Other Q&As

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#003333" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="067d8c00dduajq.jpg"> <div> <A HREF="id200.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fatigue QAs"><U>Fatigue Q&As</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id203.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lymphoedema QAs"><U>Lymphoedema Q&As</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id202.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Pain QAs"><U>Pain Q&As</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id201.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Nausea QAs"><U>Nausea Q&As</U></A></div> <div> <B>Other Q&As</B></div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Click on the question to go to the answer</div> <div> Click on Top to return to questions</div> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#0066FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Don't Say That Word</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#333399" FACE="Arial" >   </FONT>  |     <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dont Say That Word"><U>home</U></A></div> <div> back to  <A HREF="id166.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Living With Cancer QA"><U><B>Living With Cancer Q&A</B></U></A></div> <div> Other Q&As</div> <div> <B> <A NAME="top"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>Questions:</B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="#1__all_though_all_of_us_get_hiccups" TITLE="Other QAs"><U><U>1. My husband has an incurable cancer. We are coping with this fairly well but recently he has started getting attacks of hiccups which often last for ages. This is very distressing for both of us. What can we do?</U></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="#2___excessive_or_profuse_sweating_can" TITLE="Other QAs"><U><U>2. My wife has cancer and is getting very troublesome episodes of profuse sweating. These are often drenching sweats and she finds them very unpleasant. Is there anything that can be done about this?</U></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="#3___itching_of_the_skin_is_quite_a" TITLE="Other QAs"><U><U>3. I have an incurable cancer. I have been coping with this quite well until recently but now I am getting a lot of itching of my skin and I'm finding this really hard to live with. What can I do?</U></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="#4___brain_tumours_like_most_cancers" TITLE="Other QAs"><U><U>4. My father has a brain tumour. He has had radiotherapy and chemotherapy but these are no longer helping. The doctors have suggested 'steroids'. How can these help?</U></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <B>Answers:</B></div> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="1__all_though_all_of_us_get_hiccups"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>1. </B>All though all of us get hiccups from time to time they can occasionally be a real problem for some people with more advanced cancers, with episodes lasting for days at a time. </div> <bR> <div> There are many different causes for hiccups in this situation but by far the commonest is stretching or irritation of the stomach (gastric distension). </div> <bR> <div> There are a whole range of 'folk' remedies for hiccup which are worth trying, because although some of them may seem odd they all actually work in one way or another to help switch off the nerve reflex which is causing the problem. These simple 'treatments' include: </div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">swallowing two heaped spoonfuls of granulated sugar </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">swallowing dry bread </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">swallowing crushed ice or sipping iced water </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">gargling with water </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">sucking or biting a lemon </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">drinking from the far side of a glass </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">rapidly swallowing two glasses of a liqueur </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">inhaling smelling salts </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">rubbing or massaging the back of the neck </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">a cold key or ice dropped down the back of the neck </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">holding your breath </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">rebreathing into a paper bag </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">putting a finger on the back of your tongue and pressing to make you gag </div> <bR> <div> If none of these help then, since stomach irritation is usually the cause of the hiccups, trying a simple 'over the counter' medicine like peppermint water or antacids containing charcoal (your pharmacist will be able to advise you about these) may well bring relief. </div> <bR> <div> If the hiccups continue to be a problem then there are some more 'medical' treatments that can be used, so do get advice from your doctors and nurses. These other treatments include various simple and safe drugs which often help or 'mechanical' remedies like using cotton buds or a soft catheter to stimulate the soft palate or the back of the throat. Drug treatments your doctor may recommend include an anti-sickness drug called metoclopramide, small doses of a blood pressure medicine called nifedipine, a muscle relaxant known as baclofen, a sedative called Largactil or high doses of an antibiotic, Erythromycin.</div> <bR> <div> All though all of us get hiccups from time to time they can occasionally be a real problem for some people with more advanced cancers, with episodes lasting for days at a time. </div> <div> There are many different causes for hiccups in this situation but by far the commonest is stretching or irritation of the stomach (gastric distension). </div> <div> There are a whole range of 'folk' remedies for hiccup which are worth trying, because although some of them may seem odd they all actually work in one way or another to help switch off the nerve reflex which is causing the problem. These simple 'treatments' include: </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">swallowing two heaped spoonfuls of granulated sugar </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">swallowing dry bread </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">swallowing crushed ice or sipping iced water </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">gargling with water </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">sucking or biting a lemon </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">drinking from the far side of a glass </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">rapidly swallowing two glasses of a liqueur </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">inhaling smelling salts </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">rubbing or massaging the back of the neck </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">a cold key or ice dropped down the back of the neck </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">holding your breath </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">rebreathing into a paper bag </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">putting a finger on the back of your tongue and pressing to make you gag </div> <div> If none of these help then, since stomach irritation is usually the cause of the hiccups, trying a simple 'over the counter' medicine like peppermint water or antacids containing charcoal (your pharmacist will be able to advise you about these) may well bring relief. </div> <div> If the hiccups continue to be a problem then there are some more 'medical' treatments that can be used, so do get advice from your doctors and nurses. These other treatments include various simple and safe drugs which often help or 'mechanical' remedies like using cotton buds or a soft catheter to stimulate the soft palate or the back of the throat. Drug treatments your doctor may recommend include an anti-sickness drug called metoclopramide, small doses of a blood pressure medicine called nifedipine, a muscle relaxant known as baclofen, a sedative called Largactil or high doses of an antibiotic, Erythromycin.