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Oncology (General Cancer)/RADIATION
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Question
My sister in law has had a recurrence of breast cancer three years after going into remission. It has spread to her spine skull and hips. She has had three sessions of radiation to reduce the tumours pressing on her spine before undergoing chemo. After the first two sessions she was feeling great but immediately after the last one she deteriorated dramatically, not eating (since last monday's treatment), or drinking as her throat and stomach are very very sore, probably burnt from the radiation. She is unable to move at all as every movement causes pain. Firstly, is this normal, and secondly is there anything we can do. She has been back to hospital on a saline drip as we just could not get her to keep anything down. Have you know radiation to give such an acute reaction?
In this situation it is difficult to know precisely what is caused by her illness and what is caused by her treatment of it and what is caused by a combination of both. I have seen many odd reactions but usually not this fast which may mean that it is caused by her illness or by a combination of factors. It may also be due to some other unrelated factor that just has popped up. What does her own drs. say?
Please do keep me posted!
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Answers by Expert:
Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D.
Expertise
Questions concerning Cancer, Oncology, radiation Therapy, Tumours, Chemotherapy, Cytotoxic Drugs, Hormonal Therapy, Radiation Protection.
Experience
I'm a Doctor of Medicine and specialist in Medical Oncology and Radiation Therapy educated & trained in Sweden. Now retired. Background in Radiation Therapy, Medical Oncology, Radiation Protection, Nuclear Medicine, Diagnostic Radiology, Gynecological Oncology, Clinical Pathology, Clinical Cytology,Hematology and Internal Medicine.
M.D. from the faculty of medicine, Royal Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. Have also been an exchange student at the Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem Israel. Former medical consultant, Swedish National Board of Radiation Protection. Former Police Surgeon and Medical Examiner, Stockholm Police Department. Former Chief Medical Officer, The Royal Guards, The Royal Horse Guards and the Royal Household Brigade, Royal Swedish Army Medical Corps. You can also reach me on: http://www.lifestylerescue.com/expert/health-fitness-advice/dr-claes-gustaf/128 I have no restrictions in the number of questions there. I also answer questions in these other categories: General History,
Military History,
Brain Tumors,
Breast Cancer,
Colon Cancer
Education/Credentials
I'm a medical doctor and specialist in medical oncology and radiation therapy
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