In a Panic...

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BBK
BBK Member Posts: 53
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Hi, I had breast cancer surgery in January (simple mastectomy with immed. tram flap). I was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma, stage 1, with NO lymph node involvement. Had 4 rounds of AC chemo from March to May. Now have been on Tamoxifen since July. Off Tamoxifen from mid-August to mid-September to see if the Tamoxifen was causing severe joint pain. Went last week to oncologist and was put back on Tamoxifen. Yep, it's the drug causing the pain. BUT, the panic comes after a call today from oncologist with results of the blood tests they did at my visit last week. She wants to know if I'm DIABETIC, as my blood sugar count was high (200+). NO, I've never been diabetic. She also said that my liver counts were elevated, so she's ordering another CT scan of my liver (the one they did in March was inconclusive -- they did a CT scan then of chest, abdomen and pelvis; they did notice a "spot" on my liver, but weren't concerned at that time).

The panic comes, as I'm preparing to fly with my family to Florida for my brother's wedding, and here I go again with health issues.

Has anyone on here developed Diabetes as a result of cancer treatments? I was healthy as a horse until this cancer hit me! What's the deal, and why am I suddenly developing issues with blood sugar levels? I don't have high blood pressure, I don't have high cholesterol. I'm overweight, but so are lots of otherwise healthy people.

Anyway, if ANYONE can shed some light on any of this (diabetes, and/or liver stuff)...I'd sure like to hear from you! I'll go for a fasting glucose test on Friday, and hopefully be scheduled for CT next week, before we leave for FL on the 4th. Aaugh...I don't know how much more of this I can take. I mean, my doctor is saying that if it's NOT diabetes, it could be cancer...again.

So, any help!? Let me know. I've really come to count on all of you "pros" on this discussion board. Thanks for all your help, your positive attitudes, your encouragement. I've got God on my side, but right now, I'm not understanding what He's doing...

Thanks, everyone. God bless YOU, too! Barb

Comments

  • jeancmici
    jeancmici Member Posts: 665 Member
    #2
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    Dear Barb,

    I can understand your panic. Having had blood tests that were incorrect, perhaps redoing the glucose will find it really is ok. I do not know of chemotherapy causing blood sugar increases.

    It is ironic that so many of us were so healthy before all this happened. Just talking about it under another subject yesterday.

    Many of the gals here will be adding you to their prayer list - and you may get some messages more helpful than mine.

    Please try to enjoy the wedding and family get-together - I have metastatic cancer recently found and people tell me to enjoy all the good times that I am able to. It is not easy - Prayers that God will give you strength and remember - all test results are not in. Oncologist who predict dire news before they have it verified are not appreciated by a lot of us.

    Hugs,
    Jean
  • mc2001
    mc2001 Member Posts: 343
    #3
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    Hi there BBK!
    First of all, please calm down... breathe. I KNOW it is scary with all these *new* conditions arising since your diagnosis of breast cancer. However, many of these side effects are really not that uncommon. Our bodies are changing from the chemicals used to treat us and they also affect our responses. I believe certain forms of diabetes can arise from certain chemicals in the chemotherapy treatments. This is called Secondary Diabetes which is associated with certain medicines. However if your fasting plasma glucose levels are higher than normal but lower than the levels that indicate diabetes mellitu, you may have what is called Impaired Glucose Tolerance. This condition *may* be a precursor to DM, or it could quite possibly, AND much more commonly resolve itself. Just keep in mind, its best to contact your doctor for his or her opinion. Take care, good luck, and God Bless!
    -mc
  • hummingbrd
    hummingbrd Member Posts: 6
    #4
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    Chemo is just so tough on every system in the body. Whether there is a direct correlation between the two I don't know. I can say this. I have been insulin resistant (kind of like a pre-diabetic) for years. I have been able to keep my blood sugar under control and avoid diabetes through exercise and diet for about 8 yrs now. However, during chemo all bets were off. My blood sugars were all over the place, and I had decided not to worry about it until everything was over (chemo and radiation) which was the end of July. Even my endocrinologist had the same attitude. Now I am back to my eating plan and I have started to exercise again (even though I am mucho tired). My blood sugars seem to be back under control. One question I have for you about the test is were you fasting when the blood sugar level was tested? Is it possible that you had eaten something that spiked it before the test?
    Please let us know how things come out.
    You are in my prayers.
  • DeeNY711
    DeeNY711 Member Posts: 476 Member
    #5
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    Listen, get on the plane and go enjoy the wedding. All blood glucose levels taken for routine labs should be fasting blood glucose levels. I do not remember one single person telling me not to eat prior to having lab work in all the time I've been having labs drawn for Oncology. The dexamethasone (Decadron) given with chemotherapy is a steroid, and causes the blood sugar level to do amazing strange things. The chemotherapy drugs kick the sh*t out of your liver. No small wonder that the liver function values are "off." You have to draw your own line at how much you are going to react to news like this. Stress is not going to help at all. Sometimes oncologists simply think out loud. What you will actually end up doing is having repeat labs drawn to determine whether or not the liver function tests are returning to normal. Mine went haywire and I used to have to explain why to each physician. Apparently, none of them have computers to look things up. I don't mean to trivialize your plight, but I'd trade initial diagnoses with you any day of the week. If your blood sugar is actually an issue, it is treatable. Hold onto your focus. Hugs, Denise
  • BBK
    BBK Member Posts: 53
    #6
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    hummingbrd said:

    Chemo is just so tough on every system in the body. Whether there is a direct correlation between the two I don't know. I can say this. I have been insulin resistant (kind of like a pre-diabetic) for years. I have been able to keep my blood sugar under control and avoid diabetes through exercise and diet for about 8 yrs now. However, during chemo all bets were off. My blood sugars were all over the place, and I had decided not to worry about it until everything was over (chemo and radiation) which was the end of July. Even my endocrinologist had the same attitude. Now I am back to my eating plan and I have started to exercise again (even though I am mucho tired). My blood sugars seem to be back under control. One question I have for you about the test is were you fasting when the blood sugar level was tested? Is it possible that you had eaten something that spiked it before the test?
    Please let us know how things come out.
    You are in my prayers.

    It was NOT a fasting glucose test...it was just part of my standard CBC. And, yes, I had eaten ice cream the night before, and had just had breakfast (a bagel with melted fat-free cheese on it and juice) only half an hour before my blood test. I wasn't told not to eat...it was just part of my routine blood test before my appt. with the oncologist. Anyway, I'm going in the morning for my fasting glucose test...I want to get to the bottom of this ASAP. Thanks for all the encouraging words, and the prayers! It means the world to me! ~Barb
  • senabel
    senabel Member Posts: 7
    #7
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    Doctors are not gods, remember that, it could be you had a can of soda prior to scan or a glass or OJ...but your antennae are up..carpe dium...the rest you will worry about when you have a good reason to. Hang tough, Senabel
  • JAN22
    JAN22 Member Posts: 21
    #8
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    Hi there, I also went through the same surgery and was stage 1, and in January as well, but my doctor said that I didn't need to have any further treatment, it was not in my lymph node either, the only thing I know about tamoxifen is that there are alot of other health issues to boot with taking that, I did not feel that was for me . I did go to a homiopathic person about a more healther way of treatment called COQ-10 , it has helped many different health problems and is a more natural form of tamoxifen. My doctor told me that is was all out in the mastectomy and there is no tissue there , and I have a 1% chance of it showing up in the other breast, but stay fit,and and keep up my homiopathic meds. Your body went through a big change and the diabetes might be temporary, this COQ-10 also has benefits for that. HOPE ALL IS GETTING BETTER FOR YOU.

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