NGC Fever, Chills, every two weeks

[bobrebos]

So Ive been getting these flu like symptoms every two weeks since one December.    I get the chills and a fever of like 102 degrees and it takes like three days for it to go away.  Im hoping I just have been unlucky and caught the flu that many times but I am a bit worried.  Im a five year cancer survivor (Bladder) where along with the chemo treatments I had surgery to remove some lymph nodes, the bladder, gall bladder and prostate.  (They would of took my heart but they couldn't fine one, LOL)  Anyways I hope these fever episodes are just me catching the flu numerous times.  I have a physical appointment in mid Feb, so maybe il find out something then.  Don't know why im posting this on here other then to vent as it will make me feel better mentally!  Ride safe!   

[Rough Edge racing]

 I can appreciate your concern....You need to see a doctor now for your own peace of mind and that's why you posting here , yes? ...Can't you contact the Oncologists you saw for the bladder? Wishing this is nothing, good luck!

[bobrebos]

I can appreciate your concern....You need to see a doctor now for your own peace of mind and that's why you posting here , yes? ...Can't you contact the Oncologists you saw for the bladder? Wishing this is nothing, good luck!

Yes   I may try to see one of the oncologist soon.  Guess I was just being stubborn about seeing a doctor again.  LOL.  Thanks.

[tazio]

Bob, don't go falling apart, we've got some riding to do this year!
Seriously, listen to your wife and listen to your Doctor,
(but mostly your wife, she's always got your back)
Prayers coming your way.

[bobrebos]

Bob, don't go falling apart, we've got some riding to do this year!
Seriously, listen to your wife and listen to your Doctor,
(but mostly your wife, she's always got your back)
Prayers coming your way.

Thanks Tazio

[breva750]

I may be wrong but it sounds like your immune system is compromised (thus causing the frequent infections you mention), due to the removal of lymph nodes (lymph nodes are important for the proper functioning of the immune system. They are major sites of B and T cells and other white blood cells)  (and possibly also as a weakened immune response as a result of the chemotherapy).

[Lannis]

Off to the doctor quick, man!   You could have any sort of weird infection in your blood or centered in an organ.

Diseases we've forgotten about, or never knew about, are coming back from forgotten pest-holes around the world due to unprecedented mass migrations of people, some of whom have immunity, some are just carriers, but YOU probably don't have immunity, so get it sorted tout-suite ....

Lannis

[twowheeladdict]

Bob, take care of yourself and get checked. Your body is telling you something. Sending a prayer your way.

[SIR REAL ED]

So Ive been getting these flu like symptoms every two weeks since one December.    I get the chills and a fever of like 102 degrees and it takes like three days for it to go away.  Im hoping I just have been unlucky and caught the flu that many times but I am a bit worried.  Im a five year cancer survivor (Bladder) where along with the chemo treatments I had surgery to remove some lymph nodes, the bladder, gall bladder and prostate.  (They would of took my heart but they couldn't fine one, LOL)  Anyways I hope these fever episodes are just me catching the flu numerous times.  I have a physical appointment in mid Feb, so maybe il find out something then.  Don't know why im posting this on here other then to vent as it will make me feel better mentally!  Ride safe!   

Seeking advice from people who buy and ride Moto Guzzi's as if they are rational thinkers?  Are you daft man?   

Cept in this case they are right, consult the doctors who know your medical history.

FYI, my wife and I have been taking this for 12 years now.

http://www.orost.org/Alternatives/0907Walt-noColdsFlu.pdf

[bobrebos]

Thanks for all the comments.  I will see my docs asap.  Everybody...take care of yourself!  Ride safe.   

[alanp]

Thanks for all the comments.  I will see my docs asap.  Everybody...take care of yourself!  Ride safe.   

My brother-in-law, also cancer survivor, has had very similar symptoms.  They found it was due to a persistent blood infection due to a weakened immune system, chemo related.  In his case the cycle between "well" and "sick" seemed to be rest and activity related.  When he felt good, he did more which made him tired, which triggered a sick episode, so he rested (in hospital with IV antibiotics), got better, more active, repeat. 

[Rough Edge racing]

 The oncologists told me the immune system recovers in stages after treatments from Chemo and or radiation.. with peaks and dips...For some recovery may be months...or years for others...I got bloods tests weekly and they explained what was going on and the chemo adjusted to suit the conditions...It's all quite complicated....
 Bob, this shit makes us look over our shoulder...  and the small issues can cause a lot of fear...

[bobrebos]

The oncologists told me the immune system recovers in stages after treatments from Chemo and or radiation.. with peaks and dips...For some recovery may be months...or years for others...I got bloods tests weekly and they explained what was going on and the chemo adjusted to suit the conditions...It's all quite complicated....
 Bob, this shit makes us look over our shoulder...  and the small issues can cause a lot of fear...

That is exactly correct.  Im concerned over the latest.  Hoping I get good news from my doctor and the blood tests and other tests of course. 

[breva750]

It's simple and complicated at the same time:

Simple: Cancer is uncontrolled cell growth.

Complicated:
In general, chemotherapy is a treatment that uses chemical agents to destroy ALL dividing cells (healthy and unhealthy = i.e. cancerous).

Therefore, chemotherapy is a non-specific, non-molecular treatment.

Most chemotherapy agents kill cancer cells by interacting with the DNA synthesis or function of the cell.

The chemical agents differ in the way this occurs in the cell cycle.
Some major types of agents are
antimetabolites,
plant alkaloids,
alklyating agents,
antitumor antibiotics, and
steroid hormones.

