Woman told cancer and 15 months to live. Two rounds of chemo, then whoops! Oh, you don't have cancer...

[Chock Full o Nuts]

Chemotherapy does not destroy immune systems. I had non-hodgkins lymphoma (cancer of the immune system) and 10 rounds of chemo and my immune system is working just fine.

'Had', I assume full remission? That's great! Hope you stay!

I have a friend/coworker/former super that got hit about 20 years ago. Wasn't looking good.. rather grim.
Former employer 'just happened to let him go'..(those premiums!)
Best thing I ever did, goodbye and on my own.

Headed to The James at Ohio State. Less than 1%, almost undetectable.
He's a 'wirey ******" in his early 60s I think. Relax!

Wife is auto-immune, Scleroderma, and Reynauds. Talk about just manage it...

 

[Jessie C]

That’s interesting that your immune system itself had cancer. Why do ppl say chemo destroys immune systems?

Lymph nodes are your immune system, that's why it's called lymphoma. What people? I've NEVER heard anyone say that.

 

[Josie]

Lymph nodes are your immune system, that's why it's called lymphoma. What people? I've NEVER heard anyone say that.

I thought chemo did kill your immune system. That's why cancer patients have to be careful around people who are sick. ??

 

[Serenity]

I thought chemo did kill your immune system. That's why cancer patients have to be careful around people who are sick. ??

They do often have to be careful. It doesn't kill it. It weakens our immune system would probably be a better way to describe it. Can affect everyone differently depending on the type and level of treatment being provided.

 

[Jessie C]

'Had', I assume full remission? That's great! Hope you stay!

I have a friend/coworker/former super that got hit about 20 years ago. Wasn't looking good.. rather grim.
Former employer 'just happened to let him go'..(those premiums!)
Best thing I ever did, goodbye and on my own.

Headed to The James at Ohio State. Less than 1%, almost undetectable.
He's a 'wirey ******" in his early 60s I think. Relax!

Wife is auto-immune, Scleroderma, and Reynauds. Talk about just manage it...

Thanks! I'd say I'm cured; it was 31 years ago. Even though a lot of lymph nodes were destroyed, the cancer was too. The chemo damaged my heart, but the tradeoff was worth it. Sorry about you wife; I have Reynauds too. Got that bad boy about 3 years ago after the heart attack. Supposedly it's hereditary. And auto-immune is really rough too.

 

[Jessie C]

I thought chemo did kill your immune system. That's why cancer patients have to be careful around people who are sick. ??

Chemo compromises your immune system only when we are going through chemo. It's a direct side effect of the chemo. I couldn't eat lettuce or other greens for a year. Once you're been declared in remission and the chemo is done, your immune systems goes back to normal. There are large clusters of lymph nodes, we can live just fine without some of 'um!

 

[Jessie C]

They do often have to be careful. It doesn't kill it. It weakens our immune system would probably be a better way to describe it. Can affect everyone differently depending on the type and level of treatment being provided.

Exactly!

 

[Chock Full o Nuts]

Thanks! I'd say I'm cured; it was 31 years ago.

That's great!

Even though a lot of lymph nodes were destroyed, the cancer was too.

Some don't realize the amount of lymph nodes you have, and what the body can work with.

The chemo damaged my heart, but the tradeoff was worth it.

Best wishes.

Sorry about you wife; I have Reynauds too. Got that bad boy about 3 years ago after the heart attack. Supposedly it's hereditary. And auto-immune is really rough too.

Definately have to be on top of things. You get near the 'frozen section', purple fingers...

I feel ya,(well, wife does) stay well.

 

[Jessie C]

That's great!

Some don't realize the amount of lymph nodes you have, and what the body can work with.

Best wishes.


Definately have to be on top of things. You get near the 'frozen section', purple fingers...

I feel ya,(well, wife does) stay well.

To the bolded, mine turn bone white and my nails turn blue the moment I walk in a grocery store, even in the summer. It sucks.

 

[Chock Full o Nuts]

To the bolded, mine turn bone white and my nails turn blue the moment I walk in a grocery store, even in the summer. It sucks.

Seen it. Happens in a minute. Feel for you, as wife. It's kind of crazy actually.

Fingers could go purple because a fan is on her.
Hot at 80F. then freezing..

Amlodipine... try and keep that blood flowing.

 

[Jessie C]

Seen it. Happens in a minute. Feel for you, as wife. It's kind of crazy actually.

Fingers could go purple because a fan is on her.
Hot at 80F. then freezing..

Amlodipine... try and keep that blood flowing.

Is there something that can treat it? My primary care MD know I have it but never offered any solutions! It's not as bad in the summer unless it's a store or sitting under an A/C vent, but in the winter it's horrible. My fingers never turn purple, but by the time I get to the checkout at the store, they're so numb I almost can't pull my debit card out of my wallet and the clerk is looking at my zombie fingers like WTF?

 

[Chock Full o Nuts]

Is there something that can treat it? My primary care MD know I have it but never offered any solutions! It's not as bad in the summer unless it's a store or sitting under an A/C vent, but in the winter it's horrible. My fingers never turn purple, but by the time I get to the checkout at the store, they're so numb I almost can't pull my debit card out of my wallet and the clerk is looking at my zombie fingers like WTF?

Apparently all they've been able to offer is essentially a blood thinner.
She'll go purple fingers in a heartbeat.
Been years, and lost teeth due to circulation. Seems it's the body will preserve itself as best it can, and ditch extremities and such. Those small vessels?.. internal organs, priority.

Hope you stay well. Needing mittens for the grocery is a bitch.

 

[DaNewsNerd]

They do often have to be careful. It doesn't kill it. It weakens our immune system would probably be a better way to describe it. Can affect everyone differently depending on the type and level of treatment being provided.

Perhaps media exaggerates its impact.

 

[DaNewsNerd]

Chemo compromises your immune system only when we are going through chemo. It's a direct side effect of the chemo. I couldn't eat lettuce or other greens for a year. Once you're been declared in remission and the chemo is done, your immune systems goes back to normal. There are large clusters of lymph nodes, we can live just fine without some of 'um!

Ah sure, thanks for clarifying
I’m surprised it only negatively impacts the immune system DURING chemo. So the healthy cells grow back, is that correct?

 

[Jessie C]

Apparently all they've been able to offer is essentially a blood thinner.
She'll go purple fingers in a heartbeat.
Been years, and lost teeth due to circulation. Seems it's the body will preserve itself as best it can, and ditch extremities and such. Those small vessels?.. internal organs, priority.

Hope you stay well.

Ah sure, thanks for clarifying
I’m surprised it only negatively impacts the immune system DURING chemo. So the healthy cells grow back, is that correct?

Not really, the chemo causes the white blood cell count to crash, thus making the patient susceptible to infection and anything contagious. When the chemo stops, the white count returns to normal.

 

[DaNewsNerd]

Not really, the chemo causes the white blood cell count to crash, thus making the patient susceptible to infection and anything contagious. When the chemo stops, the white count returns to normal.

I was under the impression that chemo unfortunately also destroys healthy cells?

Sorry, please clarify what you mean by the white blood cell count crashing? Thanks