Dr. Geffen:

I was recently diagnosed with rectal cancer and am currently receiving chemo/radiation.  I have heard great things about your book and would love to get a copy.  I have tried several book stores, but no one has it.

Do you happen to know how I can get a copy?  Thank you!

Lisa

I cannot believe that the Dr. sent you this response.  I too have stage 4 lung cancer.  You should never give up hope.  There are people who have been diagnosed with stage 4 who are now "NED."  I am really suprised about this reply from the Dr., after reading his synopsis on the 7 levels of healing. 

 I have ovarian cancer since 2003, have had several surgeries after which I had a bowel obstruction requiring a Foley catheter.  I have been unable to gain weight since that time which worries me because I can't afford to lose any more weight.  I have heard that sugar is not good for cancer, so I have been staying away from a lot of great tasting foods including ice cream which I love.  Do you have any advice for me as to what I can do to gain weight?  Everyone tells me I'm too skinny.  By the way, I am juicing, drinking one glass of carrot juice in the morning and a glass of green juice a second time during the day.

 Primary peritoneal carcinoma sarcoma I know is rare and not much is known about it.  Mine is stage IV and I am 70 years old with past heart and kidney disease.  My question is what is the average length of survival of all of the known cases of this type of cancer. I am told by my oncologist that it all depends on the individual.  Nice cop out, but I would really like to know more.

 Dear Dr. Geffen;

I have been diagnosed with a very rare form of ovarian cancer. Carcinoma sarcoma ovarian cancer stage 3 b  . I had a hysterectomy and they removed the tumor and a piece of my bowel. The cells had gone into my pelvis  but they removed all they could see. I had a wonderful surgeon. My last cat scan showed no measurable disease and my CA-125 is 8. I am currently in a clinical trial in Boston Ma. at Dana Farber with taxol, carbo, and Avastin. There has been alot of good things with Avastin for breast cancer and lung cancer but this is so rare the doctors rewrote the study to get me in. I want to thank you for this great site for sharing information and receiving information. I will let you know when I am healed by God and the medicines. God bless you.

Cindy in NH

 I also opted not to have chemo.  After weighing the benefits vs the side effects, we figured that chemo only gave me a 3% better outcome.  My oncologist said he was comfortable with my decision though it does nag at me a bit.  I am taking Arimidex.

June 2008  ar age 65 I had a total mastectomy.  I had a .8cm invasive tumor along with associated DCIS.  Stage 1b,  node negative, estrogen & progesterone positive, HER-2 negative.  I did not need radiation.  There is no family history of breast cancer.

Everything indicated that I was in the "low group" and would not need chemo.  Then the Oncotype DX test was done and gave me a score of 30 which was one point below the "high group" which needs chemo.  My first reaction was to go for chemo but then after carefully looking over the charts and grafts & asking a ton of questions many of which we could not get answered, we decided a 3% improvement was not worth the side effects.

 My name is Patti and I had a total hysterectomy in May, 2008, and a 9 cm. tumor removed.  I had ovarian stage 3 and uterine, stage 1.  The ovarian is clear cell which is aggressive.  Although my biopsies were all negative............due to the aggresive cell and tumor size, I am in chemo.  I'm doing wonderful and feel great.  Even with the chemo !!  Thank God.

I live alone and have no family, etc...............so I must do well.  I've used "my mind" so get through some of the unpleasantness.  My CA-125 was only 17 prior to surgery, so the doctors actually felt that possibly I did NOT have cancer................but,I DID !

So, I really have NO faith in the CA-125. 

What is Avastin?

Take care and good vibes to you.

Patti in Pa. 

