Vaccines for cancer

Saw on the news this morning they now have a vaccine for cirvical cancer. What surprised me was the fact that this cancer as well as 25% of all cancer are caused by virus's.  It explains at to me the reason a few hep-c people develope cancer.

                                                            Ron

[NYgirl]

One more reason to promote testing and SAFE sex.   Ah to be an ignorant kid and not know such life changing things.

[can-do-man]

Hello, Hello

[GoofyDad]

Having completed 26/26 a couple weeks ago, I have just developed a numbish finger tip - middle finger, left hand. I had this symptom leading up to tx (and on and off for several years), but I think it's been quiet for the past 6 mos on tx. I was never certain whether this was a Hep C symptom, or possibley caused by a kink in my back, since I seem to always have some back twitch thingy going on. In any case, what I'm feeling now is the exact same thing as before.

Of course I'm hyper-sensitized for any sign of relapse - and this tingling finger tip is firmly planted in my red-alert screen. Anyone have any thoughts on the following?

How common is a tingly finger tip as a hep C symptom? - How likely is it that this si a Hep symtom vs. something else?

Say a relapse had occurred. Would the tingly finger flare and present this early after stopping tx (last INF shot 3/11)?

Thanks for any words of wisdom!

[cuteus]

I had the tingly, numb and at times sort of like an internal "itch" on that finger for many yrs prior to dx. It got so bad, I would use my teeth to try and scratch the finger tip. A few yrs later a diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome explained the symptom.
It got real bad during tx and post tx was even worse for a few months after EOT, I knew it was hep c coming back, I just knew it...but I was wrong. It might be the inflammatory feature of interferon, easing off  on the tissues. If it persists an EMG might determine if the carpal nerve is getting squished. You can try buying a cheap wrist brace and wear it at night for a few days to see if there is an improvement. The neurologist determined that I was bending my hands while sleeping and it was causing a lot of the daytime discomfort.

[GoofyDad]

Things are getting better all the time - thanks for askin. This was my first feel good weekend since D-day. Was a welcome change, I'll tell ya!

'Cept this prob has let old Nervous Nellie out of the barn. Were it not for the fear of relapse, it would be mildly annoying at worst - and not really even that.

The tingle seems to come and go - here today gone tomorrow. I wonder if the fact that it is limited to one hand helps to rule out hep C? Would that tend to be a more symetrical, bi-lateral symptom?

[GoofyDad]

<i>I knew it was hep c coming back, I just knew it...</i>

I bet we all go through this post tx. Whether tingles, fatigue, flatuence, or other not specific malady - it's just got to be the Hep, right? Undoubtedly, we're sometimes right, but hopefully we're most often wrong.

I'm still curious about what causes the Hep-tingly's, and whether it's possible for that condition to manifest in say 10 days of being interferon free. Last INF was 3/11 - tingles appeared 3/24.  

[GoofyDad]

I think I have the liberty to slide in one test before the 12 week test. Was holding out for 4 weeks, but I'm gonna report this to the doc and ask if there's any benefit to be derived by catching it now. I guessing that if one were symptomatic, one would probably find themselves back to starting from square one anyway.

Pre tx anxiety, when to stop anxiety, relapse anxiety - the only time I was whole was on the meds, LOL!

[jmjm530]

Among other things, interferon has certain anti-inflammatory properties that no doubt account for the fact that some report feeling worse in certain respects (bone aches, arthritis, etc) right after treatment as opposed to during treatment. Often these were pre-existing aches that got better during tx.

Remember, if you're lucky interferon will kill the virus and stop fibrotic progression,  but realistically, in many instances, we can't count on it to make us feel better than we were pre-treatment.

So if your middle finger was "tingly" pre-tx, it's not surprising the tingling sensation is coming back. The interesting thing to me is why it's your middle finger but I'll leave further speculation in this area to Can-Do.

BTW from what I've read and seen posted, there's absolutely no correlation to how you feel post tx and whether or not the virus is gone. Some folks have reported feeling absolutely terrible in the weeks following treatment and have cleared. Others, reported feeling teriffic post tx and relapsed.

