Adrenal Cancer Treatment

Question: the patient suffered from oesophageal cancer which spread to the lungs and adrenal glands .suggest treatment? the cancer has been spread to both the lungs the patient never took tobacco ,ciggrate etc the patient could not tolerate chemotherapy the first round of chemotherapy and radiation therapy was performed and the oesophageal cancer was operated and succesful the second round of chemotherapy after the operation was not tolerated by the patient even then two chemotherapys were given now even thhe lungs are affected

Answer: Hi, My name is Ariel, I'm a Nutraceutical Consultant living in FL. I cannot expand too much on what I have seen Immunocal (Bonded Cysteine Isolate) do for patients like him do to terms of use here. However If you contact me I can explain further and send you information via email. In essence the chemotherapy alone wont cut it, you need a tough cellular level fortifier of Glutathione, which will help the body shrink the mass, but most importantly stop the mutation. It sounds like the cellular mutation is very advance, but it’s worth a try as long as he takes large amounts. Immunomail@yahoo.com

Question: what are some side affects to radiation treatment? Been diagnosed with adrenal cancer

Answer: Radiation therapy can have many side effects. These side effects depend on the part of the body receiving radiation, the dose of radiation, and how often you have the therapy. * Hair loss * Skin pain * Red, burning skin * Shedding of the outer layer of skin (desquamation) * Increased skin coloring (hyperpigmentation) * Death of skin tissue (atrophy) * Itching * Fatigue and malaise * Low blood counts * Difficulty or pain swallowing * Erythema * Edema * Changes in taste * Anorexia * Nausea * Vomiting * Increased susceptibility to infection * Fetal damage (in a pregnant woman) Please see the web pages for more details on Radiation therapy and Adrenal tumour / cancer.

Question: Kidney cancer and side effects of Sutent? I am asking on behalf of a friend, her partner was diagnosed with kidney cancer at aged 44 around 6 weeks ago. Unfortunately they have since discovered he has had it for years and it has now spred to lungs, liver and adrenal gland. He has been prescribed Sutent (25mg to begin), so far all the side effects they have read about seem very grim, he is now on day 4 of Sutent and so far so good but is it too early to say if this will last and if he does get side effects can they be a lot less severe than those they have read about. Any other promising news regarding his cancer and treatment would be really appreciated. Many thanks

Answer: My teenage son took Sutent for his advanced sarcoma and had very few 'side effects' . . the worst was the diarrhea which he controlled by using Immodium. The only other side effect he experienced was that he lost pigmentation in hair and skin . . . his hair turned white. Your friend will be able to take Sutent at home without going to a clinic or hospital . . and that is good news. For some perspective . . for first line treatment . . My son underwent nine months of high dose chemotherapy using a chemical cocktail of five different chemo drugs given intravenously . . he was an inpatient during that time and cycled every 21 days. When he was offered the Sutent and to be able to be at home the same time . . only one daily pill . . well, it seemed much, much better to him. Although, by the time he took the Sutent he was pretty much a battle worn warrior with three years of chemo experience behind him. http://www.chemocare.com/bio/Sutent.asp You might encourage your friend to join the online listserv patient support group for kidney cancer . . they can offer more of an insight into treatment options than anyone here could. ACOR: The Kidney Cancer Online Support Group http://listserv.acor.org/archives/kidney… Good luck to your friend.

Question: Share your cancer stories please? So I recently found out that the doctors basically said that they can't help my dad. He has lung cancer, which has spread to his adrenal glands, and was given three years to live with treatment, one year without. They said they can't stop it, but they can slow it down. But I know that sometimes miracles do happen, so if you or someone you know has a miracle cancer story, like they said you weren't gonna make it and you pulled through, it would really cheer me up to hear it. thank you.

Answer: I am a 7 year Metastatic Kidney disease survivor, the odds, back when I was diagnosed were a 5 year survivability rate of 15%. I know it isn't the same disease as your dad's, but the story is definitely unique. I was born under the sign of Cancer, was working in Oncology R&D when I was diagnosed with Renal Cell Carcinoma, on my birthday no less. They removed the kidney, but 15 months later it had spread to my lungs. I went on an IL2 alpha interferon therapy program that cleared a lot, but left 2 nodules. I got those treated with RF Ablation, but it came back. I tried angiogenesis inhibitors, they helped slow it down, but also made me cough up some blood. They ended up using embolization on me to stop the bleeding in my lungs. RF ablation is what I have been researching at work for the last 8 years. The embolization procedures they performed on me were with a micro catheter and PVA particles I helped put on the market. Point being, there are new advances all the time, and new therapies. Sometimes therapies already in existence get used in other disease states than they were originally intended for. I would never have received cyberknife treatment 3 or 4 years ago. Also, new therapies are being constantly investigated. NOVA did a show on epigenetic therapy called "Ghost In Your Genes" that explores it's early possibilities. Keep your faith, your hope, and good cheer, and best of luck to your dad and your family. I will say a prayer for him.

