lot about predicting the future and planning for my family. And grabbing what comes in the present for that matter. Given how you are feeling, for whatever reason, can you push the experimental trial people faster? I have been in an experimental trial and I realize that in many cases the protocol is the protocol, but researchers are human beings too and so who knows. Hang in there, Chris > Dear folks, > [quoted text clipped - 41 lines] > removed) 3 small polyps. I'm glad he got looked at and found things > early. > So here are the questions: starting Saturday night I've been running > a fever every evening, around 101 or so. My blood counts are okay, > chest x-ray is okay (I had worried about aspiration pneumonia after a > bad vomiting fit last week), and there are blood and urine cultures > going. If those come back okay, both my local oncologist and the one > at MDA say "tumor fever." Has anyone ever heard of this? Mmm, yes. My wife had an unexplained fever about 3 months from the end. It was fairly mild, like you describe, and went away after a couple of weeks, but it did not respond to a variety of antibiotics, but seemed more to do its own thing. Whether this was a virus or something to do with the cancer or the chemo, I don't know, but it did stop after a while. It happened shortly after things really went downhill, and she had had stomach bleeding attributed to radiation. I wondered if it was some sort of reaction to blood transfusions, or some virus she had got with the blood. But it could have been something else. > Such a verdict sucks, of course, b/c it sounds like I'd keep running > the fever everyday until my tumors shrink, which may never happen. I don't think it'll do that. > And then a much more maudlin question--do people generally have an > idea of how much time they have left? I felt bad enough this weekend > to doubt that I'd even make it to the experiment trial, which is only > about 2 weeks ago. Perhaps it's the fever making me feel so maudlin. I would say mostly, no. If nothing else, the chemo makes you feel awful, much worse than you really are, so it is difficult to assess your own condition. Cancer attacks from lots of directions, so the things that make you feel awful are not necessarily the ones that will ultimately kill you. The nurses say you don't really know until the whites of their eyes go yellow. > Thanks for all the support you've shown in the past--things are > definitely getting rather dicey, rather quickly. Dear Jennifer, my heart goes out to you. You know I was just thinking I ought to write and see how you were doing, before I read this post. Well, with an experimental drug, there's the chance of a miracle, so - fingers crossed. Tim So glad to hear from you. Sorry to hear about the lack of response from chemo. I will keep my fingers crossed for a good response from the clinical trial. Yes, as a RN I have seen tumor fever, it is usually related to liver tumors, I forget the reason why it elevates the temperature.Cancer can cause fever in a variety of ways. Sometimes the tumor makes pyrogens, which cause a fever on their own. To answer your last question, how do you know when it your time is running out. Most doctors will tell patients when they think the patient's time is up, so you can make proper plans. Ask your doctor. http://saints-memorial.org/cancercare/patiented/fever.html Tumor-associated fever -- Fever in cancer patients is not always caused by an infection. Some tumors may cause a fever. The appearance of a fever and its degree may reflect the growth or spread of a tumor. Cancers that commonly cause fevers include Hodgkin's disease, leukemias, lymphomas, kidney cancers, bone cancers, adrenal cancers, and hypothalamic tumors. Breast, lung, and colon cancers do not usually cause fevers, but if these cancers spread to the liver, fever may then occur. Also, any tumor that is blocking the intestine, stomach, urinary tract, or respiratory system can cause fever. Doctors do not know exactly how tumors cause fevers. The fevers can occur in cycles or just occasionally, and may occur at a certain time during the day, or may not occur for days or weeks. Fevers associated with a tumor may go away if the tumor is treated, and then return when the tumor returns. Fevers caused by a tumor are best treated by treating the cancer itself. The fevers can be treated with nonsteroidal anti- inflammatory drugs or acetaminophen. Aspirin should be used with caution in patients with Hodgkin's disease or other patients at risk for bleeding problems. Hugs and positive thoughts your way, Alex > Dear folks, > [quoted text clipped - 41 lines] > removed) 3 small polyps. I'm glad he got looked at and found things > early. Alex wrote: "Hugs and positive thoughts your way." I wish you the same, (((Jennifer))). Susan, Su_Texas Jennifer so sorry to hear of the difficulties that you have been having. Thanks so much for the update---was wondering how you were doing. Wishing you all the best with the clinical trial--think 'good' thoughts. In regard to your question re prognosis--well, one of my colleagues had stage IV lymphoma. A few months later he had a stem cell transplant and for the most part has been SED. Soon after the stem cell transplant, the cancer was back. He was given a prognosis of 2 weeks to 2 months. He got his affairs in order to the best he could. He decided to come back to work. He didn't want to sit around at home waiting for the end. Initially he wife drove him and he put in as much time as he could. Well, today we were at a meeting together. He drove oover 70 miles one way to get there. He was given that prognosis 28 months ago. Now, he did not stop all treatment. He was allowed to continue the Rituxin and his wife started him on complementary and alternative treatments--which have included flaxseed oil, omega 3 fish oil, and I am not sure what else. So, as far as how much time one has left--even the experts don't always know... Jennifer, Im sure Kaye is right. good and positive thoughts make a lot of difference. The new trial may work wonders for you. all the best for your treatment. Im sure you are going to be around for a long long time :)\ > Jennifer so sorry to hear of the difficulties that you have been having. > Thanks so much for the update---was wondering how you were doing. Wishing you [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > included flaxseed oil, omega 3 fish oil, and I am not sure what else. > So, as far as how much time one has left--even the experts don't always know... Kaye where have you been? How are you doing? Alex |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2009 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.