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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Cancer / May 2004DLBCL Advice Please - again
Hi J and Everyone, I'm writing to ask if anyone has experienced red spots (pustules?) on the scalp following chemo. My son, age 40, was dx on March 17 with DLBCL. He had a very aggressive and large tumour in his abdomen. His cancer had spread, but to date I still don't know how far. I'll find the answers to all of my questions (all two pages of them) next Tuesday when we visit the oncologist--well not the main oncologist (he's on vacation) but the resident who is managing the main onc's patients in his absence. My son has had two (of 6) rounds of CHOP, the last treatment almost two weeks ago, the next one on May 11. He has lost most of his hair. Two days ago I noticed on his scalp many red spots, a few of which have white spots in the middle. He says they are itchy. In addition I was alarmed by a long dark blue/black spot on his temple, about 1.5 cm. It's not raised. I'm told that if it's not raised it's likely not melanoma. Is this true? Any suggestions about the causes of these spots and how to treat them? Thanks for any advice. Karen > Hi J and Everyone, > [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > > Karen Hi Karen, We cannot see through the computer to see what exactly is going on. I would think that red spots are not that unusual (since they mention skin changes - see below). The last person I recall who mentioned pustules was Lowkey under the fingernails. If I recall correctly, it was "fungal" in nature. A cool (not cold) damp cloth might temporarily help a bit with the itchies but no scratching nor rubbing (for many reasons). Light towel-drying. If he's starting to get fungas under his fingernails, he'll need to start learning how to deal with that and not spread it elsewhere. IIRC Lowkey was wearing soft cotton gloves. More troubling (to me) is the "long blue/black". I don't recall reading about that here nor on the breast cancer newsgroup (in over 4 years). I'm concerned it might be bruising or an abnormal bleed.. On the other hand, when I look up CHOP, it mentions transient darkening of the skin (along with the above). <http://www.cancerbacup.org.uk/Treatments/Chemotherapy/Combinationchemotherapyreg imes/CHOPregime> And if they have added something blue into the mix (or if something in CHOP is blue) that confuses things more. I was talking to the local Cancer Centre earlier this week. She told me they have a radiation oncologist on call off-hours. At Doug's hospital, there should be more experts on call there. (I would think or they can pull someone from ER to check it out). I would suggest that (unless you hear shortly from Steph here) that he/you contact the "on call" specialists at his cancer centre. (I hope you or he got the list that I suggested). If not, call the main switchboard and ask who's on call and who he might see and when. Hopefully first thing in the morning if not before. If it's "expected", they can reassure you. If it's something unexpected, they should be able to contact the "resident" and have him go in and see Doug. And they should be able to address the pustules also (at the same time). Best I can do. Keep in touch and let us know how Tuesday goes. J- not an expert. ====== ====== ====== > J- not an expert. Now, a little statement like, "J- not an expert", wasn't so hard, was it? But I really need you to make better. I know you can do it. Lets get it right next time. Dear Medical Watch, Lay off J! I have only been part of this group for about a month and found it very easy to undesrtand that J. is not a doctor. Many times he has disclaimed his messages by saying that he is not a doctor. We ALL KNOW THIS, so give it a rest. This is a support group for people with cancer and their caregivers. The great majority of people who post information are not health care providers, yet some of the very best advice comes from self-sacrificing non-medical advocates and supporters. This is common knowledge to all of us in this group. Thanks for your concern that we mught be given misleading information, but I do not feel that your cautions are necessary. I'm an adult and I can read, as I have many times, when J. has written, "--not a doctor". Are you NEW here? Karen > ====== > ====== [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > But I really need you to make better. I know you can do it. Lets get it > right next time. > ====== > ====== [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > But I really need you to make better. I know you can do it. Lets get it > right next time. ?????????? Who are you? What's YOUR problem? Medical Watch, what's that? Are you of the medical persuasion? If you are, why not help instead of aggravate people here? I'm relatively new and I know that he is not a dr but has lots of helpful knowledge, compassion and gives you places to check out the info. Steph will correct things if they are wrong or off........ go away please stay, lurk and be nice. P.s. You're attitude is the first bad one I've seen here. Lily Mae > You're attitude is the first bad one I've seen here. > Lily Mae Hi Lily, thank you. Since you're new, you're probably not aware that this newsgroup has been full of these battles for years, before the Charter, before I was here. It was upsetting and confusing for patients (and loved ones) to wade through the arguments and name-calling and Steph and others would try to explain what worked and what didn't yet provide good information for cancer patients. We don't get paid for doing this, yet some here don't appreciate us. I'm sure Steph has better things to do than volunteer his time here. Same for Mike R. It's a