Side Effects

• Article - How Blood Test Results Can Affect a Chemotherapy Session

  Blood Test Results and Chemotherapy. When undergoing chemotherapy, a lot hinges on the blood test results that precede each chemotherapy session.

• Article - Drugs for Type 2 Diabetes: A Beginner's Guide

  A guide to the oral medications available to people with type 2 diabetes.

• Article - Parkinson's Disease: A Guide to Mind and Mood

  A guide to the cognitive and behavioral symptoms common in Parkinson's disease, and how they can be treated.

Blog Posts

• Blog Post - Prostate Cancer Therapy May Do More Harm Than Good

  Treating prostate cancer with hormone therapy, also called androgen deprivation therapy, may not have any benefit, new research says.

• Blog Post - Should Cancer Patients Take a Chemo Vacation?

  Most news headlines about cancer treatment trumpet...

• Blog Post - A Promising New Lung Cancer Vaccine

  This week brought welcome news for people with non-small cell lung cancer: Long-term results from a clinical trial showed that a new immune-boosting treatment worked as well or better than chemotherapy at reducing relapse.

• Blog Post - Weighty Matters: Diabetes Drugs Can Pack on the Pounds

  Some prescription drugs, it turns out, have an unintended side effect: They lead to weight gain.

• Blog Post - Don't Wait for a Doctor's Visit to Test for High Blood Pressure

  For those with high blood pressure, home monitoring is recommended by the American Heart Association and other major organizations.

• Blog Post - I constantly feel guilty because no matter how much I do for my parents, I know it's never enough.

  My mom has advanced Alzheimer's and my dad is 92 and...

• Blog Post - Tired No More: New Drug Can Treat Cancer Fatigue

  New research shows that the narcolepsy drug Provigil can treat cancer fatigue.

• Blog Post - New Legislation (and You) Can Help Prevent Seniors From Falling

  The Safety of Seniors Act aims to help prevent falls among the elderly. Here are ways to help reduce the fall risk for your parents.

• Blog Post - My mother says she's lonely, and it's heartbreaking for me to hear her crying at night. What can I do to help her?

  My father died seven years ago, and for quite some...

• Blog Post - On PBS: What's It Like to Have Alzheimer's?

  "The Forgetting: A Portrait of Alzheimer's" on PBS is an excellent examination of the disease.

• Blog Post - Prescription Addiction Part 3: No Magic Pill

  Prescription drug abuse and addiction by the elderly, and how to help them avoid it.

• Blog Post - Diet Linked to Diabetes Risk

  Diet does matter if you or your parents want to cut your risk for type 2 diabetes.

• Blog Post - New Lung Cancer Vaccine Quadruples Survival Time for Some

  A vaccine called Lucanix starting clinical trials in August 2008 may help patients with Stage III or IV non small-cell lung patients live longer with few side effects.

• Blog Post - Cancer Patients and Caregivers Hail New Anti-Nausea Patch

  The FDA's approval of Sancuso, an anti-nausea patch, excites cancer patients and caregivers because nausea can sideline those undergoing chemotherapy.

Questions & Answers

• Question - Is shaking as a side effect for chemo for non-hodgkins lymphoma serious?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Are there any long term effects due to M.O.P.P. chemotherapy which could effect your cardiovascular system?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - My father, who has Parkinson's disease, has been experiencing sundown syndrome. Is this normal or a side effect of a medication?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - Are there any treatments or medications for both incontinence and glaucoma?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How can I get the doctor to be more responsive when my mother has side effects from chemotherapy?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert and a Community Member

• Question - Can a new diabetes drug also help my mother lose weight?

  A type 2 diabetes drug called exenatide or Byetta has helped some people lose weight, although weight loss isn't the primary purpose of the drug.

• Question - Can I give my father a diuretic to help with the swelling in his feet caused by liver cancer?

  When swollen feet are caused by liver cancer, will a diuretic help relieve the swelling? Or is the cause of the swelling more complicated than that?

• Question - How do I handle my elderly mother who doesn't want me to travel at all?

  An elderly parent may worry or get upset when you travel; she may even claim she'll die while you're away. Should you give up travel to ease her mind?

• Question - What are the main side effects of chemotherapy?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - How can I help my Grandfather with his chemo treatments received via catheter?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Are there side effects associated with Taxotere?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - What can we do for kidney pain during chemo and radiation?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Can your body change, longterm, after chemo?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - Does chemotherapy change the scent of a person's skin?

