Secondaries: symptom help plse

ktee_uk · 03-05-2004, 06:44 PM

Hello all.
I have a work colleague who has had a couple of moles removed which he told me were cancerous. That was about 6 to 8 months ago. He has now suddenly started displaying some alarming symptoms which has stopped him from working. He has total lethargy. No energy to get out of bed and when he does he can only sit in armchair. No focus on his actions such as mindlessly leafing through pages of newspaper and then reversing his actions so the leafs through the paper backwards. Sudden change of mood from lethagic to quite hostile (totally out of character).

I am worried that he has some kind of secondary cancer and would appreciate any help, advice or information. Thank you.

Ktee

Saraly · 03-05-2004, 08:52 PM

If the moles were cancerous I assume they were melanoma. Did he have the removal done in a hospital or a doctor's office? Did he tell you what stage the cancer was?

ScarlettGA · 03-05-2004, 10:52 PM

Has your friend been back to the doctor to report his symptoms? The first thing I thought of was a brain tumor because that's how my dad did before he was diagnosed with 3 malignant brain tumors (he never had skin cancer). Not meaning to scare or worry you, but that's exactly what it reminded me of when I read your post. One of the things the doctors quizzed the family on was a drastic change in behavior, hostility or sudden unexplained changes in his mood, repetitive statements or movements were some of the things they asked us about. Fortunately, the only thing any of us could tell them was he would get headaches and sleep for hours. We later found out that when he rested it reduced the pressure he was feeling in his head. My mom later confessed he was acting strangely and always complained of being tired.

Have you suggested that your friend go and get a check up or have you talked to him about his behavior? Is he on any medication that you know about?

Take Care...Scarlett

ktee_uk · 03-06-2004, 05:41 AM

THanks Sarly and Scarlett
He had his first malignant mole removed in surgery last year. He was off work for about 3 weeks as it was right between the shoulders and they had to "dig down deep" and he healed rather slowly. He only gave me snippets of info but i remember him saying that he had somehow missed his chance at chemo and I took that to mean that it was advanced. However he came back to work and seemed fine until just after Christmas when he gradually began to slow down and very recently started to show these strange symptoms. He also found more moles and he has had mri and other tests done this week and will find out more next week. He is 64 years old.

Regards to you all
Ktee

Saraly · 03-06-2004, 08:20 AM

My Dad had a MM removed from his upper back in 1996. He also had his surgery and a skin graft in the hospital. The only MM surgery that's done in the office is in situ melanoma or stage 0. Sadly, your co-workers MM sounds as though it was advanced. My Dad was also too late for chemo, in his case, meaning the cancer had spread to a point where it would do no good. About 20 months after surgery my Dad began to lose weight and became very tired. A few months later he slept most of the time and was getting thin. He went back in the hospital and was told the MM had spread almost everywhere in body and I took him home on Home Hospice. He passed away two years after surgery.
I agree with what Scarlett said; your friend needs to see a doctor. If he's unaware of how he's behaving a family intervention may be needed.