ObesityHelp

Thanks Lisey.  Things are going really well for me.  Had my 3rd treatment and
haveing very few side effects.  All side effects are very manageable.  Told
the oncologist yesterday that I feel WELL.    I appreciate your good wishes. Thank You

I had a freak complication, that I suspect actually did lead to my cancer.  In general, though, no, I don't think WLS causes cancer.  Correlational studies suggest that it leads to lower cancer rates than matched controls (people) where the match is the same starting body weight as your pre-surgery, yet they didn't have a WLS & are still obese (they have higher rates of cancer).

I apparently am prone to adhesions/ scar tissue.  My appendix formed a solid adhesion around the circumference of my small bowel.  The appendix was also stuck to my colon.  The adhesions slowly reduced the blood flow to the appendix, which caused to eventually die = appendicitis about 17 months after WLS.  The surgeon who did the emergency appendectomy also happens to be a DS surgeon who said that most surgeons would go their entire career & never see a case like this - among someone who had the DS or RNY, it's extremely rare.

I started having severe night sweats & fatigue (which was anemia of chronic disease, NOT iron deficiency anemia) 2 months after the appendicitis/bowel obstruction.  I had Hodgkin's Lymphoma, which is an immune system cancer of the white blood cells (WBC).  WBCs go into overdrive when we have infections.  Well, when I had the appendicitis, my WBCs went into massive overdrive, I actually had started going into septic shock, they were 24,500.

It is pretty unusual for Hodgkin's Lymphoma to go below ("south of") the diaphragm, yet according to the size & how the tumors branched out, I know mine actually STARTED below my diaphragm - directly behind my small intestine where I had the massive infection from the appendicits & bowel obstruction 2 months before my cancer symptoms started.

Coincidence?? 

There's a theory in cancer that most people actually have some cancer cells in their body at some point, yet our cells our programmed to destruct & get eaten (by macrophages) if they are damaged . . . which is exactly what cancer cells are - damaged cells that are able to turn off this natural self-destruction safeguard.  The theory goes that, when the immune system is overwhelmed by some trauma or chronic disease, it's normal job of cleaning up/ destroying the mutant cells isn't as effective.  It's already busy dealing with something else & it can't destroy the mutant cell, which then is allowed to divide, and divide, and divide, and form a tumor, etc.

Yes, I personally think MY cancer was ultimately caused by my WLS, but I also think that it is an exception to the majority of observances that site lower cancer rates than if you had stayed obese.

I would ask a good endocrinologist for an opinion.  My endo is also trained in internal medicine & he's very good with hormone regulation, proteins (not as in protein/ food) in the body, & vitamin needs.

I WAS THERE FOR THE FIRST OBESITY HELP WALK -A- THON AND DR FOBITOLDMEIT WAS OK TO SMOKE AFTER SURGERY BUT WOULD BE HARD FINDING A PLASTIC SURGEON . BUT HE AND DR LEE  SMOKED AS  WELL .

 That's so great to hear!  You made my day, congrats!

Did you have any troubles with calcium in post-op?  That's my biggest concern right now.  I really like my surgeon so I'm very happy.

I am doing very well. I have recovered amazingly well. I had a great surgeon, and my follow up care has been great. It took a while to get over the fatigue but other than that all is well.

Hope your surgery goes well. Please let us know how you are doing.

HI there,
I really only know one person who has ever had thyroid cancer and that was the woman who did the pre-admitting at the hosptial when I had my double mastectomy. She had a scar on her throat and told me that she just got back to work. She told me her prognosis was very good!
I hope your surgery goes well.
Nora
XXX

 sampc3,

How are you doing?  I'm going through the same thing right now - 2 years post op and about to get a thyroidectomy for papillary thyroid carcinoma.  Would love to hear how you're doing.

~Xixirama

 iisme, I totally know what you mean.

I have to tell you that when my doctor told me I had cancer I broke down and said "I wish I never had gastric bypass".  He looked at me and said "you need to know this has nothing to do with that.  look at how much weight you lost, you are much healthier now".

I have thyroid cancer and I feel angry that my WLS team should be doing more thorough thyroid checks before they perform the surgery.  Whether or not it's justified I feel like I could have lost weight had they given me the extra thyroid hormone by body needed.  

In the end, I can't do anything about it and it sucks, BUT when the doctor told me that he knew it wasn't related it did make me feel better because that nagging feeling like I did something to make this happen was really haunting.

Hang in there, we'll get through this!

I was 5 days being 1 yr out from bypass and a weight loss of 125pds, when i recieved the news of breast cancer. I had loss both breast on Dec, 9.  I have had reconstructive surgury and have gained 20 pds. what should i do?????????