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Hilar lymphadenopathy

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  • po18guy
    po18guy CSN Member Posts: 1,572 Member
    edited November 2022 #22

    "Normally" steroids are tapered at the end, to avoid the negative effects associated with sudden withdrawal. Such a taper "might" be 20, 10, 5, 2-1/2, 1, 0. However, doctor knows best. Steroids are a true double-edged sword. While steroids suppress your immune system (possibility of infection), they also greatly reduce inflammation, which speeds healing. The odd thing is that cancers also respond to steroids, as prednisone is a major component of lymphoma therapy. Steroids are not anti-cancer per se, but have the effect of reducing inflammation, which is the ideal environment for cancer to grow. You may well experience trouble sleeping and mood swings when on steroids. Fortunately, your course is a quite short one, so the long-term deficits of steroid use are not in the picture. However, if you have any sort of chronic inflammatory illness, you may well experience relief when on steroids. So far, all sounds very good in your case.

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