Its been a while since I posted mainly due to the arrival of summer in all her glory, living in South Devon we are spoilt for choice when it comes to gorgeous beaches and plenty of messing around on the water, so as you will of gathered I have been playing and enjoying myself instead of moaning and feeling depressed, its true the weather really does play an important role in your mental health. I've spent a fair few hours swimming in the sea (it really was that hot!) the sea salt worked wonders on my poor arm, I got bitten by another horse fly and reacted very badly too it, my whole arm swelled up luckily not my affected side but unfortunately the side the nurse has to stick the needle in for my Herceptin, so I got a week off the stuff to allow the arm to heal and just in case it turned into septicaemia! Horse fly's are utter bastards!
As far as planet Cancer is concerned I have some shocking news my best friend's sister in law aged early 50's was diagnosed with Lung Cancer which by the time they had found it had spread onto all of her bones it took two weeks from being diagnosed to her passing, everyone is left in complete shock she leaves behind 3 daughters the youngest is 15, its crazy shit and it doesn't get more scarier than that.
As far as my cancer is concerned I'm ok at the moment, I've been and seen my Onc. who agrees with me about the dammed Tamoxifen, I kid you not when I say I've put on 4 stone!!! this is just crazy weight gain never before have I been this big I was always a size 8!!!! so this along with my very very achey cramped legs and feet have made my Onc. request a ton of blood tests and if they come back ok then she really will have too do something about the Tamoxifen I have way too many side effects and she told me that if I am post menopausal then I have a far greater choice of hormonal drugs to try, an appointment is booked for the results at the end of August and as always I will keep you informed. Another slight annoyance is an itch on my left breast (I had an itch on my right breast and then found advanced BC!) its gone today and I'm praying it was just something itchy in my top that was annoying me of course it doesn't help being so blasted hot and bothered (hot flush central) I now sleep with the fan pointing at my face and I am happy to report it works yipeeeee!!!
That just about wraps it up for today's post of course I will keep you all informed about results etc but in the mean time enjoy the remainder of the summer and treasure those blissful moments. xxx
Showing posts with label blood. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blood. Show all posts
Tuesday, 30 July 2013
Friday, 17 May 2013
Sunshine, shopping and a walk.....
When the sun shines it changes every thing and lifts my soul. Today the sun did shine and I enjoyed a days shopping in Totnes followed by a decaf latte at my favourite garden centre topped off with a 2 hour walk, I struggled a bit got out of breath and was feeling a bit weak half way through which I take to mean fatigue but walked through it and got home to a camera full of inspiration (I take a lot of photos). Luckily I had my partner with me (I've been having some nasty falls) just in case I took a tumble my GP reckons its the beta blocker Atenalol that I'm taking for migraines he said my blood pressure might be dropping too much and this is causing a very quick and temporary black out!!! hence the reason why I've had 3 falls in 2 weeks!!! I really hurt myself last time and I was with a 70 year old!!! It was sort of amusing bit like the blind leading the blind but still a bit frightening especially as it was on a cliff path. I don't want to stop taking the Atenalol as it appears to be working and I haven't had a full on migraine now for the best part of 2 weeks which is a small miracle for me.
Next week is an appointment free week (don't get many of those) so I'm planning on doing some painting, it really is beautiful down here at the moment all the flowers are in bloom and the leaves are out on the trees, May and June are by far my favourite months in nature. All the colours are ultra bright and I feel super sensitive to all that nature is offering.
Love and light to all xxx
Next week is an appointment free week (don't get many of those) so I'm planning on doing some painting, it really is beautiful down here at the moment all the flowers are in bloom and the leaves are out on the trees, May and June are by far my favourite months in nature. All the colours are ultra bright and I feel super sensitive to all that nature is offering.
Love and light to all xxx
Friday, 10 August 2012
Now its my kidneys!!!!!
