Please Help - Cervical Cancer

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

WEB32 - 19 Apr 2004 05:36 GMT

I'm hoping someone out there can help us.

About a month ago my wife was diagnosed with cervical cancer. She was
referred to an Oncologist at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto. About 2
weeks ago she had her initial visit with the Oncologist who did confirm it
is "Invasive Cervical Cancer". During the visit she was examined by the
doctor and sent for bloodwork and chest x-rays. Her CT scan and MRI are
still another 1-2 weeks away. At this time her cancer hasn't been staged.

During this time her left leg swelled from the knee down causing severe pain
to the point that she couldn't walk on it. I took her to the emergency room
to check to see if she was suffering a blood clot. They did an ultrasound
and it came back negative. The doctor prescribed her water pills for the
swelling which have helped a little but the pain is still there along with
discoloration around her ankle and calf.

We are hoping to get more answers by contacting the oncologist again to see
if this is related to the cancer. In the meantime we are hoping that anyone
reading this who may have gone through the same could offer some advice or
suggestions. This is extremely frustrating not knowing what we should do. We
appreciate any of your input in the matter. Thank you.

P&J

Reply to this Message

J - 19 Apr 2004 10:33 GMT

> I'm hoping someone out there can help us.
>
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
>
> P&J

Hello P&J,
I'm sorry for the circumstances that brought you here but welcome to
alt.support.cancer
Elevating the leg and wearing loose clothing sometimes helps, so perhaps by this
morning she's a bit better?
Regardless if she feels better, call the radiation oncologist this morning.

If you cannot reach him/her, ask for your wife's "primary nurse" (if they have
such).
If they've given your wife a "contact list", it may be listed on that. (If you
don't have a contact list, ask for one).
You do want this brought to their attention as soon as possible (information for
them/in her file and relief of your wife's symptoms).

A lymphedema treatment clinic has been established for cancer patients at the
Sunnybrook Regional Cancer Treatment Centre but that's probably only on referral
from the oncologist and in specific situations.

It's my understanding (and I don't have experience nor am a doctor) that if it's
lymphedema, they sometimes do radiation therapy, so I don't know what the "next
move" would be, since a treatment plan hasn't been set up yet, but she does need
relief. Also ask them if the water pills should be stopped (or not).

So do call first thing this morning.

Keep in touch,
J

Reply to this Message