Cancer - Questions to make to your Oncologist / Doctor

Going to your first appointment with an oncologist may not be an easy task....After a cancer diagnosis we may be overwhelmed, desperate and some how lost as cancer probably is a completely new world for you......So I compiled a couple of questions you could make to your oncologist....I hope some of them are useful to you.....remember to take a notebook and a pen with you so you have all written and the answers doctor provides to you also.....It is incredible how difficult some drugs, treatments and terminologies can be to remember by heart....

• What my treatment will consist of?
• What is the main purpose of my treatment (eliminate cancer, control, reduce to undergo surgery afterwatds, etc)?
• How can I prepare for my treatment?
• Is there any medicine or actions that I should do or take before starting treatment to make me stronger to resist to it? Such as antibiotics for skin toxicity, exercises to strength muscles, etc etc…
• What side effects do patients most often have with this treatment? how can I counterfeit / eliminate them?
• Will some side effects get worse with each treatment cycle?
• Do some side effects occur later in treatment than others?
• Will all side effects disappear after treatment stops or is there any side effect that may last for ever?
• What can I do to manage the physical side effects of treatment? is there psychological support in your team? 
• What symptoms or problems should I report right away?
• How can I contact you in case of symptoms to report, doubts, concerns and/or an emergency?
• Will my treatment change my daily activities and my ability to meet my responsibilities while it is going on?
• Can I go back to my normal daily activities after treatment?
• How often will I need to be checked after my treatment?
• What are your recommendations on vitamins, aspirin, and nutrition during and after treatment?
• How will the decision be made if and when my current therapy needs to change?
• How can I prepare my family for how treatment will affect their lives and mine?
• Should I undergo any genomic mutation testing before deciding for any chemo protocol?
• Should I be tested for DPD deficiency before starting chemo?
• Is there any supportive group, acupuncturist and other professionals connected to your team or this facility that you want to recommend me?
• What are the foods and habits that I should get started to?
• What are the foods and habits that I should get away of and which ones should I just reduce?
• In case of radiation do you have the state of art equipment, the one that will not damage the healthy tissues surrounding tumor cells? 

You can also take a look in the following websites for additional information

• http://www.cancer.net/all-about-cancer/newly-diagnosed/questions-ask-doctor
• http://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/QuestionstoAsktheDoctorPDFDownloads.html

REMEMBER: There is no stupid question

Try to keep in a same notebook all your questions / answers, appointments, tips, drugs name and schedules, etc.....that will make your life easier to have everything organized in the same place

Wishing you all the best!!!! God continue blessing all of us

Carlos 4th round against Cancer - Skin Cancer in his Face

 

There I was analyzing Carlos face once more

 

And not in agreement with his version about that little spot on his nose tip… he insisted it was only a pimple…..

 

 

And that those little red spots on his cheeks were only rosacea ...

 

 

Yes, because Carlos graduated from finance but He is pretty sure He has studied all medicine subjects and areas in his University..... He gives auto diagnosis quicker and easier than any PHD doctor

And he diagnosis my diseases as well...as if he could see me inside.... and of course I trust 100% in ALL his diagnosis!!!!

But just to clear any doubt out of mind, I in a very sweet and cute manner

Was able to persuade him to go to a REAL doctor,... of course just to "confirm" his own and precise diagnosis

Shocked!!!!

In that specific moment was starting his 4th wound against cancer...now skin cancer in his nose and cheeks...

CRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII(sound of a car abruptly refraining and that I have no glue how to write....but you all can understand me, can't you?.....stop everything!!!!

 
 

Again????? Another type???? In this family again????? isn't it a mistake??? a joke maybe???

Ok let's count all rounds again just to be sure

1957 – Carlos only 2 months old with teratoid tumor

2012 – Carlos with kidney cancer ad Paula with colon cancer stage IV B...

2013 – Carlos with skin cancer in his back

 

2014 – Carlos with skin cancer in his nose and cheeks?????

Hey boy...move out!!!! There is nobody here willing to see you!!! can't you realize that???? 

Well....overcoming first shock, resentments, fears

and the rejection....NOOOOOO!!!! I will not be able to handle everything again!!!!

 
 
 

The WAR started!!!

Find the best technique, the best doctor, the best facility, the best nose.....hah???? the best nose?

Yes.....because doctors said it was going to be a reconstructive surgery.......

really? how? I am completely lost !!!!

Option 01: grafting

Drs explained that grafting is very simple.....you transplant a piece of skin from one part of your body and transplant to another part

             

There is always the possibility in an extreme case to get skin from a third party.....

but there is the risk of rejection and/or a small difference in original skin color

Because of those risks the most advanced technique and that they were recommending was option 02....

