diabetes and cancer

[angie.m.]

has anybody here with diabetes had chemotherapy?

 

[msemeline2]

has anybody here with diabetes had chemotherapy?

First I got cancer. had low blood sugar all my life. The chemo drugs? streroide dexmethasone via iv with the chemo.. Sudenly oops II'm diabetic. also bowel perforated.. Exit 7feet, nine inches sigmoid colon. Then aseptic necrosis of left hip socke and head of femur. Hip replacement nessessary. Next? Breast cancer, surgery, chemo, radiation. I told them NO DEXAMETHASONE. they insisted he pills won' hurt you.. HAD exellent control on 425 mg metformin.. 3 "low dose" dex pills later... blood sugar over 600! While getting chemo infusion and after three shots of insulin!!! Enough to make a preacher swear!! A year + later still too high numbers,. And we all know the room we live in most on metformin. What is your experience?

 

[angie.m.]

wow u've had alot to deal with, i've been diabetic for 26years, i was diagnosed with breast cancer just before christmas, i had surgery (mastectomy) 3 weeks ago and now they're saying i'll need chemotherapy, i'm worried what the effect of chemo will have on my kidneys, i take tablets for my kidneys as they leak protein, hence why i was asking if anyone on here with diabetes has had chemo, many thanks for your reply, hope things have settled down for you.

 

[Bluetit1802]

Hi,

I was diagnosed with breast cancer December 2012. I had a lumpectomy followed by chemo, radiotherapy and Herceptin. I was given my first 12 month "all clear" in January 2014. I was diagnosed with type 2 and high cholesterol four days later following a routine blood test. Bit of a bombshell after the euphoria of the "all clear". I was aware the dexamethasone could raise blood glucose levels, but that wasn't of any interest to me at the time (my chemo was April to July last year). I am still on Herceptin infusions every 3 weeks, although I only have one more to go and then all done and dusted.

Whilst on chemo you will have a blood test before each session to check kidney, bone and liver functions as well as a full blood count. If there is a significant change they will either reduce the chemo dose or stop/postpone it altogether. You must tell your oncologist about your kidney problems and medication. He is the expert and will not recommend anything that might cause major problems. The secret is to drink as much fluids as you can, at least 2 litres a day as this will help the kidneys. Hand on heart my kidney function wasn't compromised at all, but we are all different and all react to drugs in different ways. Try not to worry too much, trust your oncology team - they know what they are doing. One problem you may have is food. I wasn't ever nauseous or sick and didn't need any anti-sickness tablets, but I had problems with taste (very, very common on chemo) and found myself eating rubbish, especially salty rubbish. It is very common and very easy to put a lot of weight on. I put over a stone on. Keeping to a good balanced diet is not easy at all. Good luck - it isn't as bad as you imagine!

 

[msemeline2]

That sounds familiar. Protiein in the urine.. Been there , done that, as they say. In my case turned out to be an over active parathyroid gland! You need to have that possibility checked out. Not to put too fine a point on it.. My G.P. generall practice Dr. said I was passing enough protine and calcium, 'might well be passing cement'! Good luck. Just to amuse you, I have a sneaky little back-up to my Accu-chex Aviva meter. Little dog! Sort of trained herself. As a baby pup, always trying to scramble onto my lap, every time I sat down. If my blood sugar test was too high, I'd sit down at the table, to write. Her climb up my leg act was not appreciated then! One does not slap a friendly little puppy. So I'd toss a biscut treat across the floor. Only time I'd throw those yummy treats was when the number was too high, and I sat to write . She soon figured out that my breath, and probably skin smelled a certain was the signal that a treat would fall from the sky. After several weeks... she figured out how to speed up getting her treat! Would go into a "frantic happy dancce" Pawing at my shins, yapping. At first, I ignored her, as it was about time to go test my blood. Then I realized that when she acted like THAT oops, my blood sugar number was up around 200!!! Yeah, I didn't believe it either. Two Vets. that I knew, were at a dog show, and I asked them. I kept careful notes for two or three months. My little dog is always right!! Has been for almost six years now!

 

[angie.m.]

many thanks for your message bluetit1802, i have told them about my kidneys and the medication im on, ive heard a few storys about people having problems with there kidneys after having chemo and was worried if my kidneys could handle it, many thanks again for your message and glad to hear you've got the all clear, wishing you all the best for the future.

 

[angie.m.]

awwww wow thats great your dog can sense that, they train dogs now to detect things like that, its amazing how clever they are, your very lucky to have such a clever companion, she must be very connected to you. my kidneys have been leaking protien for a while its due to me having diabetes for a long time, one of the long term complications.

 

[donnellysdogs]

£10000 for a hypo alert dog!!! There is a dog that is hypo and cancer alert in Milton Keynes. Its a labradoodle and absolutely gorgeous.. See picture...


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