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Suggest Treatment For Severe Diarrhea After Treatment For Cervical Cancer

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Posted on Fri, 3 Jul 2015
Question: In 2011 was diagnosed with stage IV Cervical Cancer. I underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatments. The last 5 of my radiation treatments were internal, a year later I had to have a portion of my small intestine removed and my colon rebuilt due to the damage from the radiation treatments. Since 2012 I have had severe Diarrhea five to ten times a day. Everyday. I cannot gain weight. I am very lethargic, again. I am afraid a either the cancer has come back and spread, because I have been getting really sharp pains on the left side of my chest. I am scared to go back for a check up, because I don't want bad news and because I got frustrated in 2012 with the doctors who acted as if this was to be expected and be my life from here on out. I am mentally exhausted and sick of watching life pass me by Could this be signs of reoccurrence of the cancer and it spreading, or is this what I get to deal with for the rest of my life because of the damage caused by the radiation treatment?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Nishikant Shrotri (8 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Do not loose your heart!

Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXX,

I can empathize your feelings.

As it is, cancer anywhere morally pulls a person down. This is because once upon a time there was a belief that cancer means painful immediate death. However, now with the upcoming medical researches, tools to manage cancer, newer medicines and medical electronics have changed the horison of life of cancer survivors.

Please have in mind that no one on this earth is born with a belt of immortality. Everybody has to say good bye to this life. The question is when and how. Till that everyone stuggles to have a happy, torture free and comfortable life.

We doctors are trying to offer the same in the cancer servivors. With newer medical knowledge, we are trying not only to prolong the life, but even to make it comfortably trouble free, painfree.

Therefore my sincere request to you is not to be negative in life to refuse further medical assistance.

You have undergone ressection and anasomosis of your intestines. So your intestines have been shortened. This leads to early passage of the food injested, causing diarrhoea. The chemotherapeutic medicines and radiation adds to it.

Your doctor may give you some medicines to overcome diarrhoea; however, you can make yourself more comfortable in this situation. The diarrhoea leads to weakness because of loss of water (dehyration), loss of energy and salts (electrolyte imbalance - particularly loss of potassium). Therefore, after each motion, suplement your body with a glassful of boiled and cooled water with two teaspoonfuls of sugar and a pinch of salt - particularly rock salt in it. Your exhaustion will be much less.

Please do not be afraid of bad news of secondaries somewhere. We have got a saying, by covering a rooster, you cannot stop sunrise. If at all there are some secondaries, the medical fraternity will have some chance to stop their growth or atleast back you up with certain assistance to minimize the sufferings due to them.

I am indeed sorry to note the bitterness in your mind due to apathetic attitude of some doctors which you have mentioned. However, it is your life, you have got all the right to live it hasslefree, troublefree, no matter who comments what. An elephant going in his majestic gait never is disturbed by the barking of street dogs.

This human life is The God's gift to you. Please nurture it dearly. Take available due treatment, may be with biiter comments of certain people. You have to live your life, not they.

So, please go ahead courageousely, get further required investigations done, demand and accept the due required treatment to live the reamining life - it may be even longer than what you expect - in maximum comfort - physical, mental, social and spiritual.

There are may social groups of cancer survivors. Joining these groupd will make you more comfortable, change your attitude to the positive one; may be you can be helpful to someone suffering more than you. This will give you utmost satisfaction. Here I would like to remind you of a famous saying by the great author and phylosopher Sir XXXXXXX XXXXXXX : 'I stopped worring of my torn shoes when I saw a lame person!'

Dear XXXX, please do not loose your heart. The world is as beautiful as you are! Live in it with full enthusiasm and leave your health problems to the medical fraternity with good faith.

If you feel comfortable and suitable, you may please upload your important, relevant and latest reports for my review. I shall again communicate to you after going through them.

Please keep in touch with me - in full enthisiasm and vigor.

Take care of yourself please, the God is with you!

I am eagerly awaiting your response.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Nishikant Shrotri

OBGYN

Practicing since :1968

Answered : 2916 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Severe Diarrhea After Treatment For Cervical Cancer

Brief Answer: Do not loose your heart! Detailed Answer: Dear XXXX, I can empathize your feelings. As it is, cancer anywhere morally pulls a person down. This is because once upon a time there was a belief that cancer means painful immediate death. However, now with the upcoming medical researches, tools to manage cancer, newer medicines and medical electronics have changed the horison of life of cancer survivors. Please have in mind that no one on this earth is born with a belt of immortality. Everybody has to say good bye to this life. The question is when and how. Till that everyone stuggles to have a happy, torture free and comfortable life. We doctors are trying to offer the same in the cancer servivors. With newer medical knowledge, we are trying not only to prolong the life, but even to make it comfortably trouble free, painfree. Therefore my sincere request to you is not to be negative in life to refuse further medical assistance. You have undergone ressection and anasomosis of your intestines. So your intestines have been shortened. This leads to early passage of the food injested, causing diarrhoea. The chemotherapeutic medicines and radiation adds to it. Your doctor may give you some medicines to overcome diarrhoea; however, you can make yourself more comfortable in this situation. The diarrhoea leads to weakness because of loss of water (dehyration), loss of energy and salts (electrolyte imbalance - particularly loss of potassium). Therefore, after each motion, suplement your body with a glassful of boiled and cooled water with two teaspoonfuls of sugar and a pinch of salt - particularly rock salt in it. Your exhaustion will be much less. Please do not be afraid of bad news of secondaries somewhere. We have got a saying, by covering a rooster, you cannot stop sunrise. If at all there are some secondaries, the medical fraternity will have some chance to stop their growth or atleast back you up with certain assistance to minimize the sufferings due to them. I am indeed sorry to note the bitterness in your mind due to apathetic attitude of some doctors which you have mentioned. However, it is your life, you have got all the right to live it hasslefree, troublefree, no matter who comments what. An elephant going in his majestic gait never is disturbed by the barking of street dogs. This human life is The God's gift to you. Please nurture it dearly. Take available due treatment, may be with biiter comments of certain people. You have to live your life, not they. So, please go ahead courageousely, get further required investigations done, demand and accept the due required treatment to live the reamining life - it may be even longer than what you expect - in maximum comfort - physical, mental, social and spiritual. There are may social groups of cancer survivors. Joining these groupd will make you more comfortable, change your attitude to the positive one; may be you can be helpful to someone suffering more than you. This will give you utmost satisfaction. Here I would like to remind you of a famous saying by the great author and phylosopher Sir XXXXXXX XXXXXXX : 'I stopped worring of my torn shoes when I saw a lame person!' Dear XXXX, please do not loose your heart. The world is as beautiful as you are! Live in it with full enthusiasm and leave your health problems to the medical fraternity with good faith. If you feel comfortable and suitable, you may please upload your important, relevant and latest reports for my review. I shall again communicate to you after going through them. Please keep in touch with me - in full enthisiasm and vigor. Take care of yourself please, the God is with you! I am eagerly awaiting your response.