</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="#top" TITLE="Other QAs"><U><B>[Top]</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="2___excessive_or_profuse_sweating_can"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>2.  </B>Excessive or profuse sweating can often be a troublesome problem for people with cancer. There are a number of different causes for these sweating episodes. These include: </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">the cancer itself: some types of cancer do often cause drenching sweats, which often tend to be worse at night. These</FONT> are most common with lymphomas (non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and Hodgkin's disease), carcinoid tumours and also when a secondary cancer has spread to involve the liver. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f011111100.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">some drugs increase the chance of sweating attacks. These include morphine-based painkillers, some anti-depressant tablets and a number of hormone preparations commonly used in the treatment of breast and prostate cancer (like tamoxifen, Arimidex (anastrozole) and Zoladex (goserelin)). </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f011111100.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">infections causing fever will also lead to sweating attacks </div> <bR> <div> There are some simple things that you can do to help cope with sweating episodes, such as:</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">having frequent baths with tepid water </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">regularly changing your sheets n wearing lightweight pyjamas/night dresses </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">using an electric fan or air conditioning to keep the room cool during hot weather </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">reducing or avoiding alcohol </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">taking aspirin or paracetemol of you are feverish </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">using large amounts of deodorants and antiperspirants does not help control the sweats and can lead to skin irritation </div> <bR> <div> Although one or more of these may help do let your doctors and nurses know if sweating attacks are a problem because they may be able to help in a number of ways. For example:</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">if sweating attacks are a feature of the type of cancer you are being treated for then they can explain this and let you know if the attacks are likely to disappear as the treatment continues </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">if the underlying cancer is the problem then even if things have reached the stage when further treatment to control the tumour is not possible there are still drugs that can be prescribed that will often reduce or stop the sweating attacks (these include steroids and some anti-inflammatory tablets) </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">if there is an underlying infection contributing to the sweats then they will be able to give you the appropriate antibiotics to get rid of this </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">if the sweats are due to drugs then they can change your medication or give you tablets to reduce he likelihood of troublesome sweats.</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="#top" TITLE="Other QAs"><U><B>[Top]</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="3___itching_of_the_skin_is_quite_a"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>3.  </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Itching of the skin is quite a common problem for people with cancer, especially in the more advanced stages of the illness. There are a number of causes for this sort of itching and these include: </FONT></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">dry, irritable skin </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">skin infections </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">drugs, particularly morphine and codeine </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">some types of jaundice can cause itching </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">the underlying cancer itself may be the cause, especially in lymphomas (non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and Hodgkin's disease), carcinoid tumours and stomach cancer</div> <bR> <div> There are a number of things you can try to help ease skin irritation and itching and these include: </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">avoid hot baths, perfumed soap and deodorants using tepid baths and unperfumed soaps </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">add soothing oils to your bath water </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">after bathing or washing dry your skin by patting with a soft towel and not by rubbing </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">try not to scratch your skin, keep your fingernails short and, if you must, then gently rub the troublesome area but don't scratch </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">avoid irritant clothing (wool can often be particularly troublesome when the skin is sensitive) </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">avoid using 'wet wipes' which are soaked in alcohol </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">avoid getting over hot, especially in bed at night. </div> <bR> <div> Do talk to your doctors and nurses if itching is a problem because there are a number of ways in which they may be able to help. For instance:</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">they can make sure there is no skin infection present, and give appropriate treatment if there is </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">they can check that your itching isn't due to any of the drugs that you are taking, or if it is they can change your medication </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">they can advise on soothing lotions or creams that may help relieve the irritation (thinks like calamine lotion, menthol cream, crotamiton (Eurax) cream or mild steroid creams). - they can prescribe drugs like steroids, antihistamines or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory tablets - although usually using the other measures already mentioned will often ease the problem and drugs will not be needed.</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="#top" TITLE="Other QAs"><U><B>[Top]</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="4___brain_tumours_like_most_cancers"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>4.  </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Brain tumours, like most cancers, are usually covered by a rim of inflammation, where the tumour meets the surrounding normal tissue. This area of inflammation is found with both primary brain tumours (those which start off in the brain) and secondary tumours which have spread to the brain from a cancer elsewhere in the body. </FONT></div> <div> The layer of inflammatory tissue makes the tumour seem larger than it actually is. It also causes pressure on the surrounding normal tissue. Because the brain fits quite tightly into the bony framework of the skull this means that the normal tissue is squeezed between the swelling caused by the tumour and inflammation and the rigid structure of the skull. The pressure this causes on the normal brain tissue leads to unpleasant symptoms like headache and sickness. </div> <bR> <div> Steroids are drugs which can reduce inflammation in the body. One steroid in particular, called dexamethasone, is very effective in easing the inflammation caused by brain tumours. </div> <bR> <div> Taking dexamethasone tablets can shrink the area of inflamed tissue surrounding tumours in the brain. This reduces the volume of abnormal tissue and so eases pressure and relieves symptoms. </div> <bR> <div> Unfortunately dexamethasone does not have any effect on the cancer itself and so the benefit that it gives is only temporary. But very often taking dexamethsaone can give a very valuable respite from problems like headache and sickness for some weeks or even months. In addition the steroid does have other benefits, like increasing appetite and energy levels, which can lead to an overall improvement in quality of life.</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="#top" TITLE="Other QAs"><U><B>[Top]</B></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>