Today I went for my routine oncology appointment, of course I never get to see my actual oncologist instead I see one of the registrars a russian woman ( FYI I am not a racist and never have been BUT) her english is terrible, so hard to understand what she is saying I have to really concentrate on it also she has a tendency to smirk at me when I am asking her very important questions or discussing side effects! Why would you do that? this is supposed to be a serious conversation! Anyway back to the appointment she told me just as we were leaving last time that my kidneys were showing a above normal high number (whatever the fuck that means!) she told me to drink loads of water and not take Ibuprofen or Aspirin (I don't take these medicines anyway and drink tons of water) and again this time she told me that my creatinine levels were high again she reiterated what she told me last time to drink plenty and not to take certain medicines. I also told her about my migraines, my swollen stomach and back which I now realise is my kidneys, she told me these were all symptoms of going through the menopause and did not seem worried about it, in fact she smirked when I told her!. I'm now a bit worried to say the least as I have googled it and the following post is what I found, its a bit long but if you are in the same position I suggest you take this in.
Acute renal failure is a malfunction of the kidneys so that they are unable to perform their vital functions, one of the most important of which is filtering out waste. Some cancer treatments cause damage to the kidneys that can result in acute kidney failure. Kidney damage is usually reversible if it is carefully managed to control the life-threatening complications. Once the drug or drugs that are causing the kidney damage are stopped, treatment focuses on preventing the excess accumulation of fluid and waste while allowing the kidneys to heal.
What is acute renal failure?
Acute renal failure is a malfunction of the kidneys so that they are unable to perform the vital function of filtering out waste from the blood. Acute renal failure may be caused by decreased blood supply to the kidneys from drugs or infection, direct toxic damage to the kidneys, or by blockage in the urinary system. The most common cause of acute renal failure in cancer patients is damage to the cells in the kidney.
The kidneys are fist-sized organs located in your lower back, near your spine. Their chief functions are to filter out waste products and regulate electrolytes and water levels. When the body breaks down protein from the diet for energy or building tissues, it produces a waste product called urea. Urea circulates in the blood until it is filtered out by the kidneys and excreted in the urine. When the kidneys are not functioning properly, filtration is reduced and urea builds up in the blood. Also, the balance of electrolytes and water cannot be adequately regulated, sometimes resulting in a buildup of potassium, sodium, and fluid.
Kidney damage may also result in increased excretion of protein in the urine. Protein is an important component in our blood that carries food, hormones, and many other things through the body. Under normal conditions, blood proteins do not pass through the kidneys into the urine because they are too big. If you have kidney damage, protein may pass into your urine. Protein in the urine may be a sign of temporary or permanent kidney damage or failure.
What causes kidney damage?
Some chemotherapy drugs and biologic therapies can cause kidney damage. Chemotherapy causes renal dysfunction by damaging the blood vessels or structures of the kidneys. The chemotherapy drugs that are most likely to cause kidney damage are listed below.
Kidney damage occurs in 30 percent or more of patients using the following chemotherapy drugs:
Cytosar-U® (cytarabine)
Gemzar® (gemcitabine)
Ifex® (ifosfamide)
Platinol® (cisplatin)
Proleukin® (interleukin-2)
Zanosar® (streptozocin)
Kidney damage occurs in 10 percent to 29 percent of patients using the following chemotherapy drugs:
Alimta® (pemetrexed)
Eloxatin® (oxaliplatin)
Mithracin® (plicamycin)
Mylotarg® (gemtuzumab ozogamicin)
Neutrexin® (trimetrexate)
Paraplatin® (carboplatin)
Rheumatrex® (methotrexate)
What are the symptoms of kidney damage?
You may not have any symptoms of kidney damage. However, you should notify your doctor if you exhibit any of the following:
Decrease in amount of urine or frequency
Pain or urgency with urination
Dark urine
Blood in your urine
Fatigue
Muscle weakness
Swelling in your feet or ankles
Nausea or vomiting
Confusion, seizure
Notify your doctor immediately if your urine output decreases or stops.
How is kidney damage diagnosed?
1. Blood levels of two products of normal body function, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine, are used to diagnose kidney problems.
Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) - The waste product from the breakdown of protein is called urea. Urea circulates in the blood until it is filtered out by the kidneys and excreted in the urine. If the kidneys are not functioning properly, there will be excess urea in the bloodstream. Under normal conditions, BUN levels range from 10 to 25 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter) of blood.
Creatinine - Some of the energy for your muscles is derived from burning a substance called creatine. Creatinine is the waste product left after the breakdown of creatine. The kidneys are normally able to filter out large amounts of creatinine on a daily basis. However, when your kidneys are not functioning properly, your creatinine levels will increase. Under normal conditions, creatinine levels range from 0.7 to 1.4 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter) of blood.
2. Urine changes are frequently seen as a result of kidney damage. Bloody or turbid urine or a major decrease or increase in the amount of urine you produce may indicate kidney damage. A urinalysis done by a laboratory often will show changes that are characteristic of kidney damage. For example, an increase in red blood cells, white blood cells, protein, or casts (abnormal structures in your urine) are frequent signs of kidney damage.
How is kidney damage treated?
Kidney damage is usually reversible, if it is carefully managed to control the life-threatening complications. Once the drug or drugs that are causing the kidney damage are stopped, treatment focuses on preventing the excess accumulation of fluids and wastes while allowing the kidneys to heal. This may be achieved in several ways, including diuretics, sodium polystyrene sulfonate, diet modification, dialysis, or drugs.
Diuretics - Commonly known as water pills. Your doctor may prescribe a diuretic to increase the amount of water you excrete in the urine. A commonly used diuretic is Lasix® (furosemide).
Sodium polystyrene sulfonate - This medication helps lower the amount of potassium in your blood by binding with the potassium in your stomach or gut so that you excrete it. This medication is administered by mouth or in an enema. Brand names include Kayexcalate® and Kionex®.
Diet modification - Your doctor may recommend that you restrict substances that are normally excreted by the kidney. This may include food high in protein, sodium (salt), and potassium.
Dialysis - Dialysis is the use of a machine to remove excess waste and fluid. Your blood is routed through the dialysis machine then back into your body. Dialysis is not necessary for every patient, but may be lifesaving, particularly if you have very high levels of potassium and urea in your blood.
Drugs - Ethyol® (amifostine), sodium thiosulfate, and diethyldithiocarbamate may help prevent or reduce the kidney toxicity associated with Platinol® (cisplatin).
How can kidney damage be prevented?
The best measure for preventing kidney damage is to avoid treatments that cause it. Under certain circumstances, your doctor may also apply the following approaches:
Urinary alkalization and hydration - Urinary alkalization and increased hydration provides protection against kidney damage caused by Rheumatrex® (methotrexate).
Ethyol® (amifostine) - Clinical trials have shown that amifostine protects against kidney toxicity related to cisplatin chemotherapy.
It is a good idea to increase fluid intake the day before, of, and after receiving a chemotherapy treatment to help flush the byproducts out of your body.
Acute renal failure is a malfunction of the kidneys so that they are unable to perform their vital functions, one of the most important of which is filtering out waste. Some cancer treatments cause damage to the kidneys that can result in acute kidney failure. Kidney damage is usually reversible if it is carefully managed to control the life-threatening complications. Once the drug or drugs that are causing the kidney damage are stopped, treatment focuses on preventing the excess accumulation of fluid and waste while allowing the kidneys to heal.
What is acute renal failure?
Acute renal failure is a malfunction of the kidneys so that they are unable to perform the vital function of filtering out waste from the blood. Acute renal failure may be caused by decreased blood supply to the kidneys from drugs or infection, direct toxic damage to the kidneys, or by blockage in the urinary system. The most common cause of acute renal failure in cancer patients is damage to the cells in the kidney.
The kidneys are fist-sized organs located in your lower back, near your spine. Their chief functions are to filter out waste products and regulate electrolytes and water levels. When the body breaks down protein from the diet for energy or building tissues, it produces a waste product called urea. Urea circulates in the blood until it is filtered out by the kidneys and excreted in the urine. When the kidneys are not functioning properly, filtration is reduced and urea builds up in the blood. Also, the balance of electrolytes and water cannot be adequately regulated, sometimes resulting in a buildup of potassium, sodium, and fluid.
Kidney damage may also result in increased excretion of protein in the urine. Protein is an important component in our blood that carries food, hormones, and many other things through the body. Under normal conditions, blood proteins do not pass through the kidneys into the urine because they are too big. If you have kidney damage, protein may pass into your urine. Protein in the urine may be a sign of temporary or permanent kidney damage or failure.
What causes kidney damage?
Some chemotherapy drugs and biologic therapies can cause kidney damage. Chemotherapy causes renal dysfunction by damaging the blood vessels or structures of the kidneys. The chemotherapy drugs that are most likely to cause kidney damage are listed below.
