I have had cancer 2x and now have been told I have "Post Radiation Damage" to my spinal cord. I was zaped from head to toe. The doctors seem to just say"We are going to make you as comfortible as possible" So how long do I have to live? Ant good answers from Occolgest Please.
2007-01-11 19:45:42 · 7 answers · asked by "D" 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
Although doctors try to prevent radiation from damaging the nervous system during cancer treatments, such damage is sometimes unavoidable. Symptoms of injury due to radiation can appear suddenly or slowly, can remain the same or worsen, and can be temporary or permanent. Sometimes symptoms do not appear until months or years after radiation therapy is completed.
Radiation damage to the spinal cord is one of the most dreaded complication in the clinical practice of radiotherapy. Radiation oncologists, consequently are always concerned about the dose to the spinal cord. Factors which have been implicated in radiation tolerance of the cord are total dose, dose per fraction, length (volume) of the spinal cord, irradiated segment of spinal cord and reirradiation of the cord.
You are going to have to ask your doctor how long you have to live.
2007-01-11 20:05:47 · answer #1 · answered by Dallas C 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am not a doctor but ina span of 5 mins. this is what i can say.
Talk to your doctor and ask... what exactly happens inside your body. And is their treatment helping your condition. I could say get a 3rd opinion.
I searched in google about post-radiation, first resuslts i got were about experiment with rats.
Since i have no idea what is ur exact condition, i'll throw links i found and believe can give u an idea. Just bear mind, im not a medical professional.
from this link:
http://taylorandfrancis.metapress.com/(dmsozhvmpln4x0quzvy0k42f)/app/home/contribution.asp?referrer=parent&backto=issue,2,12;journal,268,535;linkingpublicationresults,1:100668,1
"Fixation and Repair of Radiation Damage in Normal and Ataxia-telangiectasia Human Cells
G.P. Raaphorst A1 and E.I. Azzam A1
A1 Medical Biophysics Branch, Atomic Energy of Canada Limited Research Company, Whiteshell Nuclear Research Establishment, Pinawa, Manitoba, Canada R0E 1L0
Abstract:
Post-irradiation exposure to anisotonic treatment showed that fixation and repair of potentially lethal damage occurred in both normal and ataxia-telangiectasia human fibroblasts when treated in plateau or exponential growth phase."
.... i didnt understand a thing....
.... and i asked my friend just now... a pre-med graduate and this was her response:
It's normally not fatal. Normally such ailment is due to anesthesia given to you. The "death" part normally comes if you were comatosed.. from that it is fatal. Cheer up. hope this helps.
2007-01-12 04:15:14 · answer #2 · answered by Greenolivia 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is something you should talk with your doctors about. Don't let them get away with pat answers and a lot of mealy-mouth talking. Make them be honest with you. It's your life. Get some straight answers from the doctors. It's your body and your life. You have a right to know exactly what's going on and what the plan of treatment is. The docs have the responsibility to be open and honest with you. Don't let them get away with soft-soaping you or sugar coating their answers.
How long will you live? Who here can guess that? None of us know you or your medical circumstances.
2007-01-12 03:53:46 · answer #3 · answered by Richard B 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am so sorry to hear that this is happening to you. You must be feeling very shocked.
Did your Doctor not give you information during the visit? Or did it not register? Perhaps you need to contact him/her and request more specific details. Write down what you want to ask and ask the Dr to give you written details of treatment and expected lifespan.
It is probably not good to expect anyone here to give you an answer as we don't have your medical history or the necessary medical expertise. Good luck with everything. I hope it turns out better than you fear.
2007-01-12 04:02:37 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Nobody knows when they will die. It is up to God and medicine.
I hope you live a very long time, you never know.
2007-01-12 04:22:12 · answer #5 · answered by Donna L 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Only God knows the answer
2007-01-12 03:52:54 · answer #6 · answered by tnbadbunny 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
7 months, 3 days, 21 hours, 31 minutes and 17 seconds from the time I posted this.
2007-01-12 04:01:00 · answer #7 · answered by Joshua D 2 · 0⤊ 8⤋