Talk Cancer

Question:

A few months ago my father had lung cancer metastasize to his brain.   Along with raditation he was given decadon to control swelling.  He has now been taken off of decadon, and is entirely without appetite and has trouble breathing.  He also has been running an occasional low-grade fever. I have heard that all of these may be common when coming off of decadon, but would like more information.  I’d appreciate hearing from any M.D.s, or people who have gone through this themselves or know people who have. — Dale Dale E. Miller                         . "… pain is itself an evil; and, Department of Philosophy               . indeed, without excception, the University of Pittsburgh               . only evil…" Jeremy Bentham Pittsburgh PA 15260                    . "You know what I hate?  Pain." http:/info.pitt.edu/~demst10/          . Regis Philbin for AspirCreme CV available on home page              . GMTA

Response:

A few months ago my father had lung cancer metastasize to his brain. Along with raditation he was given decadon to control swelling.  He has now been taken off of decadon, and is entirely without appetite and has trouble breathing.  He also has been running an occasional low-grade fever. I have heard that all of these may be common when coming off of decadon, but would like more information.  I’d appreciate hearing from any M.D.s, or people who have gone through this themselves or know people who have. — Dale Hi Dale,

        It is fairly common for patients on decadron to have trouble withdrawing from it. This will depend a great deal on how much of the edema surrounding the brain tumor and the tumor itself have been reduced by the radiation. For some patients, this process takes a few weeks during which staying on decadron in reduced doses can be more tolerable. The approach I take is to gradually taper off the decadron about 2- 4 mg each week down to taking a small amount every other day and then stopping it. Some patients can’t go off it and need a small amount to keep their quality of life reasonable. Good luck. Kevin Murphy, Oncologist, Vancouver, Canada – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Dale E. Miller                         . "… pain is itself an evil; and, Department of Philosophy               . indeed, without excception, the University of Pittsburgh               . only evil…" Jeremy Bentham Pittsburgh PA 15260                    . "You know what I hate?  Pain." http:/info.pitt.edu/~demst10/          . Regis Philbin for AspirCreme CV available on home page              . GMTA

Response: