cancer and diabetes

[hueck]

i have breast cancer and now my doctor tells me that i have a seroius condition of diabetes i am in my mid 40's and also have a kidney disorder which was prior to this brest cancer .
My Question is can you tell me how to deal with this condition and how does it affect the cancer and me . I have lost faith in my doctors as my brest cancer came back after i faithfully followed ALL THE RULES.

[twoareus]

my topic is recurring colon cancer.  My mother was just diagnosed.  She is 80 years old and the cancer is in her lymph in the chest, her lymph in the abdomen and a mass in her lung.  She has diabetes and congestive heart failure.  I am concerned for her because she wants to go through treatment, even though the prognosis is poor.  I'm afraid the treatment will greatly diminish her quality of life.  Any thoughts?

[CCF-RN,MSN-rf]

Dear hueck:  Unfortunately, some breast cancers will come back despite doing everything possible to prevent this from occurring.  In these cases, it is not anyone's fault - just bad luck.  

In general, diabetes and cancer are two separate conditions and unless the same organs are affected (kidneys for example) only the treatments, not the diseases, may interact.  For example, if you were to be put on steroids as part of a treatment protocol, your sugar level could rise as a result.  Some chemotherapies also affect the nerves in your hands and feet just like the diabetes can.  This might impact which treatments are chosen.  You need a good internist or endocrinologist who can follow your diabetes and work with an oncologist who can manage the cancer.