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Comment by _jaik | Hacker News Reader

I went through stage IV colon cancer in 2020 at age 37. Just had my 3-month follow-up CT scan today, actually. I had 3 surgeries (colon resection, port installation, liver resection & ablation), 12 rounds of chemo (FOLFOX + Vectibix), 9 before liver surgery, 3 after. I had plenty of fatigue and cold sensitivity in my extremities. I have some peripheral neuropathy maybe 9 months in, and continuing. It was worse, but improved some. It could take up to a year to go away, if ever. Theoretically, I'm in remission or "no evidence of disease" (NED).

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that being diagnosed with cancer can give you some anxiety. Doctors can prescribe an anti-anxiety medicine like escitolopram to take care of it. Having a clear head during a hard time can help you make better decisions, ask better questions, and get better care.

If you've been diagnosed with cancer and want to talk, email me: [redacted].

Fuck cancer.

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I just want to add a somewhat different view here. I had cancer when I was 30 (testicular cancer). Healthy today luckily. But everyone said I was taking it very well and clear headed and I think so too if I have to say so myself but some years later I had a massive panic attack and started having huge problems with anxiety and panic attacks. It got so bad all I could do for weeks were to sit in my sofa being scared I was sick and dying from cancer, not quite awake but never quite sleeping either. It came at first because I had blood in my urine (had it checked, nothing wrong, gone again) but the attacks became a returning pattern at the same time every year. The differing view is that unlike GP I already were on Escitalopram at the time I had cancer. I later found out that there is a massive problem with people getting anxiety and panic attacks while on escitalopram and a lot get cured after having stopped, including me.

Please do see a doctor and educate yourself if you have symptoms like blood in your stool, urine or if one testicle have a lump or feels slightly harder (internal tumour) but also educate yourself before taking any medication! It may save your life taking it but it may also ruin it.

Edit to add: Also remember that cancer often doesn't hurt at all (at first) so don't be one of those that don't go to the doctor because it doesn't hurt. Not having pain is often A Bad Sign. Off you go!

> I later found out that there is a massive problem with people getting anxiety and panic attacks while on escitalopram

People having issues like that with escitalopram are a small portion of the people for whom it’s a life-changing treatment for anxiety and depression. I put off getting on it for far too long because of scare stories.

Having had almost the same everything, and now almost 2 years cancer free, the neuropathy did take some time to disappear. Don't know if it disappeared or my body got used to it, but do not notice it anymore. Best of fortune in the future.

What caused the fatigue and cold sensitivity and peripheral neuropathy? The cancer or the various cancer treatments?

Having had almost the same history and chemotherapy, the cold sensitivity and neuropathy is cause by platinum based drugs, in this case oxaliplatin. The cold sensitivity is quite fascinating i found, its like your skin reaching a threshold and feels like pressing against some cold metal.

As for the fatigue, just the chemotherapy doing its stuff, never had fatigue from the cancer.

Ahh ok. I’ve been experiencing sporadic peripheral neuropathy and cold sensitivity for years, which my doctor has been unable to diagnose, so I was just curious if it might be a symptom of something else somehow.

Thanks for the information, I appreciate it.

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