Barbara Lea

My husband (46 years old) was diagnosed with HPOA in Nov. 05. He started with swollen feet and ankles in June 05. He only weighs about 140 lbs on a wet day, so to see him with swollen limbs we knew something was very wrong. The swelling moved up his legs, into his hands and wrists. Dr. treated him with diuretics most of the summer. Took him to OR on 10/31 because he could hardly walk. They tested for lymes and RA, sent us to a rheumatologist. He listed to symptoms, etc. Sent him for a chest CT on a hunch. Jim also had clubbed fingers. CT came back showing 4 cm tumor right upper lobe. Dr. explained it was HPOA. Went to see oncologist and surgeon, had right upper lobe and tumor removed 5 days before x-mas. Swelling and pain were almost instantly gone. He is going through chemo now, but has had no signs of HPOA since surgery. He did take some darvaset during that time for the pain. We were told that HPOA is a very rare syndrom that occurs with lung cancer. The tumor sends out hormones to the joints which causes the sweling. Hope your mom can find some relief from the pain if surgery is not an option. The rheumotologist did give Jim a shot of something in his knees to help with the pain early on, but that wore off.

My 46 year old husband Jim was diagnosed with IIIB nsmlc in Nov. 2005. His symptoms presented as swelling in the feet and ankles in 6/06, which then moved up to knees, hands and wrists. His dr. treated him with diuretics all summer. After trip to OR because he could not walk from pain and swelling we were referred to a rheumatologist who sent him for chest ct on a hunch. Jim also had clubbed fingers which dr. noticed. He diagnosed him with Pumonary Hypotrophic Osteoaropathy (??) which is a syndrom that occurs with lc. Jim had 4 cm tumor in right upper lobe, had lobe removed a few days before christmas. Also had positive cells in pelura fluid and few lymph nodes. HPOA disappeared almost instantly after surgery. Jim has not accepted his diagnosis very well, even though he has smoked since a teenager, and was in total denial it is from cigs, although he has not smoked since the day of his surgery. Quit cold turkey from 2 packs/day. He postponed treatment till March. Wanted to throw in the towel. We finally convinced him to at least try a few treatments. He started taxol/carbo in March, just had 2nd treatment last week. He has a small appetite, but no nausea, achey joints from the white blood shot and has lost all of his hair. Other then those few things he is very fortunate with his lack of symptoms. My delima is that he is not always the easiest person to live with on a good day. So throw in some lung cancer and chemo he's not exactly Mr. Sunshine these days either. I've noticed a pattern of more anger the few days before a chemo treatment, threatening not to go anymore, etc. He is tired of being poked and stuck. I've been with him every step of the way, every appointment, but he is now trying to shut me out. I was not "invited" to go to his last treatment with him or even give him a ride. I'm usually a very mild mannered person but I'm about at the end of my emotional rope with his attitude. I know that I am not in his shoes and can't feel his pain, but after being married 22 years I think I have an idea of how he feels. We have 2 teenagers so I try to keep myself busy with my full time job and keeping life as normal as possible for them. My other concern is that he was advised not to drink alcohol during treatment. He tried non-alcoholic beer the first week after the first treatment, but has gone back to the real stuff. He is at home all day, so he may consume 8-15 beers a day. Nobody has told him what the bad effects of drinking could be, but I'm sure it can't be good for the liver. Now that I'm done venting I guess my question is if anyone has any advice how to handle his anger/attitude. No, I've never had cancer and I haven't been through any of this personally, so I'd like to undertstand how I can help him from someone on his side of the fence or another caregiver who has had to deal with this kind of emotional rollarcoaster. I've been walking on egg shells around him since Nov. and finally blew up at him the other night. Like I said, I'm usually mild mannered and I think I took him off guard when I yelled back. I just wanted to make him understand that I'm sorry he's sick but I didn't do it to him and whether he decides to take treatment or just ride off into the sunset I'll stand beside him whatever he chooses. Thanks in advance for any comments or advise and blessings to all of you going through this monster of an experience.