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Hi Wombleboo You may find the following link helpful to get an insight into polycytheamia

http://www.cancerbackup.org.uk/Aboutcancer/Pre-cancerousconditions/Polycythaemiavera

Best wishes

Charles

Hi Wombleboo

Perhaps this webiste will give you some answers to your questionsB

http://www.polycythemia.org/

Best wishes
Jean

Debbie

I'm not quite sure what it is that you want to know or need to ask. Perhaps if you join us again on

Breast cancer

Started by Heatherann

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someone may be able to help you.

Best wishes
Jean
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my dads just been diagnosed with terminal cancer 1 week a go

Hello im new
My names kim and my dad ws diagnosed with oesphageal cancer 8 weeks ago.
Hes started chemo and having good and bad days.He will be having surgery in september.
Im feeling all over the place emotionally spent first 2 weeks non stop crying and was scared to see my dad incase i burst into tears.

Did go to see my dad and managed to not cry.Hes told me hes lost his hair now and i feel im back at square one emotionally.Im a mum of 2 soneed to keep it together for my kids but finding it hard at the moment.

My mum died on my 17th birthday and this is bringing all the memories back.I feel guilty about the way im feeling.

Any help would be greatful.

Hi Kim
I’m so sorry that you find yourself here but as Sue says, you will find lots of people in very similar situations who can advise you and offer support. I too had an oesophagectomy two years ago so I can understand what your dad is facing regarding the chemo regime, surgery and subsequent recovery. The very good news is that your dad will be having surgery, so when you feel low, keep that positive aspect in mind. I have a thread called Surviving Oesophageal Cancer which you migh like to read through, as it discusses various aspects of surgery and associated recovery issues. Please feel free to join it or any of the other threads on oesophgeal cancer. To find my thread click on the green Tags label to the left of this page and type in oesophageal.
I wish you and your dad very best wishes and good luck.
Crystal xx

Hi WOOMBLEBOO

I have polycythemia! it was the first thing that the doctor was testing me for when I started to get migraines in 2006. You can have it as a disease in its own right but mine was found to be secondary to my kidney cancer, NOT THAT I'M SUGGESTING YOU HAVE CANCER,.

My kidney tumours were telling my bone marrow to produce more red cells elevating my hb to 20+ which was horrible. Ordinarily they can treat it with a blood thinning drug or occasional venesection ( removal of a pint of blood) but mine being linked to the cancer in the kidneys meant I couldn't be administered drugs as it would add to my problems so I had 12 pints removed in the course of 6months last year to thin it to an acceptable level. I even came off the blood pressure tablets I'd had to go on when it came down to a more 'normal' hb level. It did leave me anaemic but not terribly so.

Since being put on sutent for my cancer my polycythemia has seemed to resolve itself and this can be attributed to the fact it is shrinking my tumours and to the fact sutent acts on blood cells. My hb now is 12.8.

I believe the norm for a woman is anything from 11-16.

You will no doubt have some tests to discover if there is any underlying causes but it could just be an imbalance in the chemical the kidney gives off which stimulates the bone marrow to produce this problem.

It can be treated especially if its primary polycythemia and not secondary to anything else. Since my hb has been controlled I've had no real problems with it! No more migraines and less tiredness.
Hope you hear something soon from your docs.

all the best Jackie.

Hi Thalie fw
I really hope I can help in anyway . All I can sugest is that you go and see your mum and talk to her nothing demanding or offensive of your feelings to your step sister or aunty( they are just looking after your mum) but just try and talk to your mum I'm sure you can work this out.It's never too late to make amends and tell someone how you feel.
I lost my mother when she was just 69 yrs old she had Rheumatoid Arthritis, she died really suddenly in Oct 06 I then became ill and was diagnosed with cancer in the June the following year and although I was lucky enough to be very close to mum, at least I was able to talk to her.
So all I can suggest is that you go and see your mum, she is your mum at the end of the day. No one has the right to stop you seeing her and you'll see things may not be as bad as you think. Go with what your heart is telling you. Good luck. xxx