Questions About Breast Chemotherapy

1. What tests will show if breast cancer spread?

   Question - I would like to know the status of the body after three chemotherapy treatments are over for a breast cancer patient. What tests are required to know that the disease is not spreading further?

2. My mom has a "tinny mouth" from the chemotherapy. What can help?

   Question - When presented with the same metallic taste in my mouth, it was recommended by a nurse, that I try a bite of chocolate. It certainly helped me... both physically and psychologically. The chocolate was like having a reward for enduring all the side effects.
   2 Community Answers

3. How long do chemotherapy side effects last?

   Question - First off, thank you for your well-written email. I can certainly hear your frustration.
   1 Expert Answer, 71 Community Answers

4. Is jaundice a common cancer complication?

   Question - My mom had developed breast cancer and underwent chemo for six months (six sessions). After her last session she have developed jaundice. My question is will she be completely okay? How is jaundice treated? Is it a dangerous condition after chemo?

5. What can be done to treat mouth and vaginal sores from chemo?

   Question - Mouth and vaginal sores are a common side effect of chemotherapy because the chemo agents affect the fast growing cells of the skin inside the mouth. Read more about how to prevent and treat mouth sores here.
   1 Expert Answer, 3 Community Answers

6. I had chemo for breast cancer and now have neuropathy in my feet and legs. What can be done?

   Question - The most commonly used chemotherapy drugs for breast cancer can cause neuropathy, or nerve damage, as a side effect, but it is usually temporary. However, there are cases in which the neuropathy lasts for a long time after chemotherapy is completed, and some patients report permanent nerve damage, although this is rare...
   1 Expert Answer, 4 Community Answers

7. Does skin cancer after breast cancer treatment mean the treatment wasn't effective?

   Question - Skin cancer can form after breast cancer, but I am not sure that is technically what happened in your mom's case. It sounds like she possibly had some radiation dermatitis after the original treatment, which is unfortunately common, but then possibly the original breast cancer itself spread to the skin...
   1 Expert Answer, 3 Community Answers

8. Should I accept doctor's diagnosis that my breast cancer is incurable?

   Question - I have Stage IV Breast cancer which infected my lymph nodes, low back, pelvis & some ribs. My doctor said it is incurable & changed his treatment plan from agressive to a milder version to help maintain quality of life. Does this sound like appropriate? Also, my cancer was ranked 3/3 on agression...

9. Is there cancer with no symptoms?

   Question - Insist the person receives a second opinion from a doctor. Seek support yourself to educate caring, loving others who are possibly duped. Skepticism is called for (not cynicism). Bring it to a head and call her bluff. It is likely to be a game and you need to break it up by refusing to dance the complementary steps...
   1 Community Answer

10. What can I do to improve the condition of my veins?

    Question - One of the side effects of chemotherapy is that is can be very difficult on the peripheral veins (those small veins found in your hands and arms). It can cause scarring, making the veins difficult to find, even for experienced phlebotomists...
    1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

11. What happens if I stop taking Tamoxifen?

    Question - You have submitted two excellent questions.
    1 Expert Answer, 6 Community Answers

12. What is the window of opportunity for breast cancer surgery?

    Question - The window of opportunity for breast cancer surgery is different in different people depending on the stage of disease. The question for any surgery is will the benefits outweigh the burdens. To do a major surgery, the surgeon will generally want the tumor to be small enough that s/he can get it all...
    1 Expert Answer

13. I have many health issues; should I be seeing a cardiologist as well?

    Question - Pulmonary hypertension occurs when the blood pressure becomes high in the lung arteries and right side of your heart, which causes damage to those organs over time. Common causes of secondary pulmonary hypertension: 1) Lung diseases, like COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases) 2) Blood clots in...
    1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

14. Was Abraxane not effective for me if my tumor marker is still high?

    Question - Abraxane is a new form of paclitaxel made with human protein that has been found to be effective in fighting metastatic breast cancer. Your doctor has prescribed this chemotherapy to control the spread of the disease, and uses serum tumor markers to measure the levels of certain proteins and other substances in your blood...
    1 Expert Answer, 2 Community Answers

15. Can your body change, longterm, after chemo?

    Question - After taking chemotherapy for breast cancer, 5 years later I still don't feel like myself. My body has changed. Is this possible?

16. Will stopping my chemotherapy affect my chances of healing the cancer?

    Question - i am currently undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer and have just completed my 4th cycle where they changed my drugs. i have been so naueous and unwell with recurrent pain and not eating and barely able to swallow, that i feel i no longer want to continue...