Chemotherapy is typically administered through a vein, by mouth, or into a muscle. A common strategy of chemotherapy treatments is to administer the drug in intervals over an extended period. The side effects of chemotherapy include hair loss, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anemia, infections, fatigue, loss of taste buds, and destruction of the immune system.

Most chemotherapy operates on the principle that the most rapidly dividing cells will be the most susceptible to the drug.
An example of this is the drug methotrexate, which is commonly used to treat cancer. Methotrexate is an anti-folate that is administered in high doses -- doses high enough to be lethal if not carefully monitored. Methotrexate works by competing with folate in the pathway that synthesizes thymine from uracil. Thymine is one of the four nucleotides required for the synthesis of DNA. Because the most rapidly dividing cells in the body -- the cancer cells -- have the greatest need for the synthesis of DNA, the cancer cells are the most vulnerable to attack by methotrexate.

Again, however, this is a classic example of the approach in which one hopes the drug kills more cancerous than healthy cells. Methotrexate acts to inhibit dihydrofolate reductase, a key enzyme in the activation of folate to be used for thymine and purine biosynthesis. Methotrexate will bind to DHFR in place of dihydrofolate, therefore blocking the pathway at this step. This will cause misincorporation of bases into the tumor's DNA, which could result in the death of the cell.

Other drugs, such as trimetrexate, are also being investigated for the same purpose. A problem with drugs such as methotrexate is that tumors often can be immune to this type of treatment. Because MTX's inhibition of DHFR is not complete, a tumor cell can compensate by producing large amounts of DHFR. This is accomplished primarily through additional copies of the gene coding DHFR present in the tumor's genome. Understanding the mechanism by which methotrexate works -- and that by which tumors can be resistant to the drug -- allows physicians to determine whether this is a potentially beneficial treatment. This determination is essential due to the potential toxicity of the drug.

A major advantage of chemotherapy is its ability to travel through out the body and attack widespread cancers, whereas surgery and radiation are confined to treat one area. The disadvantages of chemotherapy are the toxic side effects, the development of resistance to the chemical agents, and the need for other forms of treatment, in combination with chemotherapy, in order to cure the patient.

These disadvantages are why molecular based treatments are becoming so valuable. Most molecular based treatments are designed specifically to destroy only cancer cells. Since molecular based treatments are specific they are not associated with the same toxic side effects as chemotherapy. In conclusion, increasing our understanding of the molecular basis of cancer would allow us to improve molecular treatments because unfortunately they can not perform efficiently without including other forms of treatments.

[bobrebos]

Well, I just beat this four day fever.  Had about 102 degree temperature.  Now to see if it comes back in 2-3 weeks again.  Appointment with Doctor in February. 

[Rough Edge racing]

Breva750, are you an oncologist or professional cancer researcher ?

[Triple Jim]

Very interesting information here, especially from breva750.  The only thing I can add is that it's unlikely that you've gotten the flu that many times.  It would take an equal number of different flu viruses being around, since once you recover from one, by definition you then have the needed antibodies to keep from getting it again.

I too hope this is just an odd and benign problem for you that quits happening very soon.

[Sheepdog]

My wife's aunt and uncle have a farm near Cleveland, TN. Both have been hospitalized multiple times with flu symptoms. Apparently many folks are in isolation and the Cleveland hospital is full. The uncle has pneumonia and the aunt has Bronchitis. Something is going around...

Seek help from your doc, avoid contact in public places, and wash your hands regularly...

[Motormike]

Bob, I don't know how much travel you do, but flu-like symptoms require exposure (as does any virus).  Now that I've retired, my exposure to other potential carriers has dropped WAY off, and I don't come down with colds and flu nearly as often (actually, never since I retired a little over a year ago, now that I think about it). As a pilot I was constantly exposed to coughing, hacking sick people, both in the plane and in the crowded terminals.  I've often said an airplane is worse than a hospital for getting an infection. Glad I'm done with it.  I like being a hermit/recluse...it's healthier! 

[sidmonsters]

Get the ball rolling--go to your doctor and don't wait for February!  Immune compromised patients can have trouble with so many pathogens--we're all constantly bombarded by them.  Your oncologist can certainly screen for the more common offenders, but can also enlist infectious disease specialists, etc.  So many of these things are treatable but require diagnosis.  I'm a vet but married to a real doctor, so I'm standing on her shoulders :wink  If you were a dog I'd want to see you sooner than later, and I'd be thinking about tick-borne diseases, and even brucellosis (which in humans was called "undulant fever" in common parlance because of the episodic fevers).  Could just be stuff to do with previous chemotherapy (out of my depth here) but let the pros get on it.  Best to you!
Steve

[wrbix]

Would also be concerned re possibility of lymphoma: a known complication of previous ChemoRx, and recurring fevers not an uncommon presenting symptom. Would not let anyone dissuade you from a complete work up for entities other than infection.

[breva750]

Breva750, are you an oncologist or professional cancer researcher ?

I'm a nurse (but my wife is an MD)





This is a pic of her from many years ago...

[Muzz]

I'm a nurse (but my wife is an MD)





This is a pic of her from many years ago...

An RD350 (or 250).  A love of speed.

A few years ago when I was seeing a lady neurologist trying to sort out some health problems I wandered in in my riding jacket with Moto Guzzi on it.  Her eyes saw it and in the resulting conversation it seems like she had a 250 Diana when going through uni.  Sold it but still missed it.