Kidney damage occurs in 30 percent or more of patients using the following chemotherapy drugs:
Cytosar-U® (cytarabine)
Gemzar® (gemcitabine)
Ifex® (ifosfamide)
Platinol® (cisplatin)
Proleukin® (interleukin-2)
Zanosar® (streptozocin)
Kidney damage occurs in 10 percent to 29 percent of patients using the following chemotherapy drugs:
Alimta® (pemetrexed)
Eloxatin® (oxaliplatin)
Mithracin® (plicamycin)
Mylotarg® (gemtuzumab ozogamicin)
Neutrexin® (trimetrexate)
Paraplatin® (carboplatin)
Rheumatrex® (methotrexate)
What are the symptoms of kidney damage?
You may not have any symptoms of kidney damage. However, you should notify your doctor if you exhibit any of the following:
Decrease in amount of urine or frequency
Pain or urgency with urination
Dark urine
Blood in your urine
Fatigue
Muscle weakness
Swelling in your feet or ankles
Nausea or vomiting
Confusion, seizure
Notify your doctor immediately if your urine output decreases or stops.
How is kidney damage diagnosed?
1. Blood levels of two products of normal body function, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine, are used to diagnose kidney problems.
Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) - The waste product from the breakdown of protein is called urea. Urea circulates in the blood until it is filtered out by the kidneys and excreted in the urine. If the kidneys are not functioning properly, there will be excess urea in the bloodstream. Under normal conditions, BUN levels range from 10 to 25 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter) of blood.
Creatinine - Some of the energy for your muscles is derived from burning a substance called creatine. Creatinine is the waste product left after the breakdown of creatine. The kidneys are normally able to filter out large amounts of creatinine on a daily basis. However, when your kidneys are not functioning properly, your creatinine levels will increase. Under normal conditions, creatinine levels range from 0.7 to 1.4 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter) of blood.
2. Urine changes are frequently seen as a result of kidney damage. Bloody or turbid urine or a major decrease or increase in the amount of urine you produce may indicate kidney damage. A urinalysis done by a laboratory often will show changes that are characteristic of kidney damage. For example, an increase in red blood cells, white blood cells, protein, or casts (abnormal structures in your urine) are frequent signs of kidney damage.
How is kidney damage treated?
Kidney damage is usually reversible, if it is carefully managed to control the life-threatening complications. Once the drug or drugs that are causing the kidney damage are stopped, treatment focuses on preventing the excess accumulation of fluids and wastes while allowing the kidneys to heal. This may be achieved in several ways, including diuretics, sodium polystyrene sulfonate, diet modification, dialysis, or drugs.
Diuretics - Commonly known as water pills. Your doctor may prescribe a diuretic to increase the amount of water you excrete in the urine. A commonly used diuretic is Lasix® (furosemide).
Sodium polystyrene sulfonate - This medication helps lower the amount of potassium in your blood by binding with the potassium in your stomach or gut so that you excrete it. This medication is administered by mouth or in an enema. Brand names include Kayexcalate® and Kionex®.
Diet modification - Your doctor may recommend that you restrict substances that are normally excreted by the kidney. This may include food high in protein, sodium (salt), and potassium.
Dialysis - Dialysis is the use of a machine to remove excess waste and fluid. Your blood is routed through the dialysis machine then back into your body. Dialysis is not necessary for every patient, but may be lifesaving, particularly if you have very high levels of potassium and urea in your blood.
Drugs - Ethyol® (amifostine), sodium thiosulfate, and diethyldithiocarbamate may help prevent or reduce the kidney toxicity associated with Platinol® (cisplatin).
How can kidney damage be prevented?
The best measure for preventing kidney damage is to avoid treatments that cause it. Under certain circumstances, your doctor may also apply the following approaches:
Urinary alkalization and hydration - Urinary alkalization and increased hydration provides protection against kidney damage caused by Rheumatrex® (methotrexate).
Ethyol® (amifostine) - Clinical trials have shown that amifostine protects against kidney toxicity related to cisplatin chemotherapy.
It is a good idea to increase fluid intake the day before, of, and after receiving a chemotherapy treatment to help flush the byproducts out of your body.
Still reading? mind blowing! its so complicated and serious and I was just brushed off like it was an everyday occurrence, unbelievable! I have another appointment booked for 2 months time on the 12th of October when they will probably do another CT scan, I'm now going to look into it further and see if there is anything I can do for myself like diet etc. When I have researched thoroughly I will post my findings.
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