Dr. Robert Morgan, MD

Hello,

This question is very complicated. The symptoms of a brain tumor depend on where the tumor arises. Any part of the central nervous system can be affected. The usual symptom is a headache that won’t subside. Other areas of the brain that can be affected involve control of the muscle groups in the body. Paralysis can be a presenting symptom.

The important thing to remember is that many other physical conditions can also mimic a brain tumor, so it is important to consult a physician if any symptoms that are not explained arise. It is important to make a diagnosis to explain any neurological symptoms that may arise to determine the best treatment for the illness.

RM

These symptoms may be due to the anti nausea drugs that are given to reduce chemo induced side effects. He needs to discuss these symptoms with his doctor who may be able to try alternative medications particularly if the symptoms are distressing to the patient.

Intake of Turmeric and other supplements has been suggested to decrease the appearance of cancer and other diseases. The bases of these assertions is a small amount of laboratory evidence to support these claims. However, the proof of the clinical benefit comes from data in well controlled randomized clinical trials. These trials must be of sufficient statistical power and repeated for verification. Many times individual observations are made and reported, but follow up negative trials go unreported. I don’t think that any supplement has been shown to result in these benefits and would encourage the public to consult their doctors with questions of the value in taking turmeric or other agents.

Hello,

The treatment of lymphoma can be somewhat complicated. Decisions are based on the type of cell seen on the biopsy and the stage. The more advanced the tumor, the higher the stage. My recommendation would be to talk to your doctor and find out the characteristics of the tumor and the treatment recommendations. Often chemotherapy is recommended. Then I would consult the treatment guidelines in the website of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN.ORG). They are open to all computer users. If your doctor hasn’t answered all your questions I would obtain a second at a large cancer center.

The side effects of chemotherapy depend on the recommended regimen. I would suggest three things....
1. Ask your doctor what regimen is being recommended
2. Ask your doctor what he/she expects
3. Consult the NCCN www.nccn.org guidelines. They have a patient guideline available that is an accurate source of information.

Thanks. RM

This is a difficult question to answer. The chance of recurrence depends on the stage of the invasive cancer at the time of the mastectomy and if there was a recommendation for adjuvant therapy to decrease the risk of recurrence.

Hmmm...one of the main side effects of chemotherapy is myelosuppression (low blood counts). Mold in the house is unlikely to cause worsening of the blood counts, but the risk of low blood counts is infection. This should be discussed with the doctor.

Hmmm...you need to discuss treatment plans for the type 2 diabetes with your doctor. The treatment plans for the diabetes and the CLL need to be coordinated.

It is hard to know if the previous cancer diagnosis is the cause of your symptoms. I think that you need a good history and physical examination with appropriate lab tests to more completely assess your symptoms. I would recommend a general internist or family physician to do a complete examination. Good luck. RM

My advice would be to see acolon and rectal surgeon or a dermatologist for an examination. That way a diagnosis can be made and the appropriate started. RM

This all depends on the illness that was treated with immunotherapy. Every illness has a “routine” follow up. I would discuss medical follow up with your physician.

Further treatment approaches depend on your overall clinical condition and your doctor. I would consult with a good online source such as NCCN (national comprehensive cancer network) which publishes treatment guidelines for most malignancies. An alternative would be to get a second opinion from a good university or tertiary care center. I usually recommend Mayo Clinic for good second opinions. I think that talking to your doctor for treatment opinions is a good idea.