Question: Does ADRENAL abnormality affect kidney, other function? Relative of mine was found to have "something" wrong with her adrenal glands nearly two years ago while in ICU for respiratory disease. It was not cancer, and doctors never mentioned anything further to us. Because of her COPD, atrial fibrillation, high blood pressure and CHF, she suffers tremendously from respiratory problems and mainly the increase carbon dioxide problem which comes with COPD. It is the high acidity (low PH) which I blame for her smelly, thick, dark urine which can be in any form I just mentioned or only one of those but the color of gasoline mixed w/ water, or lately appearing to be potato flaky-like. From experience of seeing doctors ignore many things in many of her hospitalizations and subsequent treatments, I've come to believe her kidneys may not be functioning as well as they should. What would our main concern w/ the adrenal glands here be? By the way, just remembered that they (adrenal) produce cortisone(?) or similar, which serve to protected against inflamation. Am I right? Wouldn't treatment of her adrenal glands help with her lung inflamation and thus her breathing improvement? JenS, I loved your complete and thorough answer!!! Wanted to extend question, but apparently I'd done so before. Wanted many others to read about such important gland and some of the problems with it.

Answer: Adrenals control many things. The help regulate sodium and potassium (May impact blood pressure) They produce DHEA which in turn becomes estrogen and testosterone. Cortisol regulates many things - which like you said, in correct amounts, it would reduce inflammation, but in the wrong amount, um, it increases it. I had a tumor that increased my cortisol and had too much - thus it wrecked my immune system, etc ,etc. Too much is as bad as too little... But with the information given, high blood pressure is a definite adrenal issue (and can be kidney driven by renin and aldosterone), but as far as the color of urine, that is purely a kidney function as far as I know.

Question: Question about cancer : My dad discovered a suprarenal tumor 8 years ago.? It was a big tumor.He had it surgically removed but remnants of the tumor remained of course.He started taking the medication Lysodren (mitotane).He is still on it as we speak.He also started taking glucocorticoids in order to compensate for the hormones released from the adrenal cortex which is now inactive due to the use of mitotane.Up till now the tumor is suppressed.About a year ago he discovered cancerous leukoplakia on his tongue.He had them surgically removed but they keep appearing and he keeps removing them surgically.So my question is : Is there a relation between the oral administration of mitotane and glucocorticoids and the appearance of oral cancer ? And what other methods of treatment other than surgical excision are available for small cancerous leukoplakia? Please this is very important for me.Thanks a lot

Answer: I highly doubt that the oral medication has anything to do with the oral cancer. The drugs wouldn't be active until they are taken up into the blood through the intestines. Aslo with all cancers the only way to get rid of them is to remove the cancerous tissue. Either surgically or with radiation therapy. Often times both are used.

Question: Help with diet/eating for someone with Pancreatic Cancer? My Dad was diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer a few weeks ago and is having a really hard time eating which I know is normal, but I wondered if anyone can give some advice on what types of foods to eat or avoid and if there are any enzymes or other supplements that will help him with digestion. His cancer seems to be only in the pancreas, an adrenal gland and there are spots which we assume to be cancer on his liver, but not much. The initial doctor was amazed it wasn't in the stomach or lungs. We have appointments this week for further diagnosis and treatment but other than drinking the Ensure liquid he's having a tough time. I'm hoping to help him with trying to maintain the weight he is at currently which is low but I hate to see him loose more if there is some help available. Thanks for any help you can give.

Answer: If your father is having chemotherapy then this may well affect his appetite and taste. He may want small amounts and these should be as often as possible. Let him try lots of different things. If he is able then plenty of fruit, vegetables and protein would be good and fruit drinks.