  This question has been answered by two Community Members

• Question - What can be done about sores on my head from chemotherapy?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - My husband is experiencing severe nasal drip due to chemo. Any suggestions?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Are singular dose chemo treatments as effective as combination treatments?

  Are singular dose chemotherapy treatments such as Genzar (or Gemzar) just as beneficial as combined dose treatments such as Genzar and Taxatere?

• Question - what kind of meals should i feed my dad to help him...

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Chemotherapy and parrots in the home?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - How do I help my sister cope with chemo?

  This question has been answered by two Community Members

• Question - Is one of the side effects of chemo a tendency to fall down?

  When someone is weak from chemo, is falling a side effect? Do falls from chemo treatment caused by numbness or weakness require medical attention?

• Question - What is the red chemo that is administered by a large needle over a 15 minute time span and what are the side effects?

  Adriamycin, aka doxorubicin or the Red Devil, is a red chemo that may be taken with other cancer drugs. Possible side effects include heart failure.

• Question - Is blurred vision a common chemo side effect?

  Is blurred vision a common side effect of chemo? Blurred vision isn't the most common side effect of chemo but has been reported from chemo drugs.

• Question - Will chemo take away quality of life for my mother, who has Alzheimer's?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - What can I get for my husband to drink , when nothing stays down?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Why does the drug levodopa seem to work well for my father with Parkinson's only at certain times of the day?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

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

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Is it true that temporary blindness is a side effect of chemo?

  Can chemo cause blindness? Yes, certain chemo drugs can cause blindness, but blindness from chemo is rare and usually a temporary condition.

• Question - Can chemo cause side effects for those exposed to the patient receiving it?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Why is my dad, who has colon cancer have back and stomach pain? Will homeopathic remedies help?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Is there a medication I can take for my arthritis that won't cause a skin rash?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Should my father be treated for "parkinson-like" symptoms if he is otherwise in good health?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - Why am I experiencing pain after taking Enbrel for Rheumatoid Arthritis?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - My husband has stage 2 testicular cancer and received a...

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How can I effectively emotionally support my partner through prostate cancer?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - Can the new drug Symlin help my overweight dad with diabetes?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Should my father be taking aspirin now that he's been diagnosed with heart disease?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Can vitamin supplements and herbals slow memory loss due to Alzheimer's disease?

  Alzheimer's memory loss may be slowed by vitamins. Supplements can't improve memory, but they might be able to slow memory loss down slightly.

• Question - Which medicines cause memory loss?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Is chemo effective in treating squarmous cell cancer of the vulva?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Can Taxol cause severe ankle, leg, knee and hip pain?

  Is it normal to have joint or bone pain with taxol? I have pain in my hip, knee, ankle, and other joints using the chemo drug taxol.

• Question - If I stop chemo, my doctor says my colon cancer will return. When?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Does chemo make you so weak that you can not get out of bed?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Does guided imagery really control cancer-related pain?

  Is guided meditation or guided imagery helpful in relieving pain from cancer or other diseases? Studies have shown that guided meditation can help.

• Question - How do I get my parent's doctor to give us complete and honest information?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert and a Community Member

• Question - Are hallucinations common in people with Alzheimer's?

  Are Alzheimer's hallucinations common? My parent who has Alzheimer's has been experiencing hallucinations. Yes, hallucinations are fairly common.

• Question - When a person with Alzheimer's repeatedly makes mistakes, is it OK to correct her?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Could my mother's sleeping pills be causing her sundown syndrome?

  Could sleeping pills be causing my parent's sundown syndrome? Yes, sleeping pills could certainly contribute to sundown syndrome, or confusion.

• Question - What are the risks with reverse mortgages?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How can I convince my father to stop chemotherapy that's no longer working?

  When is it time to stop chemotherapy? My father wants to continue chemo, even though it's stopped working, because he wants to "keep on fighting."

• Question - Did bypass surgery change my father-in-law's personality for the worse?

  Can heart surgery change someone's personality? My father-in-law was a very mellow, easygoing person until he had bypass surgery.

• Question - I don't think my 78-year-old mother has dementia, so why does she get sundown syndrome?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How can I help my mom, who has chronic pulmonary disease, from across the country?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How can we prevent bruising due to low platelets?

  Bruising from low platelets is a common side effect in chemotherapy patients. Find out what you can do to reduce low platelet bruising.

• Question - Why won't my parent's doctor order a blood transfusion to boost his platelets?

  When platelets are low, should doctors do a platelet transfusion? Most doctors hold off transfusing unless a patient with low platelets is bleeding.

