Cancer treatment, Oncology FAQ

For HER2-positive breast cancer, after one year of treatment with trastuzumab (Herceptin), it is important to evaluate the patient's individual situation, including the response to treatment and any potential side effects. Continuing treatment may be recommended based on the...

Medication side effects: Does exercise help with dry and itchy skin? Hello doctor, my aunt (67) is undergoing targeted therapy for breast cancer, and her hands and feet are very red and itchy. The last time she scratched, she broke the skin, and the wound hasn't healed yet. ...

Elevated CEA levels? Hello Doctor, I would like to inquire: "A family member had a CEA level of 3.6 on December 11, 2023, at the time of diagnosis with stage III breast cancer. Surgery was performed on January 3, 2024, but during the follow-up appointment three months later ...

Six months after treatment for tongue cancer, there has been recent swelling and pain in the cervical lymph nodes? A 65-year-old male, who underwent treatment for stage 0 tongue cancer six months ago, has recently experienced pain and swelling in the lymph nodes in the neck. A CT...

Medication consultation Hello Doctor: Recently, I received a cancer bone treatment, and my hematologist prescribed bone-strengthening chewable tablets (one in the morning and one in the evening), while my orthopedic doctor prescribed calcium syrup (10-15cc daily). I would like to...

Stage III Oral Cancer Hello: In July of this year, I underwent a stage III oral cancer surgery that involved the removal of oral tissue and neck lymph nodes. I completed 33 sessions of radiation therapy and 8 sessions of chemotherapy by the end of September. Currently, I am in re...

First-line medications for advanced liver cancer? Hello Dr. Hu, My father has been diagnosed with liver cancer that has metastasized to the bones. He has been taking Lenvatinib (Lenvima) for over two years. Recently, the National Health Insurance Administration has approved cov...

The specialty for a second opinion on thymic cancer? I underwent a thymoma resection surgery in early January this year. Initially, it was estimated that I would not need any further radiotherapy or chemotherapy after the surgery, but the pathology report indicated metastasis. Th...

Cancer Issues: Base of Tongue Cancer My father has been battling cancer for nearly three months. During the initial phase of chemotherapy, his condition was stable, and he was able to manage daily activities independently. However, on January 25th, the day after completing radiat...

Post-breast cancer treatment - menopausal injection? Hello Doctor: ER: 95% PR: 95% HER2: 0 Ki-67: 5% Tumor size: 1.4 cm, sentinel lymph nodes negative. Surgery was completed in mid-September, and radiation therapy started in mid-October, with no chemotherapy. When the breast surg...

Treatment-related Hello Doctor, my father had a blood test two weeks ago which showed abnormal EBV levels, and he underwent a CT scan at the hospital, followed by a biopsy (the doctor mentioned it was very small, so it was completely removed). The report confirmed a diagnosis of ...

Is genetic testing necessary for stage I breast cancer? Hello Doctor: I have questions regarding the follow-up treatment for breast cancer. The pathology report shows Ki-67: 5%, ER: positive 95%, PR: positive 95%, HER-2: negative. I have undergone a partial mastectomy and sentine...

Colorectal cancer resistance to treatment After my family member's surgery for colorectal cancer, they had a KRAS mutation and underwent all lines of chemotherapy. The first-line treatment was the most effective, but the tumor only shrank initially and then showed no further...

Cancer Consultation 1. What is the benefit of performing a circulating tumor cell (CTC) test, or would it be more meaningful to conduct next-generation sequencing (NGS)? 2. Previously, during first-line treatment, the CEA level dropped to 5, but after switching to the 23rd line...

Colorectal cancer treatment As a child seeking advice for my father: My father, in his seventies, was diagnosed with colon cancer that had metastasized to the liver at the time of discovery. After surgically removing the tumor at the junction of the colon and rectum, he began che...

Esophageal sclerosis and impaired peristalsis? Hello Dr. Chen: My father is 72 years old and was diagnosed with stage III esophageal cancer two years ago. He underwent stereotactic body radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and has not had surgery. Currently, both CT scans and PET sca...

Radiation therapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma is reduced? My father was diagnosed with stage IV nasopharyngeal carcinoma, but there was no distant metastasis; however, there was involvement of the lymph nodes in the head and neck region and the left optic nerve. Initially, he un...

Tumor issues after treatment completion? My father was diagnosed with stage IV nasopharyngeal carcinoma last year, with no distant metastasis. He began radiation therapy and chemotherapy, completing all treatments in October of last year, and has been undergoing regular follow-up...

Questions about the side effects of chemotherapy for breast cancer? My mother is 50 years old and last year, after suffering from a persistent cough, a lump was discovered in her chest. Upon consulting a doctor, she was diagnosed with stage II HER2-positive breast cancer. She has...

Surgical biopsy techniques for breast cancer? Hello Doctor, my mother had a breast ultrasound at the clinic on January 17, which showed a tumor in her right breast. The doctor performed a surgical biopsy to remove a portion of the tissue for testing, and the report indicated that...