Oncologist

On the schedule today was a visit with E.'s oncologist.  Since E. is doing so well, the appointment seemed to be more of a formality than anything.  Dr. B. was happy with the June results from MD Anderson and was pleased with how E. was looking and feeling.  He didn't want to see E. again until January when he could hopefully celebrate more good test results with us.

One of the on-going complaints E. has had since receiving chemotherapy and radiation has been the neuropathy in his hands and feet.  For a lot of patients, it seems to resolve itself.  The doctors kept telling E. to give it about a year.  Any neuropathy after that point was probably something he was just going to have to learn to live with.  Unfortunately, E.'s neuropathy has never gotten better.  Some days are worse than others, and the symptoms can vary as well.  Sometimes it's like his hands and feet are asleep and they have that tingling, prickling, pins and needles feeling.  Other times, they burn or having stabbing like pains.  Often he doesn't have much coordination or feeling, dropping things out of his hands or bumping his feet into things.  Yet it can be the exact opposite and his hands and feet can be extremely sensitive too; for example, his hands are super sensitive to the cold and if he steps on a pebble just right in flip flops, it causes him much pain.  The neuropathy truly does affect his life to the point that he avoids fishing and golfing (and any outdoor activity in the winter) because of it.

We've tried several different suggested treatments, but have not yet found anything that works.  In reading another Esophageal Cancer patient's blog, we came across something called the "Rebuilder."  It is a "very specialized form of TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator)."  I've read all about it, but I don't still truly understand how it works.  Somehow it stimulates the nerves; soothing the irritated ones and waking up the numb ones.  Of course, there are all sorts of "testimonials" on their webpages like a bad infomercial, but knowing that it helped another Esophageal Cancer patient sold us.  We thought it might be worth a shot.  It requires a prescription so we brought it up with the oncologist and he thought it was worth a shot too.  So, we got the prescription and will see if we can get the Rebuilder and if it will help with E.'s neuropathy.