Comprehensive Cancer Care: Navigating Treatment Options for Your Aunt
Comprehensive Medical Consultation Hello, I am inquiring on behalf of my aunt. If there are any unclear points, please bear with me. My aunt is 65 years old, 163 cm tall, and weighs about 50 kg. She underwent a thorough examination at a large hospital, which revealed that she has...
Dr. Fan Sheng Reply:
Mimi: I recommend Dr. Lin Zhe-bin from the Department of Hematology and Oncology at Taipei City Hospital Ren'ai Branch. Please remember to bring your previous examination results and reports. X-rays and CT scans should be requested from the original hospital to be made into ...[Read More] Comprehensive Cancer Care: Navigating Treatment Options for Your Aunt
Treatment Options for Local Recurrence of Nasopharyngeal Cancer
What treatment options should be considered for local recurrence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma? My husband is currently 32 years old and was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (T4N2) at the end of 2006. He immediately underwent radiation therapy and chemotherapy. However, the ...
Dr. Chen Sirong Reply:
Dear Xiao Cheng, 1. The final determination of cancer recurrence still relies on confirmation through pathological biopsy. However, this case has supporting evidence from PET scans and MRIs, along with the presence of clinical symptoms, indicating a high likelihood of cancer rec...[Read More] Treatment Options for Local Recurrence of Nasopharyngeal Cancer
Post-Surgery Breast Cancer Treatment: Understanding Options and Concerns
Postoperative treatment for breast cancer? A month ago, my mother felt a small hard lump under her breast. She went to a nearby hospital for an examination, and the results indicated it was benign. However, feeling uneasy, she returned to Chung Shan Medical University for a more ...
Dr. Chen Sirong Reply:
Dear Ms. Hui, 1. It is the patient's reasonable right to request a copy of the pathology report from the original treating hospital. Seeking a second opinion from another oncologist with this information is also a reasonable course of action, and the hospital and physician ...[Read More] Post-Surgery Breast Cancer Treatment: Understanding Options and Concerns
Understanding Subglottic Cancer Treatment Options in Taiwan
Subglottic carcinoma Hello, I am a bride from Mainland China and I have obtained my identification card. My father has been diagnosed with subglottic cancer, which has already been surgically removed. After the surgery, he underwent radiation therapy, but less than a month after ...
Dr. Chen Sirong Reply:
Dear Ms. Chia-Jung, Hello. If surgery is required, please consult an otolaryngologist regarding the surgical costs. The cost for radiation therapy for head and neck cancer is approximately around 300,000 NTD, while the cost for adjuvant radiation therapy post-surgery is about 2...[Read More] Understanding Subglottic Cancer Treatment Options in Taiwan
Post-Surgery Diet Tips for Colorectal Cancer Patients
Postoperative Diet for Colorectal Cancer I would like to ask about my mother, who is 52 years old and recently underwent colorectal cancer resection surgery. What dietary considerations should be taken into account post-surgery? Should she follow a completely raw food diet, or is...
Dr. Chen Sirong Reply:
1. The Western medical perspective on diet is that as long as a patient maintains their weight, it is acceptable. 2. Can patients tolerate a completely raw or low-residue diet? It's important to consider whether the patient can mentally and physically accept it. 3. For e...[Read More] Post-Surgery Diet Tips for Colorectal Cancer Patients
Can Gallbladder Cancer Cause Diarrhea? Tips for Improvement
Diarrhea Does gallbladder cancer cause diarrhea? How can I improve this condition?
Dr. Chen Sirong Reply:
Socute: I sincerely apologize for not knowing your medical condition, what treatments you have received, or what medications you are currently taking. I recommend that you return to your primary physician for a follow-up. Wishing you a speedy recovery, Dr. Chen.[Read More] Can Gallbladder Cancer Cause Diarrhea? Tips for Improvement
Understanding Facial Lumps: Could It Be a Tumor?
Tumor? Hello doctor, I found a lump behind my left cheek, just below the earlobe, last year. It was protruding at first but later shrank. However, when I turn my head in one direction, I can still feel that lump, and it doesn't hurt when I touch it. Based on your judgment, c...
Dr. Chen Sirong Reply:
Hello, little pig. 1. A tumor that decreases in size is likely not a malignant cancer. 2. As for what type of tumor it is, a physician's palpation is necessary for a more definitive answer. If the doctor cannot feel it or suspects a possibility of malignancy, a biopsy wil...[Read More] Understanding Facial Lumps: Could It Be a Tumor?
