My mother n law was diagnosed with breast
cancer in 2003 since then she has newly
been diagnosed with bone cancer (spine)
last June now after just finishing up
treatment for that come to find out the
cancer has spread to her spinal fluid.
She does not have any tumors so far but
they are doing a procedure where they can
administer her chemo drugs right into her
spinal fluid surrounding her brain?
Anyone familiar with this? Anyone had any
positive results with this type of chemo?
They are telling her she has 6 months but
I'm not sure if they mean with treatment
or w/out.
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MandMs
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 26 Jan 2007 Posts: 1857 Location: Strumica, Macedonia
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Posted: 04-29-08 03:52am
This is known as intrathecal chemotherapy,
when injections of drugs are given into
the spinal tap to destroy any cancer cells
that may penetrate the spinal column
(anticancer drugs are injected into the
fluid-filled space between the thin layers
of tissue that cover the brain and spinal
cord). The injection is painful and the
chemotherapy drug can cause a burning
sensation as it is injected.
Does she experience any kind of back
pain?
Does she has abnormal sensations or loss
of sensation, particularly in the legs?
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Alex12
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 05 Mar 2008 Posts: 18
Posted: 04-29-08 06:07am
She does have pain in her spine due to
some compression fractures from the bone
cancer. Her legs do give out sometimes
and she has fallen several times. She had
a spinal tap yesterday for some testing
and yes she said it was painful.
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MandMs
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 26 Jan 2007 Posts: 1857 Location: Strumica, Macedonia
Thanks: 20
Thanked:10
Posted: 05-07-08 06:20am
Metastatic tumors of the spine (those that
have spread to the spine from another
site) often progress quickly, while
primary tumors often progress slowly over
weeks to years.
Back pain in any area, that is worse when
lying down, worse with strain, cough,
sneeze, that may extend to the hip, leg,
or feet (or arms) is a symptom of spinal
cancer.
Abnormal sensations, like numbness and
tingling, particularly in the legs, that
may be progressive is another symptom of
affected spinal cord with metastatic
process.
Muscle weakness, particularly in the legs,
that makes walking difficult and even
causes falls, is also due to the cancer.
So, I guess your mother in law has
secondary cancer of the spinal cord that
is usually very progressive.
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