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CHARLIE’S STORY – PART 3

admin — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 15:27:16 +0000

Charlie looks like a healthy eight-year-old boy. But nothing could be further from the truth. He now has to deal with incontinence. In a couple of months he will have to undergo yet another operation to stop the bladder from leaking. Until then, he needs to wear diapers. Hopefully this surgery will be a success. The leaking will then be a thing of the past, but the catheters will be with him for the rest of his life. His undersized bladder was augmented using part of his intestines and this “new bladder” will exit at his waist. Since Charlie’s new bladder will have no sensation of the need to urinate, he will learn to regulate his input of fluids and will have to empty his bladder every 2-4 hours for the rest of his life.The doctors don’t know if Charlie will able to function sexually when he’s older nor if he will be fertile. Because of his undersized penis, he has had to be given testosterone treatments to create more growth in order to do some surgeries. Aside from all that Charlie has endured, Liz is most worried about Charlie’s self-esteem. “Will he and others like him ever have a half-normal life? They are scared to go out on a date or to ever let anyone see them. From their embarrassing and stinky diapers to their undersized genitalia, there are many cases of sad and lonely older kids out there.”*38/165/1*

COPING WITH SIDE-EFFECTS OF DIET THERAPY FOR CANCER: TOOTH DECAY AND LACTOSE INTOLERANCE

admin — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 14:24:51 +0000

Tooth decay
Cancer and cancer treatment can cause tooth decay and other problems for the teeth and gums. Changes in eating habits also may add to the problem. If eating often or eating a lot of sweets, teeth may need to be brushed more often. Brushing after each meal or snack is a good idea.
Here are some ideas for preventing dental problems for the patient. Patients should:
1. Be sure to see their dentist regularly. Patients who are receiving treatment that affects the mouth (e.g., radiation to the head and neck) may need to see the dentist more often than usual.
2. Use a soft toothbrush. Ask the doctor, nurse or dentist to suggest a special kind of toothbrush and/or toothpaste if gums are very sensitive.
3. Rinse the mouth with warm water when the gums and mouth are sore.
4. If not having trouble with poor appetite or weight loss, limit the amount of sugar in the diet.

Lactose intolerance
Lactose intolerance means that the body cannot digest or absorb the milk sugar called lactose. Milk, other dairy products, and foods to which milk has been added contain lactose.
Lactose intolerance may occur after treatment with some antibiotics or with radiation to the stomach or any treatment that affects the digestive tract. The part of intestine that breaks down lactose may not work properly during treatment. For some people the symptoms of lactose intolerance (gas, cramping, and diarrhea) disappear a few weeks or months after the treatments end or when the intestine heals. For others a permanent change in eating habits may be needed.
If having this problem, the doctor may advise to follow a diet that is low in foods that contain lactose. If milk had been a main source of protein in the patient’s diet, it will be important to get enough protein from other foods. Products such as soybean formulae and cheese are good sources of protein and other nutrients. The patient can also try soya milk.
*14/356/5*

ANSWERS TO SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT BREAST CANCER AND LUMPS

admin — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 05:35:23 +0000

I am due to have a lumpectomy in the next few days. How long will the operation last?

Most breast operations take less than an hour to perform, even mastectomies. You will therefore be under the anesthetic for only a short period of time, and will be away from the ward for at most a few hours while you recover from your operation.

How long will I have to be in hospital following my mastectomy?

The length of time spent in hospital varies depending, for example, on each hospital’s normal practice and each woman’s general state of health. It may only be 3 or 4 days before you are able to go home – at most probably about 8 to 10. You will have to have recovered fully from the anesthetic, and nursing staff and doctors will have to be sure you will be able to manage at home before they will agree to your leaving hospital. Your breast care nurse or consultant should be able to give you some idea of how long you are likely to have to remain.

I am very keen on gardening and want to know if I will be able to move my arm following my mastectomy or whether I will always have restricted arm movement?

Although arm movement may be restricted following a radical mastectomy, this operation is now rarely performed, and you should be able to start to move your arm more easily within a few days. You will probably be advised about some gentle shoulder exercises to do after your operation, and if you do these regularly, it will not be long before you can move your arm normally without any discomfort or stiffness. You will eventually be able to do the gardening and all your other activities as normal. The sooner you start the shoulder exercises the better, but do not do so until medical staff say it is all right. Finger exercises can be done immediately after your operation.

The consultant has said that I should consider whether I would prefer to have a lumpectomy or a mastectomy to remove a cancer from my breast. I do not want to make this decision myself as I do not know enough about it, but I do feel that I should take the responsibility for choosing. What can I do?

Although most doctors now feel that patients should be able to have a part in decision making, and some people prefer to make their own choices, it is perfectly acceptable to leave the final decision to your consultant. If you want more information or a second opinion because you cannot decide what to do, then do ask for it. If you have a breast care nurse, she should be able to provide you with the information you require, or tell you how to go about making an appointment with another consultant. Although a second opinion is likely to be the same as the one you have already obtained, this in itself may put your mind at rest.

Most consultants will be quite prepared to do what they think best if you prefer not to have to make the decision yourself.

How long will I have to wait for the results of some tests to see if a lump 1 have in my breast is cancer?

In theory, nobody should have to wait for results of this kind for longer than 2 weeks. It is well understood that this is a very anxious time for the woman concerned and her family and every effort will be made to give you this information as soon as possible. The results of a biopsy should be returned from the hospital laboratory within 3 to 4 days at most, but there may be a delay before you receive them if the clinic is fully booked and an appointment cannot be found for you. If this is the case, you can ring the consultant to see if it is possible to be given the results over the telephone. However, many consultants are reluctant to do this as they feel that women require the chance to discuss things properly, and to ask questions at this time. If you have a breast care nurse, she may be able to obtain the results from your consultant and give them to you at her clinic or during a visit to your home. Another alternative is to ask if your GP can be given the results of your tests and then tell you about them at a visit to the surgery. It is always worth trying one of these options rather than having to wait anxiously for this news.

*69/39/5*