Diet and Nutrition Tips for Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy
Breast Cancer Diet Hello Dr. Chen: A relative in our family underwent breast cancer surgery last December and is about to start 8 sessions of chemotherapy. Are there two types of chemotherapy costs: one covered by health insurance and one out-of-pocket? Approximately how much do ...
Dr. Chen Sirong Reply:
Hello Ping Ping, 1. Chemotherapy should be administered according to the stage of cancer; the medications used should correspond to the specific stage. Sometimes, in foreign countries, drug N is recommended for stage III, but domestically, it may not yet be covered. However, tra...[Read More] Diet and Nutrition Tips for Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy
Understanding Nasopharyngeal Cancer: Symptoms, Recurrence, and Aftermath
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma Dear Dr. Chen, 1. Previously, in July 2008, I inquired about experiencing body-wide tingling after undergoing radiation therapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma in July 2005. A PET scan, which I paid for out of pocket, suggested recurrence in the left neck a...
Dr. Chen Sirong Reply:
Hello, Shang-Jun. 1. The probability of recurrence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma after treatment is less than 3% after three years, so try to relax a bit. 2. Have you considered consulting a neurosurgeon or an internist? The cause of neck nerve compression could be due to fibros...[Read More] Understanding Nasopharyngeal Cancer: Symptoms, Recurrence, and Aftermath
Understanding Treatment Options for Elderly Patients with Gastric Adenocarcinoma
The treatment options for gastric adenocarcinoma include: 1. **Surgery**: This is the primary treatment for localized gastric cancer. It may involve partial or total gastrectomy, depending on the extent Hello Dr. Chen, I would like to ask about a patient who has been preliminar...
Dr. Chen Sirong Reply:
1. Radiation therapy can cause severe vomiting, and chemotherapy administered via injection can also lead to nausea and vomiting. Oral chemotherapy medications may provide some relief. 2. You can visit a large hospital for an in-person evaluation by a physician. 3. For Wester...[Read More] Understanding Treatment Options for Elderly Patients with Gastric Adenocarcinoma
Understanding Risks of Alcohol Injection for Elderly Liver Cancer Patients
Liver cancer consultation Dr. Chen: Hello! Thank you for your response. My grandmother has tested positive for hepatitis B antigen. In April, her AFP was 200, in May it was 400, in September it was 500, and in November it was 1000. The doctor informed us that surgery and emboliza...
Dr. Chen Sirong Reply:
Rita: Based on the report, it should be liver cancer, so there is no need for a biopsy since the doctor has already informed you that surgery or embolization is not possible. Of course, he may have already discussed what treatment options he recommends. Below, I provide a piece o...[Read More] Understanding Risks of Alcohol Injection for Elderly Liver Cancer Patients
Understanding Fibromas: Concerns About Growth and Surgical Options
Lipofibroma Hello Doctor: I would like to ask you about the fibroma that has developed above my chest. Previously, when I went for an examination at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, the doctor told me that surgery was not necessary and that I should just follow up every six months. ...
Dr. Chen Sirong Reply:
Ms. Tsai, 1. If you are concerned, you can go to another hospital for a second opinion. 2. If the doctor says it is benign but you still feel worried or unhappy, it might be better to consider surgery to remove it. 3. The incision may be greater than 4.5 centimeters; the percepti...[Read More] Understanding Fibromas: Concerns About Growth and Surgical Options
Treatment Options for Liver Tumors in Elderly Diabetic Patients
Liver cancer Your grandmother, who is 82 years old and has diabetes, recently had a pacemaker implanted a week ago and is taking aspirin. She has now been found to have a tumor approximately 3 centimeters in size near the liver close to major blood vessels. What type of treatment...
Dr. Chen Sirong Reply:
Rita: 1. Are you sure it's liver cancer? 2. You should have a physician make a diagnosis. Have you done a CT scan, angiography, PET scan, or even a biopsy? Only after a diagnosis can further treatment be considered. 3. Of course, liver cancer is a concern, but first, a blood...[Read More] Treatment Options for Liver Tumors in Elderly Diabetic Patients
Should ALCL Stage III Patients Consider Autologous Transplant?
