Frequently Asked Questions:

Q.
What happened to the messages I had previously posted
A.

Welcome to the new-look Cancer ChatNZ to all our members who have posted on the old site, and to all those coming to Cancer ChatNZ for the first time.  Unfortunately we are unable to display historical posts on our new site but we hope the transition will be easy for those used to using that familiar format.

We encourage you to continue any conversations over from the old boards, and want to let you know that the people behind the scenes are the same people that you will have communicated with before, so the only thing that has really changed is the look and feel of the site.


Q.
How many drinks of alcohol does the Cancer Society recommend a women should drink each day?
A.
Hi - thanks for your question.
The Cancer Society of NZ is currently reviewing its position on alcohol and cancer and this is almost finalised. and will be available soon on www.cancernz.org.nz 
It will be in line with the recommendations from the American Institute for Cancer Research which firstly state that alcohol consumption is not recommended at all because it increases your risk for certain cancers. For women who choose to drink they should limit it to no more than one alcoholic drink per day . (One drink is equal to 285mls of full-strength beer or 450mls of light beer, or 100mls of wine or 30mls of spirits).
Regards
Julie, Cancer Information Nurse
Q.
i have lost my father and brother to different types of cancer and now another brother has advanced bowel cancer is there anyway of testing to see if the rest of the family are likely to get cancer or is it just bad luck. so far it is the males in the family who seem to be affected.
A.
Hi thank you for your enquiry.Sorry to here of your brother's diagnosis, and the family history of cancer.
The different types of cancer sounds like bad luck, but you or they could check with the General Practitioner to see if they are elligible to Bowel screening under the MOH bowel screening guidelines.
Visit the guidelines website: www.nzgg.org.nz       detailed guidelines--" Surveillance and management of groups at increased risk of Colorectal Cancer"
You may like to enquire with the clinical Genetics Service--Northern Region :0800 476 123, lower north Island and South Island. 0508 364 436
 
If we can assist with any other queries please don't hesitate to call us on 0800 226 237.
 
Kind regards,
Naena Chhima
Cancer Information Nurse.

Q.
My father has advanced lung cancer and has recently started chemotherapy (doxorubicin) and has just had his first treatment. He is currently on a perscription of steriods, motilium, and is using orolube.
A.

Thank you for your question.During chemotherapy it is recommended that your father follows a balanced diet to maintain his weight and energy levels as much as possible. It can be difficult to achieve this as for many people, chemo can cause taste changes and reduced appetite, sore/dry mouth etc. The Cancer Society booklet ‘Eating Well’ has many suggestions for coping with these problems during treatment – call us 0800 CANCER (226237) to get a copy or email info@cancersoc.org.nz.

It may be helpful for your father to discuss his nutrition with the hospital dietitian – they can suggest supplements such as Complan or Ensure which can help if his appetite is reduced.

Taking vitamins, antioxidants, herbal products etc during chemo is generally not recommended – some research suggests they may make treatment less effective. It is best to get nutrients where possible from food sources. I hope this is helpful and best wishes for your father’s treatment.

 

Regards

Julie, Cancer Information Nurse

 

Q.
Hi - my partner's cancer is now terminal & I understand we'll be going under hospice care, could you please tell what this means & if he'll also need a GP (he doesn't currently have one
A.
Dear Michelle,
 
I am sorry to hear of your partner's illness.
 
You have asked about Hospice care, that he will be reffered to. Hospice care is about Palliative care, which is about caring for people with a terminal illness as well as their families.It is given when treatment to cure an illness won't work any longer or cancer has advanced.It aims to ease the pain and other symptoms, distress and many other physical, emotional and spiritual problems that are present with a terminal illness.
 
All patients need GP s, especially when they are treated for illness of any type.
 
I am happy to post you out a booklets on hospice and advanced cancer care.
 
I hope this answer's your questions, please don't hesitate to contact us if we can help or support you further.Tel: 0800CANCER (226 237)
 
Kind regards,
Naena
Cancer Information Nurse
Q.
Do you have any information for those of us who have completed treatments but still have the cancer? Life after Cancer focusses on cured survivors
A.

Hi - thanks for your question

The Cancer Society has a booklet we bring into NZ from the Cancer Council Victoria called ‘Life With Cancer’ which you can obtain by calling 0800 226 237. It is also available online at www.cancervic.org.au/about-cancer/living-with-cancer

 

For people with advanced cancer we have a booklet called ‘Advanced Cancer’ available in hard copy from our 0800 service or online at www.cancernz.org.nz/information/cancer-types/#information-booklets

 

We also have books in our library which may be helpful so please don’t hesitate to call/email if you would like suggestions of titles – we can mail books out to you.