Option 02: skin flapping with "mohs" microsurgery (no, no joke....this is the name of the technique....)...WHAAATTT?????? HOW??????? please stop joking!!!!! What language is this?????

ok.....let's try to slowly explain......

He has a small thing like this in his nose tip

They make a very small incision like this just to be sure all tumor was removed

Afterwards they stretch, pull and flap his skin face

til they can cover all affected area.....

May need to cut his forehead like this and flap the skin and close the small hole they did in his nose like this......

No, It is not a wrong vision !!!! .....There is a real possibility that a pending elephant trunk stay in his face for a while....but nothing to worry about....

If it is too much  

or too little 

after one or two months doctors will come back (please pray to God that they don't forget him), cut what was over, add what was missing, repair what was worng and finally finish their state of art.....ops....final result....

Well, getting like one of those is the least I believe Carlos deserves (do do I jejeje) after all craziness he will need to handle !!!

If we are scared? No, of course not......we trust 100% in the medicine advances, in God above everything and in Santa Teresa de Los Andes that never ever abandon us.....but Carlos nose......well, I am not sure!!!

surgery scheduled to August, 14th

God continue blessing all of us!!!

Cancer no Rosto - 4th Round para o Carlos

 

AI estava eu mais uma vez analisando o rosto do Carlos

 

e não me conformando com a sua versão de que aquela coisa no seu nariz era uma espinha

e as manchinhas no rosto puras rosáceas.....

sim porque Carlos se formou em financas mas tem a certeza de que passou por todas as matérias de medicina.....se auto diagnostica mais rápido que qualquer PHD

 
 

 

e a mim então......como se me visse por dentro.... e claro que eu confio “100%” nos seus diagnósticos!!!!

Mas por via das duvidas, muito meiga e delicada

Logrei convencer a ele que fossemos a um MEDICO de verdade so para “confirmar” o seu diagnostico.....

Susto!!!!

Iniciava o seu quarto round contra o câncer.....agora de pele....

CRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII(barulho de freio de carro que eu nao sei fazer direito, mas voces me entendem, ne?).....para tudo!!!!!

 
 

De novo????? Outro???? Nesta família????? Será que não foi engano????

Ok vamos contar de novo so para ter certeza

1957 – Carlos com teratoma com 02 meses de idade

2012 – Carlos com câncer no rim e Paula com câncer de colon...

2013 – Carlos com câncer de pele nas costas

 

2014 – Carlos com câncer de pele no rosto?????

Cara sai pra la!!!! Aqui ninguem te quer não!!!!! Ainda não deu para perceber?!?!??

Bom passado o susto, a revolta, o medo

E o NNAAAOOOO!!!! Eu não vou aguentar tudo de novo não!!!!

 
 
 

Iniciou-se a batalha!!!

Encontrar a melhor técnica, melhor medico, melhor clinica, melhor nariz......hah???? melhor nariz?

Sim.....porque os médicos disseram cirurgia reconstrutiva.......

serio? como? Não to entendendo nada !!!!

Opção 01: Enxerto

O Dr. Explicou que enxerto e muito simples.....pega-se a pele de uma parte do corpo e implanta-se na outra parte

             

Tambem num caso mais extremo se poderia pegar pele emprestado

Mas sempre corre-se o risco da rejeicao ou de uma leve diferença na cor da pele original

Por isso o mais avançado e recomendado seria a opção 02....

Opcao 02: Rotacao de pele com Microcirurgia de Mohs......QUEEEEEE?????? como??????? Fala serio!!!!! Que idioma e este?????

Bom vou tentar explicar com calma......

Voce tem um negocinho assim na ponta do seu nariz

Eles fazem um corte pequenininho assim para garantir que tiraram todo o tumor

Depois eles puxam esticam e rodam a pele do seu rosto

Ate conseguirem cobrir a área afetada.....

Cortam assim e rodam para cobrir o buraco do nariz...

Não vocês não estão vendo mau não.....realmente pode ser que sobre uma tromba de elefante pendurada na sua cara.....mas não se preocupe não....

se sobrar  

ou se faltar

alguma coisa depois de um ou dois meses os médicos voltam (se eles não se esquecerem de voce claro), cortam o que sobrou, colocam o que faltou, consertam o que entortou e finalmente chegam a sua obra prima ops.....resultado final....

Bom pelo menos e o mínimo que eu acho que o Carlos (e eu claro) merecemos depois de toda esta loucura!!!!!

Se estamos com medo? Não, claro que não....confiamos 100% nos avanços da medicina, em Deus acima de tudo e em Santa Teresa de Los Andes que nunca nos abandona......mas o nariz do Carlos .....nao sei não!!!

cirurgia marcada para 14 de agosto......

Que Deus siga nos abencoando a todos!!!