big job to fend them off and do what this newsgroup is intended to do, provide good information and support. Hence why the Charter was created...to help fend them off. Hugs to you J Thanks very much J. I too was alarmed by the long blue/black spot on his temple. I'll ask my son to call the hospital, but since he's the type to not make waves (and he's an adult and I can't make him take all of the precautions I'd like him to), he will probably want to wait until we talk to the doctor on Tuesday. But I have made him promise to see his dermatologist this week too. As an extra precaution I'm going to measure the blue/black spot and see if it changes. I found this picture of melanoma on the net at http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/HPI/SkinCancerAtlas/Melanoma/SuperficialSpreadingMelan oma/03.htm. My son's spot looks similar although his is not raised. I will ask the doctor on Tuesday about fungus and try to monitor the situation. If it is fungus then, as you said, it may spread and we'll have to be careful. Again J. I appreciate very much your prompt and informed advice. Karen > > Hi J and Everyone, > > [quoted text clipped - 44 lines] > On the other hand, when I look up CHOP, it mentions transient darkening of the > skin (along with the above). <http://www.cancerbacup.org.uk/Treatments/Chemotherapy/Combinationchemothera pyregimes/CHOPregime> > And if they have added something blue into the mix (or if something in CHOP is > blue) that confuses things more. [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > J- not an expert. > Thanks very much J. I too was alarmed by the long blue/black spot on his > temple. I'll ask my son to call the hospital, but since he's the type to not > make waves (and he's an adult and I can't make him take all of the > precautions I'd like him to), he will probably want to wait until we talk to > the doctor on Tuesday. That's fine with me. (I was just worried in case it indicated some type of "bleed". I've seen some men's foreheads show veins and arteries more prominent than others (or women). So I would have to see myself the location and what it looks like, which is impossible to do. I'm sure if the doctor doesn't know, he too will agree that a dermatologist would be in order. > But I have made him promise to see his dermatologist > this week too. As an extra precaution I'm going to measure the blue/black [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/HPI/SkinCancerAtlas/Melanoma/SuperficialSpreadingMelan oma/03.htm. > My son's spot looks similar although his is not raised. Yes, well I looked at it and I have seen that melanomas can arise out of CHOP but I don't think that can happen that fast (unless maybe he already had a "starter" there before as in some type of skin lesion/mole), but I could be wrong about that. And just to be clear, when I mentioned fungal, I was thinking of the sores/pustules you mentioned. Maybe the black is fungus, maybe it's not. Hopefully, you'll let us know. Hugs Karen, J > I will ask the doctor on Tuesday about fungus and try to monitor the > situation. If it is fungus then, as you said, it may spread and we'll have > to be careful. > My son has had two (of 6) rounds of CHOP, the last treatment almost two > weeks ago, the next one on May 11. He has lost most of his hair. Two days [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > about 1.5 cm. It's not raised. I'm told that if it's not raised it's likely > not melanoma. Is this true? Regards Karen: I have a 5 month old son, who is taking chemo. He had small red dots, but without a white spot on the middle. Drs. told me that this was due chemo lowers platlets on blood, and those red dots were small blood looses. He also had, and lasted one week and a half, a 3 cm. long spot on his arm: An injection caused this. Good luck next thursday, ?. Thanks AG. What you said makes sense. I'll certainly ask the doctor. Karen > > My son has had two (of 6) rounds of CHOP, the last treatment almost two > > weeks ago, the next one on May 11. He has lost most of his hair. Two days [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > ?. > Thanks AG. What you said makes sense. I'll certainly ask the doctor. > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > > > in the middle. He says they are itchy. I wish I could see AG's original posts. He doesn't say what he does for the itchy... J > > Regards Karen: > > I have a 5 month old son, who is taking chemo. He had small red dots, but [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > > > Á. > My son, age 40, was dx on March 17 with DLBCL. He had a very aggressive and > large tumour in his abdomen. His cancer had spread, but to date I still [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > Karen What does his oncologist say? MIKE > > My son, age 40, was dx on March 17 with DLBCL. He had a very aggressive > and [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > What does his oncologist say? > MIKE I'm sorry but I figured out all the acronyms but DLBCL???? Is there a list somewhere? Thanks Lily Mae Hi Lily Mae, DLBCL = Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma. Karen > > > My son, age 40, was dx on March 17 with DLBCL. He had a very aggressive > > and [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > Is there a list somewhere? > Thanks Lily Mae About the blue/black spot, he suggested that he see a dermatologist. he obviousy couldn't figure it out! We'll see on May 27 when Doug goes to the dermatologist. Karen > > My son, age 40, was dx on March 17 with DLBCL. He had a very aggressive > and [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > What does his oncologist say? > MIKE |
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