Managing Esophageal Stricture and Motility Issues After Cancer Treatment
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...
Dr. Chen Sirong Reply:
Tina / 42 years old / Female 1. Besides medications that aid peristalsis and the esophageal stent (which the physician does not recommend for your father), are there any other suggested treatment options? A: 1.1 It is uncertain whether esophageal balloon dilation would be benef...[Read More] Managing Esophageal Stricture and Motility Issues After Cancer Treatment
Understanding Normal Pancreatic Index in Stage 3 Pancreatic Cancer
Normal pancreatic index? My mother initially thought she had stomach discomfort, but after undergoing an MRI in the hepatobiliary and gastroenterology department, the report indicated a 90% likelihood of stage 3 pancreatic cancer. After being evaluated by an oncologist, there wer...
Dr. Hu Ziren Reply:
Currently, the method for biopsy in pancreatic cancer is endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration, which has an extremely low risk of cancer cell dissemination due to the tumor biopsy. For stage III pancreatic cancer, preoperative treatment may involve either chemother...[Read More] Understanding Normal Pancreatic Index in Stage 3 Pancreatic Cancer
Radiation Therapy Options for Advanced Head and Neck Tumors
Radiation Therapy for Head and Neck Tumors Hello Dr. Chen: My father is a terminal cancer patient (unable to eat, can only take small amounts of liquid, primarily receiving intravenous nutrition while hospitalized). Due to recurrent bacterial infections, chemotherapy has been pau...
Dr. Chen Sirong Reply:
Tinglee / 37 years old / Female 1. In an online consultation without seeing the patient, I cannot claim that my recommendations are better than those of the original attending physician. 2. Generally, I respect the original attending physician. 3. A patient may not necessarily p...[Read More] Radiation Therapy Options for Advanced Head and Neck Tumors
Post-Chemotherapy Management for Breast Cancer Patients: Key Considerations
Post-Chemotherapy Management The patient has right breast cancer and has undergone a total mastectomy and axillary lymph node dissection. The pathology report indicates the following: Stage: IIB, Tumor size: 2.4 cm, Lymph nodes: positive for metastasis (2, 11), Distant metastasis...
Dr. Chen Sirong Reply:
Patient: 46 years old, male 1. I would like to ask, what are the key reasons for the consultation with the radiologist to assess whether additional radiation therapy and oral chemotherapy are necessary? A: If the lymph nodes have not metastasized, and the tumor is less than 4 c...[Read More] Post-Chemotherapy Management for Breast Cancer Patients: Key Considerations
Managing Side Effects of Nasopharyngeal Cancer Treatment: Key Considerations
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...
Dr. Chen Sirong Reply:
1. What are the consequences of stopping radiation therapy? A: The tumor may grow and compress the optic nerve, potentially leading to blindness in the left eye. It could invade the brain, nose, and lymph nodes in the neck, causing recurrence and growth that may lead to skin ulce...[Read More] Managing Side Effects of Nasopharyngeal Cancer Treatment: Key Considerations
Managing Swelling in Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy for Pancreatic Cancer
Lower extremity edema due to chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer? Hello Dr. Chen, my father is 71 years old and has stage 4 pancreatic cancer. He is currently undergoing chemotherapy with Gemcitabine and Abraxane, and he has completed his 13th cycle. Starting from the 13th cycle, ...
Dr. Chen Yunfang Reply:
Hello: 1. I cannot provide an answer without understanding the medical condition. 2. Eating eggs does not supplement albumin; albumin is produced by the liver and is not directly absorbed from any food. 3. Edema is a clinical manifestation that can accompany many different diseas...[Read More] Managing Swelling in Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy for Pancreatic Cancer
Post-Radiation Symptoms in Nasopharyngeal Cancer Patients: What to Expect
Post-nasopharyngeal radiotherapy Hello Dr. Chen, it has been 1.5 months since I completed radiation therapy for nasopharyngeal cancer. I started experiencing 24-hour pulsatile tinnitus during the mid-treatment, which continues to this day. Recently, I have also felt a slight swel...
Dr. Chen Sirong Reply:
Qing, 39 years old, female. For some individuals, the inflammatory reactions from radiation therapy may take 2-3 months to resolve. However, the radiation oncology department is only responsible for the treatment itself; side effects such as tinnitus and vision problems should be...[Read More] Post-Radiation Symptoms in Nasopharyngeal Cancer Patients: What to Expect
Understanding Tumor Status After Cancer Treatment: What Does No Change Mean?
