Tumor flare?

HeatherBLocklear · June 2008

Tumor flare?

HeatherBLocklear · June 2008

Hi all,

On another thread I noticed the phrase "tumor flare." I'd never heard the expression before, and don't know what it means. I don't believe it means flare-up; my understanding was that it refers to pain in the tumor[s].

Can anyone elucidate?

Thanks so much as usual.

Annie Tumor Breath

AlaskaDeb · June 2008

For your edification Annie...LOL

Tumor flare was explained to me as pain and inflammation in the bones and muscles surrounding a tumor. The tumor actually increases in size in some cases, but that increase is thought to be caused by swelling from the dieing cells. The pain might even be from the body having to deal with so many dead cancer cells, so even though the tumor may appear to get bigger on scans, it will regress quickly.

I kind of liked to think of it as each little cancer cell screaming in pain as it died

My doc said that even though the pain can be hard to deal with, ultimately tumor flare was a GOOD sign the treatment was working.

Deb C

HeatherBLocklear · June 2008

Dear Deb,

Again I thank you for your input. I'm beginning to think of you, AnnNYC, AnneW, and Tender as my BC dictionary and encyclopedia combo, Cool .

The reason I ask is because every third week after chemo, my breast and the nodes under my arm ache and hurt. My BS has told me it means they're growing; he doesn't like that reaction at all.

My take has always been that it means the cancer cells are dying.

I wonder who will turn out to be right? Hopefully it will be me.

Love,

Annie

Tumor flare?

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