 

Kind regards

 

Julie

Cancer Information Nurse



Q.
I have been taking Tamoxifen for nearly 6 months. The hot flashes and night sweats, which I have been having about every 2-3 hours are really troubling me. Even during the day, hot flashes are accompanied by sweat dripping down my face back and legs. My oncologist agreed to a holiday from the Tamoxifen for a few weeks over Christmas and I stopped taking it 3 weeks ago but I am still suffering the sweats and I still haven't had an undisturbed night's sleep.
A.

Hi, thanks for your message. The hot flushes and sweating sound really miserable for you.

 

Hot flushes happen for many women on tamoxifen – they often settle down about 3 – 6 months after starting the drug as your body adjusts to it. Stopping tamoxifen should mean the flushes ease but it may take some time for your body to readjust to this as well. I wonder how close you are to natural menopause (average age for menopause in NZ women is 51) as this may be having an effect?

 

Generally there are some tips to try which you may have read already such as avoiding triggers for sweating eg. hot, spicy foods, caffeine,  hot showers/ baths or saunas, smoking, alcohol, and stress. Women have said that it can help to wear natural fibres such as cotton, use cotton sheets, try a cool gel pack under your pillow, keep ice water or a water spray close by, having a cool shower before bed , sleep on a towel if you sweat a lot overnight so it is easier  to change than sheets and less likely to wake you completely.

Managing stress by learning relaxation techniques and doing regular exercise helps some. Dietary changes such as lower-fat diet may help.

At work it may help to have a desk fan if this is possible, during your breaks have a walk or try some relaxation exercises or listening to a relaxation CD. We have a CD I could send you if you’d like – just send your mailing address.

 

Some research has shown acupuncture to be effective in reducing hot flushes – I suggest asking your doctor to recommend an acupuncturist if you want to try this. Drugs which have been shown in studies to help include clonidine, gabapentin and perhaps most effective has been low doses of an anti-depressant called Venlafaxine – again ask your doctor about this.

 

http://www.nbocc.org.au/breast-cancer/living-with-breast-cancer/treatment-for-menopausal-symptoms-after-breast-cancer

 

I hope this helps,

 

Kind regards

 

Julie


Q.
Hi - I just discovered you site which is wonderful. I don't have cancer but have had it in my family and have it now amongst friends. I have just helped a friend with breast cancer start up a blog. I wonder if you'd think about linking this site to cancer blogs? The url for my friend's is: http://nudenutsunite.blogspot.co.nz/
A.

Hi Mary thanks for these links, they look great. We will also add them to the CancerChat forum so more people may read about them.

thanks again

Julie and Naena

Q.
Hi there. My mum was diagnosed with squamous cell lung cancer a month ago via bronchoscopy. Two weeks ago she had a lung function test, but there has been no mention of any type of scan to establish stage/metastasis. She is wasting away before our eyes, and my family and I are becoming increasingly frantic. Would it be a good idea (or are we able to) book and pay for a scan privately if we obtained a referral from her GP? We just want some answers. We are told the tumour is inoperable due to its lication. Thanks.
A.

Thank you for your email via our Cancerchat forum.

Sorry to hear of your mum’s diagnosis of lung cancer. It is a difficult time waiting for treatment options and mean time she is deteriorating in health in front of you.

There is no reason why one can’t get any scans privately, either get a referral from your GP or her specialist .

Has she been referred to a medical oncologist for treatment of Chemotherapy or radiotherapy, as treatment options if her cancer is inoperable?

 

Best wishes and aroha,

Naena

Cancer Information Nurse

Q.
In Jan 2012, I had a lobectomy of the lower left lung lung to remove a cancerous tumour. I am currently doing chemo. My question today is can I have a PCC line put in to have the chemo drugs administered as I find the vinorelbine/cisplatin very painful for the veins in my arms to the point of not sleeping properly for 2 wks as the pain was too intense. If it can be given via PCC line will it affect the central vein at all? It has caused a thrombosed vein in each of my arms so far. I don't want to complain but even the codeine does not work in easing the pain. Everyday chores become quite difficult.
A.

Thanks for your interesting question.

I’m sorry to hear you’ve had such a painful time with your chemo.

 

The benefit of a PICC is that they are inserted into a larger deeper vein in your upper arm than the veins used with cannulas into your hand or lower arm. The end of the PICC line then sits in a very large vein in your chest so they are less likely to cause irritation to the vein.

The other benefit is that they can stay in place for weeks or months and can be used to take blood and give medication without having to use a needle each time which is also irritating to smaller veins.

 

Like any intravenous line PICC lines can cause problems – eg infection at the site where they enter the skin – you will be shown how to look after it and what to look out for. Overall the complication rate is low. For more information on the PICC line with drawings and photos see these links: http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinformation/Cancertreatment/Treatmenttypes/Chemotherapy/Linesports/PICCline.aspx

http://cancerhelp.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/treatment/chemotherapy/having/iv-chemotherapy#picc

 

 

Kind regards

Julie