night sweats

Hi Kathryn,

Welcome to the site, although I am sorry that you have to be here. My dad used to get the chills and the shakes as well. They just used to come on every so often and would only last a short while then pass just as quickly as they started. If you use the search forum function at the top of the page here you will find many posts on those subjects.

From what you say, it does sound like your husbands recovery has been very good indeed and this is good to hear. Have you spoke with the doctor about these symptoms and your husbands weight loss? I am certain that others willl be along soon to offer their thoughts and experiences with this.

I hope that you will come back often here as you will get a ton of support and help from all of us here.

My best wishes to you and your husband,

Gavin

Thanks Gavin & Lisa.  I'll schedule an appointment ASAP.   BTW - Gavin -our middles son's name is Gavin.  Not a common name here in Canada.

kathryn....you may also use the search function, top, by entering the words "nights sweats."  It will lead you to previous discussions regarding this occurence.  Here are a few examples but, there are many more.

www.cholangiocarcinoma.org/punbb/viewtopic.php?pid=14482
www.cholangiocarcinoma.org/punbb/viewtopic.php?id=2578

Best wishes,
Marion

You are so right, Rick. Teddy also had some infections like that and we were told it just goes with the territory. While it needs to be tended to....not earth shattering. Although, and rightly so, I think most of us have a tendency to "jump" when involved with CC.

thanks everyone.  we've had blood work done and a chest x-ray.  all results came back fine with no sign of infection and cancer markers all normal.

Hi Kathryn,

My husband was diagnosed in 2011 with CC.  I can't believe that it has been a year since the Dx.  He has gone through many rounds of chemo since his tumors are inoperable.  Unfortunately, he is stage IV.  He recently had cyberknife at Georgetown Hospital to take care of a series of tumors near the head of the pancreas that were pushing on the nerves of the celiac plexus.  the pain that was radiating from his lower rib cage around to his back and up his shoulders has diminished we believe from this treatment.

Lately, he has started to experience rigors and sweats.  It comes on suddenly and without any significant fever.  The highest that it has gone up to is 99.4.  blood cultures have always come back negative.  We have come to learn recently that these rigors and sweats are probably due to the tumors.  The tumors secrete cytokines, which cause an inflammatory reaction, causing the rigors and sweats.  It can also be from blood clots as well.  Many advance cancer patients have blood clots from secretions from the tumors.

My husband is getting ready to go into a trial at NIH where they have harvested leukocytes from him and are genetically engineering them to target the tumors and cancer cells to block receptors on the tumors and cancer cells so that they cannot make a blood supply, thus making them starve to death.  It is a very interesting approach in that it is systemic (perfect for stage IV) and uses the body's own defenses to fight the cancer.  There was another trial that we wanted to have him participate in where they would have harvested a piece of tumor and sensitized his Lymphocytes to attack the cancer cells.  Unfortunatley, his tumors are not readily accessible in order for them to harvest a piece of tumor. 

In both scenarios his immune system would be wiped out, the genetically altered cells are reintroduced and then he is given a drug to quickly grow up the army of fighting cells.  All of this is done in-patient and is cutting edge.  There is not much else out there that can help him at this point.

I pray that this approach will have positive results.