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...
Dr. Hu Ziren Reply:
It indicates that the tumor has been cured or there is no local recurrence. However, cancer may relapse or metastasize during the follow-up period of 2 to 5 years after treatment. Therefore, it is still recommended to have regular follow-up appointments.[Read More] Understanding Tumor Status After Cancer Treatment: What Does No Change Mean?
Understanding Post-Chemotherapy Radiation Therapy for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Breast cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by lumpectomy, currently undergoing radiation therapy (inquiry made on April 14, follow-up on previous case)? Hello, (Old Case) A family member has a "triple-negative" left breast cancer measuring over 4 cm, a...
Dr. Chen Sirong Reply:
Ms. Chu / 52 years old / Female {New Inquiry} Initially, family members underwent "ultrasound, mammography (standing compression of the breast), and biopsy." After a week, they consulted the doctor, who said, "The lymph nodes are not infected." Whether the lym...[Read More] Understanding Post-Chemotherapy Radiation Therapy for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Understanding Radiation Therapy After Chemotherapy for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
In cases of breast cancer where chemotherapy is administered first followed by a lumpectomy, radiation therapy is typically recommended afterward. This approach is often referred to as neoadjuvant chemotherapy, which aims to shrink the tumor before surgical intervention. After th...
Dr. Chen Sirong Reply:
Ms. Zhu / 52 years old / Female 1. Does the family member only need radiation therapy for the left breast? Is it the entire left breast or just the area where the tumor was previously located? A: The radiation field for the breast includes the area below the collarbone, above ...[Read More] Understanding Radiation Therapy After Chemotherapy for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Understanding Immunotherapy for Stage III Oral Cancer After Chemotherapy
More than a week after chemotherapy. New tumor, receiving immunotherapy injections? Stage III oral cancer (surgery completed, chemotherapy and radiation therapy finished) has shown a recurrence of cancer cells over a week after the end of chemotherapy. The PET scan results indica...
Dr. Hu Ziren Reply:
A short-term recurrence indicates that the cancer itself has a strong resistance to treatment, and therefore, the subsequent treatment outcomes are expected to be poorer. The response rate to immunotherapy is approximately 15-20%, with a slower response that requires 3-4 months t...[Read More] Understanding Immunotherapy for Stage III Oral Cancer After Chemotherapy
Understanding Cancer Recurrence: Insights After Chemotherapy and Radiation
Two weeks after chemotherapy, cancer cells were found again? Oral cancer was diagnosed on December 7, 2021. Surgery was performed on the left mandible, and from January 1, 2022, I began chemotherapy and radiation therapy. By February 25, I completed a total of 7 chemotherapy sess...
Dr. Hu Ziren Reply:
If the pathology report indicates malignancy, it suggests local lymphatic metastasis. Note: If lymphatic metastasis occurs shortly after the completion of chemotherapy and radiation therapy, it indicates that the primary cancer cells have a high degree of malignancy and are likel...[Read More] Understanding Cancer Recurrence: Insights After Chemotherapy and Radiation
Understanding NF1-PN: Management and Risks of Neurofibromatosis Tumors
NF1-PN plexiform neurofibromas Hello Dr. Hu: My son is 12 years old now. When he was 8, we discovered that he had a tumor in his abdomen and liver. Because it is a flat lesion, we have visited 7 or 8 major hospitals, but no doctor has dared to perform surgery on him. I would like...
Dr. Hu Ziren Reply:
Pediatric oncology is a specialized field of medicine that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of cancers in children. This branch of medicine addresses various types of pediatric tumors, including leukemia, brain tumors, neuroblastoma, Wilms tumor, and retinoblastoma, among o...[Read More] Understanding NF1-PN: Management and Risks of Neurofibromatosis Tumors
Fever and Breast Cancer: Understanding Potential Connections and Concerns
Fever and issues related to breast cancer tumors? In mid-February 2020, there was a continuous fever for six days accompanied by diarrhea, and the medical evaluation did not reveal a definitive cause (influenza, COVID-19, rotavirus, and norovirus were all negative). In April 2021...
