Oestrogen/Estrogen is one of the main hormones protecting the bones. As we reach menopause - the Oestrogen/Estrogen production from the ovaries ceases. The cessation of Oestrogen/Estrogen starts to affect the metabolism of the bones with calcium and others. Over time the bones get weaker, leading onto osteopenia and then osteoporosis.
The main risk of osteoporosis of fractures of the bones. Women (post-menopausal) with early stage breast cancer will benefit from bisphosphonate infusions (Zolendronate/Zometa) ranging from 6 monthly to 12 monthly for 3 years. There is a significant benefit in bone health, along with some improvement in breast cancer survival. Women with metastatic breast cancer, involving the bones will benefit from Denosumab/Xgeva injections or Zometa infusions. This is worth discussing with your Oncologist and General Practitioner. One of the possible side-effects of intravenous and tablet based chemotherapy or targeted therapies is diarrhoea. We encourage patients to use Loperamide tablets (Gastro-Stop) to treat and prevent diarrhoea. It works most times, but not always.
Diarrhoea is a adverse effect, which is not managed as well as we should. We have taken huge strides in the areas of vomiting and to some extent nausea, but diarrhoea has still not been tackled well enough. Some of my patients, who are on chemotherapy, and struggle with diarrhoea (not just the loose bowel motions, but the urgency and uncertainty of the bowel motions) - are scared to go out to public places. Like some of the them tell me - "when you go to go, you got to go now". I hunted for possible solutions and came across a free App called Flush - Flush app This has a database of toilet across the city and country towns. I am really not sure how they manage the database and if there is a way to update it in real time, but it surely has helped give some confidence to several of my patients. Seems like a silly problem?! Ask the person who is struggling with the issue. Which are the best Oncology Textbooks?
I think: # DeVita’s Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology # Abeloff’s Clinical Oncology are the best ones. There are tons of other books, but these two seem to cover the maximum amount of information in the best possible manner. All pain is not the same in cancer.
Different types of pain requires different medications: Anti-inflammatory medications – paracetamol, ibuprofen Opioids – morphine, oxycodone, fentanyl, hydromorphone, methadone Neuropathic agents – pregabalin, gabapentin, amitryptilline Most times it is a combination of these drugs which would help. |
Rohit JoshiCancer, Medicine and Life: A cancer and medicine blog to help on the journey of life. Medicine and Medical Oncology are rapidly changing fields and is hard for most people to keep up. A diagnosis of any illness, in particular cancer is devastating news for anyone, and the hope is that we can share knowledge and support each other. Archives
May 2024
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