Hey Patti sounds like what you need to do. I hope all is well and that you will be able to look back Like I have . Good luck too you :)

 I found out I had breast cancer September 4, 2008 on my right breast. I had a large lump and smaller ones in lymph nodes. I had a radical mastectomy, they took out 12 lymphnodes and 8 of them had cancer, my cancer is stage 3,  I took several scans after and a Pet scan and no cancer showed up.  Now my oncologist wants me to take    Taxotere/Carboplaten & Herceptin every 3 weeks.  My question, is it necessary for me to take chemo if the cancer is gone. Sincerely Barb

 Hi Celestine. I have also been experiencing the same burning in my mouth from chemo treatments,what I do is rinxe with baking soda & warm water then I apply a little baby oragel on my gums,this helps take the pain away,try and see if this helps your siuation,I hope it does.....wishing you the best,Happy Holidays to you & your Family............ Sandra

 Dear Dr. Geffen,

My name is Shelly and I am a 42 yr old mother of 4.  On Sept 4, 2005 I was diagnosed with Invasive lobular Carcinoma with 9 out of 14 positive lymph nodes, also with spread to the subclavicle nodes (3).  I was her 2 ++ and horomone neg.  Dbl. Mast., Chemo, Radiation, herceptin, and reconstruction.  I developed some lymph node activity in my neck in Sept 08 we PET Scanned and Cat Scanned. NED.  In Nov. they started growing and spred to 5 that I can feel, some in the upper clavicle and some in the neck. No Pain associated withe the neck, although I do have some lucencies in the hip, pelivic and femor bones that do keep me uncomfortable (Again on the opposite side).  My ONC. said tests were NED see ya in six mo.  I recieved a second opinion and I am going for a biosy consult Fri, Jan 16 09.  the puzzling factor is it is on the opposite side of my cancer.  I can't find enough research.  Could you please share your experience with this.  I am so much better equiped if I have some factual information about what it could be (as I was before).  I am aware of the reoccurance stats and I know if I catch it in time it could make a difference.  Please share your opinion and patient experience.

I also would like to hear from anyone who has my same kind of Breast Cancer and stats.

Thank You

Shelly

 HI DOC. BASICALLY, I WAS TOLD I HAD MULITPLE CYST OR TUMORS ON MY OAVERIES, THEN THEY SPREAD TO MY CERVICS, I WAS TOLD I NEEDED A COMPLETE ABDOMINAL HISTERECTOMY TO RULE OUT CANCER. I DIDNT HAVE A JOB OR INSURANCE, SO NO ONE WOULD HELP ME. NOW  I WENT TO A PAIN DOCTOR BECAUSE I WAS IN SO MUCH PAIN I CANT HARDLY TAKE IT AND MORE. THE DOC. ORDERED A LOWER LUMBAR MRI, IT SHOWED NOTHING WRONG WITH MY BACK. BUT IT DID SHOW AT MY RIGHT ADNEXA A 4.7 CM CYSTIS LESION, AND A SECOND SOMEWHAT TUBULAR CYSTIC LESION ADJACENT TO IT. ALSO AT  MY LEFT ADNEXA THERE ARE MULTIPLESMALL CYSTIC AREAS. BUT THE PELVIS WAS NOT FULLY EVALUATED. CAN YOU TELL ME ANYTHING I CAN DO PLEASE HELP ME I AM SCARED.. THANK YOU TERIE WOODWARD,   FINENESS02@YAHOO.COM

Hi   I was in exactly the same position- same age-Lobular cancer in 1996. i did not have chemo. it was not recommended. So far-so good!  Good luck!!

p.s.  I was on tamoxifen for 5 years.

 Hello Dr Geffen:

I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer on feb 09. (6 lymph nodes pos)  When they put the wire into my breast before surgery I was in tons of pain.  (burning pain)...they could not give me any pain meds.  After the surgery the Doctor told my husband that my breast was red and had he ever noticed it before.  My breast has NEVER been red.  I was then told I had inflam. breast cancer.  Are there other ways my surgeon knows this is inflam. breast cancer other then the redness????  I told my onc this also and he said that even if I did not have inflam. breast cancer my treatments would not change.  Any opinion on this????  thanks RJB