Dr. Chen Sirong Reply:
HH / 30 years old / Female Q1: Is it possible that the fever in 2020 is related to a tumor? A: It has been too long; it should be fine. Q2: Could this year's fever be related to cancer recurrence or metastasis? A: Since the fever has resolved, consider it as recovere...[Read More] Fever and Breast Cancer: Understanding Potential Connections and Concerns
Understanding the Uses and Risks of Celecoxib During Nasopharyngeal Radiation Therapy
Taking Xeloda during nasopharyngeal radiotherapy? Hello, Dr. Chen. A friend of mine is currently undergoing radiation therapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma and does not have any pain symptoms. However, the doctor has prescribed Celecoxib to be taken twice daily. I would like to kn...
Dr. Chen Sirong Reply:
Ms. Wu / 38 years old / Female Hello, 1. I would like to know if this medication has any other uses besides pain relief? A: It has anti-inflammatory properties. 2. Is it harmful to take more than the recommended dose? A: The maximum daily dose is 400 mg. If each pill is 200 ...[Read More] Understanding the Uses and Risks of Celecoxib During Nasopharyngeal Radiation Therapy
Exploring Advanced Treatment Options for Stage IV Colon Cancer Pain Management
Cancer treatment Hello Doctor: Last year, my mother was diagnosed with stage IV colorectal cancer. The doctor prescribed chemotherapy and targeted therapy, and for a while, her condition was well-controlled; she could eat, sleep, and move around like a normal person. However, I f...
Dr. Chen Yunfang Reply:
Hello: After reading the description, your mother was already diagnosed at stage IV, which is terminal, meaning it has essentially metastasized. All treatments for stage IV are merely to delay the inevitable; a cure is not possible. 1. Can monoclonal antibodies or bisphosphonate ...[Read More] Exploring Advanced Treatment Options for Stage IV Colon Cancer Pain Management
Managing Pain from Liver Cancer Metastasis: Options for Nerve Relief
Liver cancer metastasis My father was diagnosed with a liver tumor three years ago (which has been surgically removed), and it has metastasized to the ribs and pelvis (hip bone) and spine. Currently, the tumor in the hip bone is compressing a nerve, causing severe pain in both le...
Dr. Chen Sirong Reply:
Mark, 43 years old, male, is it possible to destroy or remove the compressed nerve like in a root canal procedure to alleviate pain? A: Generally, radiation therapy is administered first, followed by morphine-based pain management. Nerve blocks are typically performed later, and ...[Read More] Managing Pain from Liver Cancer Metastasis: Options for Nerve Relief
Is It Safe to Have Breast Cancer Surgery and Radiation Therapy at Different Hospitals?
Surgery and Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ) I am a breast cancer (in situ) patient living in Taitung. I would like to undergo a lumpectomy at Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, and then have radiation therapy at Taitung Christian Hospital. Do yo...
Dr. Chen Sirong Reply:
Yü / 47 years old / female. It is acceptable that during the surgery, transferring to another hospital is not recommended for radiation therapy. This means that the localization design and radiation treatment should be done at the same hospital, but it is not necessary to remain ...[Read More] Is It Safe to Have Breast Cancer Surgery and Radiation Therapy at Different Hospitals?
Understanding Breast Cancer Recurrence: Key Insights and Concerns
Does breast cancer recur? Hello Dr. Chen: My mother was diagnosed with lobular carcinoma of the breast in April 2019. She has completed both chemotherapy and radiation therapy. During a recent follow-up appointment, the doctor performed an ultrasound and subsequently conducted a ...
Dr. Chen Sirong Reply:
Jerry / 44 years old / Male 1. Is it possible that this is metastasis or recurrence? A: It is possible. 2. Is the opposite side the contralateral side? The likelihood of developing breast cancer in the opposite breast is higher than that of the general population, so the phys...[Read More] Understanding Breast Cancer Recurrence: Key Insights and Concerns
Managing Relapsed Rectal Cancer: Concerns About Chemotherapy and Liver Function
Recurrence of colorectal cancer? Two years ago, I was diagnosed with stage III rectal cancer. After surgery and chemotherapy, I recovered well and lived normally for about two years. During a recent routine check-up, a recurrence was found in the pelvic area. My original surgical...
Dr. Chen Sirong Reply:
LHF / 58 years old / Male 1. Can I start taking this chemotherapy drug with my liver enzymes still being so high? A: Regardless of liver function, it is essential to continuously monitor liver function while taking this medication. If liver function continues to deteriorate, we...[Read More] Managing Relapsed Rectal Cancer: Concerns About Chemotherapy and Liver Function