• Question - How do I handle my dad's denial about his diabetes?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How do I get my father, who's depressed about being treated for cancer, to talk about how he's feeling?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How long does insulin last once it's been opened?

  After I open a bottle of insulin, how long is it good for, how long does insulin last, and how do I know whether it's gone bad? Does insulin expire?

• Question - How do I gently correct my mother-in-law, who has had brain surgery, when she calls my daughters the wrong name?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - What does the term "new trust since PPA" refer to?

  The translation is easy: PPA means "Pension Protection Act." But understanding that law is far from simple.

• Question - How can I help an elder die?

  Make sure the older person's desire to die is real. Then read up about it.

• Question - Are living trusts and living wills the same?

  When it comes to living wills and living trusts, only the names are similar. One concerns itself with controlling medical care; the other, passing title to property.

• Question - How do I know if I'm entitled to a family member's inheritance?

  The law generally requires that a person must survive to be able to take property from another’s estate.

• Question - How can I get my brother to help out more in caring for our mother?

  Ideas for how to handle sibling rivalries and misunderstandings between sibling caregivers.

• Question - Does chemo give your skin a different smell after treatment?

  Does your skin smell different after chemo? Yes, your skin may smell different after chemo, and chemo affects your own sense of smell.

• Question - My father has bladder cancer and he no longer want to eat or drink. Is there anything we can do?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert and a Community Member

• Question - What are some tips for a long distance caregiver to a dad with pancreatic cancer?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - is it a good idea to put your IRA in a revocable living trust?

  Should I put my IRA in a revocable trust? There are good reasons to put an IRA in a revocable living trust. For one, a revocable trust avoids probate.

• Question - What if we suspect a trustee is mismanaging a trust?

  Family dynamics can make it hard to figure out whether a trust is being properly administered, or whether there is some type of illegal undue influence.

• Question - Why would my brother-in-law take chemotherapy pills for a skin rash?

  Are skin rashes ever treated with chemotherapy pills? Or are skin rashes a side effect of chemo pills instead?

• Question - What are the side affects from having chemo abraxane/avactin when you take blood thinners warfin?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - How can I carve out time for myself without feeling guilty?

  I"m my mother's caregiver, and I feel guilty when I take time for myself.

• Question - Should I put my only daughter on my car title?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Do any Medigap policies include drug coverage, or must you also get a Part D supplement from another source?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Can the chemicals injected for a PET scan result in low white blood count readings?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How can I ensure that my domestic partner will be empowered to handle my medical care and financial decisions?

  To be sure your family is clear about your domestic partner's role in handling your property and medical care, reinforce those wishes now.

• Question - How can I get my 85 year old father to stop yelling at my mother?

  My father is constantly yelling at my mother, and the problem seems to be getting worse.

Tips & Reflections

• Tip - Protect dry nails caused by cancer treatment

  Protect dry nails during cancer treatment with chemical-free nail polish and polish remover.

• Tip - Butterscotch Candies Help with "Tinny" Mouth

  Sucking on flavored candies can help rid your mouth of the metallic taste that comes with some chemotherapy drugs.

News

• News - Stressful Jobs Hard on the Heart

  TUESDAY, Oct. 9 (HealthDay News) -- Chronic on-the...

• News - More Fiber, Less Fat Help Prevent Ovarian Cancer

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• News - Anti-Cholesterol Drugs Help Prevent Lung Decline

  FRIDAY, Oct. 12 (HealthDay News) -- Statin drugs used...

• News - Many Patients Don't Report Use of OTC Pain Drugs

  MONDAY, Oct. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Large numbers of...

• News - Nicotine, Chili Peppers Offer Post-Surgery Pain Relief

  MONDAY, Oct. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Surgery patients...

• News - Garlic May Ward Off Heart Woes

  TUESDAY, Oct. 16 (HealthDay News) -- Garlic lovers...

• News - Acupuncture Cuts Need for Post-Op Painkillers

  WEDNESDAY, Oct. 17 (HealthDay News) -- Powerful opioids...

• News - Hepatitis A Vaccine Best Bet to Treat Virus

  THURSDAY, Oct. 18 (HealthDay News) -- Treating the...

• News - Female Blood Donor Concern May Be Unfounded

  TUESDAY, Oct. 23 (HealthDay News) -- Blood plasma donated...

• News - Drink or Two a Day May Help Lungs

  WEDNESDAY, Oct. 24 (HealthDay News) -- When it comes...