Question 1

doing great thru 5th week of radiation and chemo, tumor has shrunk 30% now all of a sudden he is very very ill and hospitalized. what happened?

Accepted Answer

Ask the treating doc: Chemotherapy as well as radiotherapy have side effects which can make a person very sick due to damage to the normal cells. This can lead to low blood counts, sores in the mouth or a serious infection of the blood. Your treating doctor can tell you more as to what is going on and what to expect in future.

Question 2

how probable is it that chemo and radiation have shrunk a tumor?

Accepted Answer

High : Depends on which cancer and also what prior therapy you have had. In general works well in shrinking a tumor

Question 3

supposing cellphones cause cancer, why is it that radiation treatments shrink the tumor ?

Accepted Answer

Scientific basis: Cell phones don't cause cancer. This is something that's been kept alive by politicians, fear-mongers, and retrospective (basically junk) studies. In the big study a decade ago, more people had brain cancer on the opposite side. Radiation therapy works by several mechanisms, causing cancer cells (which are wimps) to self-destruct or fail to divide.

Question 4

how long after radiation can you tell if radiation has shrunk lung tumors?

Accepted Answer

Radiation and tumor: This will depend on how sensitive it is to radiation. Time will tell. Discuss with your cancer Dr.

Question 5

could radiation make brain tumors grow before they start to shrink?

Accepted Answer

Not actually: Radiation may cause apparent enlargement of brain tumors on imaging and edema (swelling) around the tumor as it dies so what is seen on the scans may look larger but the actual living tumor cells are regressing so the enlargement and even worse local brain function is apparent not real or permanent

Question 6

how long after radiation can one tell if radiation has shrunk the lung tumors?

Accepted Answer

NSCLC usually: Takes time...I wait 6 weeks, and usually it is a tumor, not "tumors".  Symptom relief should occur sooner if treatment is directed against an obstruction, bleeding, cough or pain.

Question 7

3b squamous nsclc.  radiation shrunk tumor by more than half.  begin abraxane/carboplatin on 3/3/  is this effective?  is it the preferred course?

Accepted Answer

Good choice : I m sorry about your cancer. This regimen is very likely to help and get you some more good time.

Question 8

do doctors ever use radiation therapy to shrink benign tumors?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Although radiation is most commonly used to treat cancer it is sometimes used to treat benign tumors such as acoustic neuromas, pituitary adenomas, and paragangliomas.

Question 9

i have acoustic neuroma treated with radiation in 2003 that has shrunk tumor 40 per cent. still have balance problems. it was suggested i consider having a shot of gentomycin in affected ear to kill nerve. any experience?

Accepted Answer

Complex decision: Whether or not ablation of your vestibular nerve (8th cranial nerve) will help with your balance problem depends on the cause (EG, size and location of the original tumor). Need a repeat CT/MRI to ensure no regrowth. Additional radiation may help if the tumor has grown. If the cerebellum isn't affected, and if you have no hearing, nerve ablation may a reasonable option. Try Semmes-Murphey neurosrg

Question 10

can tumors shrink without any chemotherapy or radiation or any kind of treatment?

Accepted Answer

Not usually: Tumors with out treatment will not go away, but how ever in very very rare instances spontaneous regression is reported , should not be used as an excuse not to treat

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Doctor answers about:

How fast does radiation shrink a tumor

A member asked:

Doing great thru 5th week of radiation and chemo, tumor has shrunk 30% now all of a sudden he is very very ill and hospitalized. what happened?

A member asked:

How probable is it that chemo and radiation have shrunk a tumor?

A member asked:

Supposing cellphones cause cancer, why is it that radiation treatments shrink the tumor ?

A member asked:

How long after radiation can you tell if radiation has shrunk lung tumors?

A member asked:

Could radiation make brain tumors grow before they start to shrink?

A member asked:

How long after radiation can one tell if radiation has shrunk the lung tumors?

A member asked:

3b squamous nsclc. radiation shrunk tumor by more than half. begin abraxane/carboplatin on 3/3/ is this effective? is it the preferred course?

A member asked:

Do doctors ever use radiation therapy to shrink benign tumors?

A member asked:

I have acoustic neuroma treated with radiation in 2003 that has shrunk tumor 40 per cent. still have balance problems. it was suggested i consider having a shot of gentomycin in affected ear to kill nerve. any experience?

A member asked:

Can tumors shrink without any chemotherapy or radiation or any kind of treatment?

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