Is autologous stem cell transplantation necessary for stage III anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL)? A patient with stage III Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALCL) has undergone their fifth cycle of CHOP chemotherapy. The treatment plan mentioned by the physician includes autol...
Dr. Fan Sheng Reply:
Currently, there is a lack of large-scale clinical studies providing us with strong evidence for a universally satisfactory answer to this question. To be frank, in the case of anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), if the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) is positive, the prognos...[Read More] Should ALCL Stage III Patients Consider Autologous Transplant?
Understanding Breast Cancer Staging: What Do y and Mx Mean?
The issue of breast cancer metastasis? Hello Dr. Chen: My mother had surgery a month ago and her AJCC stage is yT2N1aMx. I would like to ask what the "y" in front signifies. Also, I have checked that "Mx" means that it is not possible to determine if there are...
Dr. Chen Sirong Reply:
1. "y" refers to pathological staging. 2. Pathological staging is determined by pathologists based on the specimens sent by the surgeon after surgery. Since the surgeon does not send the entire body for examination, but only the surgical specimen, the pathologist can on...[Read More] Understanding Breast Cancer Staging: What Do y and Mx Mean?
Post-Surgery Diet Tips for Uterine Fibroid and Cancer Recovery
Dietary Guidelines After Uterine Fibroid Surgery Hello Doctor: I have a friend who had a uterine fibroid removed, initially thought to be benign, but it was discovered to be a malignant tumor after surgery. She will need to undergo chemotherapy. What natural foods can help her re...
Dr. Chen Sirong Reply:
Hello YY, my personal knowledge is not in natural foods, so I feel a bit hesitant to answer your question. I would directly suggest that patients consult a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner to regulate their health. As for natural foods, they will need to rely on their ow...[Read More] Post-Surgery Diet Tips for Uterine Fibroid and Cancer Recovery
Understanding Lymphoma: Symptoms, Treatments, and Cure Options
Lymphoma (Forwarded from the Director's mailbox) Hello, I would like to inquire about the symptoms of lymphoma. As far as I know, lymphoma can be divided into two types: A) Hodgkin lymphoma and B) Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. I would like to ask if both types of lymphoma have curab...
Dr. Chen Sirong Reply:
Hello Mr. Huang, both types of cancer have a chance of being cured, but the probability decreases as the stage advances. To know the exact probability, a more detailed pathology report is necessary. In the case of stage 3 lymphoma, there is no alternative to chemotherapy; encoura...[Read More] Understanding Lymphoma: Symptoms, Treatments, and Cure Options
Understanding Xeloda Use for Breast Cancer with Bone Metastasis
Breast cancer treatment with Xeloda? I would like to ask about breast cancer with bone metastasis. Is there a time limit for the use of Xeloda? Is it because the disease condition may require a treatment duration of 2 to 3 years?
Dr. Fan Sheng Reply:
Tina: If it is effective, it can certainly be used continuously, but after more than 2 years of use, the chances of it still being effective are quite low.[Read More] Understanding Xeloda Use for Breast Cancer with Bone Metastasis
Understanding Persistent Cough After Chemotherapy: What to Do Next?
Why do patients experience persistent coughing after chemotherapy? Doctor: Hello! I would like to ask you two questions. My father received chemotherapy on October 20, and for some unknown reason, he has been experiencing persistent vomiting since then, almost without stopping, a...
Dr. Fan Sheng Reply:
Xiao Yu: Some chemotherapeutic agents, like Irinotecan used for treating colorectal cancer, have been reported to cause coughing. However, the commonly used antiemetic Dexamethasone during chemotherapy has a higher suspicion of causing coughing. It is recommended to consult your ...[Read More] Understanding Persistent Cough After Chemotherapy: What to Do Next?
Understanding Chemotherapy Options After Stomach Cancer Surgery
Postoperative chemotherapy for gastric cancer? Hello Dr. Chen, my father (73 years old) underwent a total gastrectomy due to stomach cancer and was discharged just one week ago. The outpatient physician mentioned that he needs to schedule chemotherapy. I would like to know if che...
Dr. Chen Sirong Reply:
Chemotherapy for gastric cancer can be administered orally or through injection. If the patient's condition allows, injection chemotherapy is generally more intense; however, it also comes with more significant side effects, primarily nausea and vomiting, as well as a decrea...[Read More] Understanding Chemotherapy Options After Stomach Cancer Surgery