Question: Medical Questions - Diagnosed with Cancer? My mom in law is diagnosed with the following: Four cysts are identified within the liver with the largest measuring about 2cm in diameter in the right lobe. Gallbladder, adrenals, pancreas and spleen are normal. A subcentimetre right renal cortical cyst & a left renal cortical cyst measuring about 4.8cm in diameter noted. Bilateral moderate hydronephrosis & hydroureter up to the vesicoureteric junction noted. The ureteric stents are not seen within. Nodular thickening of the posterior bladder wall (predominantly on the right) is slightly increased from previously. Impression: 1.ca bladder (post radiotherapy) with nodular bladder wall thickening, slightly increased from previously, with bilateral moderate hydronephrosis & hydroureter. 2.Bilateral renal cortical cysts 3.Liver cysts. Doctor advisable not to perform any surgery for the treatment. But he does not offer any alternative solutions either. Thanks for the reply. The report is taken by an oncologist. The advise of treatment follow up is by a urologist. Denisedds: Thank you for your advise. If surgery is needed, I believe she has to go back to her urologist, right? Spoken to urologist today. It was a Stage 3-Bladder Cancer. He advised to re-do radio-therapy as surgery to remove the whole bladder is major and will not be benefiting my mom-in-law at this point of time. Can this cancer be curable?? Please advice and thanks you very much in advance.

Answer: Her diagnosis is bladder cancer. You are giving information off a report, probably a CT. Cure is not possible without surgery and she should not be sent back to the urologist. Without surgery any treatment is to slow it down or relieve symptoms. She had radiation and the radiation oncologist should have explained everything. EDIT: I am very sorry, but no it is not curable. Removing the bladder is a major surgery and at stage 3 the cancer has spread beyond the bladder. Surgery would not cure her nor would it extend her life so it is pointless putting her through that. Talk to her oncologist to find out what they recommend. Chemo can stop the progression for about 7-9 months. Radiation may slow it some and helps with pain, but there isn’t anything that will prolong her life long term. I’m sorry.

Question: Medical Mystery- Just for fun? I think these are really fun so I've come up with a fictitious character, we'll call him Patient A, and he has an illness. You get 5 questions to ask me, but I will give you information in the description. 23 year old female is brought in with her sister who thinks that she is anorexic. Her sister explains that she has lost 28 pounds in two months. Other symptoms: -Vomiting -Slight anemia -Fever -Bloody diarrhea Hints: -She has recently gotten glasses -She has not left the country in 3 years -Family history of cancer, diabetes, heart disease and adrenal disorders In order to win, you need: A diagnosis A test to confirm A treatment or cure Remember: If you have questions I will answer them. But you only get 5 as a team, so make them count. Good luck A biopsy of the colon turned up negative. Not cancer. Good guess with the thyroid. However, the test turned up negative. The thyroid is acting normally. Oh, and gazeygoo, interestingly enough, this is EXACTLY what this site is for. If you think that this site is here to diagnose people you are very wrong. This is a thought provoking "game" that will sharpen a med student's or doctors diagnostic skills. Good guess. Rapid urine test turned up negative. Good guess. Rapid urine test turned up negative. Great guess with Celiac Disease. Your really close. No it not leflunomide. That is a medication.

Answer: Every thing except the fever could be diabetes. Perhaps she became ill from the starvation mode her body is in ? I would start with all sorts of blood tests.Thyroid, Irritable bowel,fasting blood sugar and an a1c test. She could also have celiac and should have both an endo scope and a colonoscipy.

Question: My Dad is dying from a melanoma brain tumor, we'd like to know how to know what to expect in the final weeks? Dad was diagnosed 9 months ago with a melanoma brain tumor and severe swelling around the tumor. At that time they suggested a cyberknife treatment which might slow the tumors growth. With the cyberknife treatment we could expect 6-9 months, without cyberknife 6 weeks at most. He did have the cyberknife treatment. Orginal melanoma was in his eye several years ago, which they removed the entire eye. He has also had lung cancer and tumors on both his adrenal gland and colon. Now, 9 months later he is under hospice care and seems to be deteriorating quickly. He has had several seizures and has lost control of his bladder and has very little strength left. He now has fluid in his lungs and blood in his urine, (cathiter), sleeps alot and has lost most of his appetite. Ironically his mind is still pretty sharp. My mom and I are wondering what things to look for to know the end is near.

Answer: I was going to say you should speak to the hospice people. I stand behind that. They know a lot about the dying process. You can also call your Dad's doctor. My thoughts are with you.