On a personal note, based on my recent treadmill performance, I thought I had completely cleared the riba -- until earlier today when I had a phone conversation with a certain relative and soon realized that the riba hasn't yet gone into the night silently :)

-- Jim

[NYgirl]

I have five blown discs in my back since 1993 and I've NEVER had this finger numbness before.  It's like the very tips fall asleep HARD and nothing I can do wakes them up they just come back. It's usually my two middle fingers on both hands.

I think it's some wierd thing of tx ... it never bothered me before treatment and I am very atune to all the things that have happened in my  many accidents.

Stop being anxious my friend. You are fine. Do whatever you have to to make yourself believe it but tingly fingers don't mean squat it's been posted lots of times and I notice it because it happens to me.

[jmjm530]

NYGirl says: tingly fingers don't mean squat
--------------------------------------------
That's sort of what I was trying to say in a long-winded kinda way. Thanks for getting to the crux :)

-- Jim

[Mister beagle bailey]

I have herniated dics and have the numbness you describes, so being you had back problems in the past it could stems from that. Hope you are felling better my friend.  You sound a bit down from the sound of you posts.

Beagle

[Dale_Ray]

I think you are so worried you will relapse that anything will send up red alert flags. It's called human nature I think. I would bet we all go through the same feelings you are having when we complete treatment. Enjoy yourself Goof. It's your time to not worry and enjoy life. Just be around and on the board when I start freaking in another 29 weeks. I'll worry myself silly sorry I meant Goofier. Dale

[can-do-man]

Maybe if you quit using that finger on prying them roids out. And just get the ole plunger out. With the right amount of suction that plunger just might solve all your problems. That and keep that finger inside your car. Just use your horn.

[mauka]

I been having a tingly finger (same exact as you!) left hand, pinky:)
for 3-4 years. Doc have no idea what the heck it may be.

[sunspot]

I never had tingly (numbish) fingers, pre-tx. It started about week 40 and it has not gone away as of week 11, post-tx. It has lessened somewhat in the last week. Mine starts on my little finger and as the tingle travels down the finger, the ring finger would start to tingle and so on to the index finger. Running my hands under very warm water helps a lot.
What the heck is going on? Is this neuropathy?

[azgrl]

goof - don't even start talkinga bout relapse....i might have to slap you with the puffy pink flaps if you keep that up.  You're gonna be fine...you have to cause I said so.

Cuteus...the deep itchy finger thing...I have that too but I get it on both hands....I was told when I was a kid that it meant money was coming my way...and since I still have my magic eight ball I still get this little bit of excitement every time I get that annoying itch.  on a serious note it is a very deep annoying itch and I get it in my fingers and top part of my palm...

deb in az

[FlGuy]

Left hand, middle finger? That's your driving finger. Probably just wind or sun burn. Or, it was hit, while driving and waving, by a pebble or a bee.  Wear a watch on your left wrist? Take it off for a few days

[GoofyDad]

Brilliant as always, my friend. In fact, I have found that the right amount of suction can improve just about anything in life - as long as proper care is taken to avoid use of the teeth.

Sadly, the horn isn't what it once was. Too frequently it's a hooter that just won't won't hoot.

To paraphrase NYgirl: Toot toot toot - Get on up. Toot toot.

[GoofyDad]

<i>....i might have to slap you with the puffy pink flaps if you keep that up.</i>

Please promise me you won't bathe first!

<hr>
OK. I'm thinking the finger tingle is nothing -- thanks for all your input. I'm still left wondering about the bio-response that causes the reported Hep C tingles. Anyone have an explaination for what causes that?

[MissMiss]

Tingly finger? Twitchy back? What about seeing a chiropractor?

Husband had a neck injury and ended up with surgery.  Tingly finger is classic sign of upper neck, which can make mid back tingly/twitchy too.  His finger is still numb.  Drops things at will.  If you just have an impingement that can be manipulated to fix it, much better than waiting til you gotta get cut on.  

Good luck.  I envy you for your first good day and more to come.

miss

[fresnoborn]

I totally know what you are talking about.  I too have experienced tingling in my left pointer finger since i started tx.  Now that I am week 38 it seems to be more frequent.  I have also noticed sudden twitches in my body that I did not have before tx.  I am hoping they will go away after tx and they probably will.  I do not know for certain if it is due to tx but i know i never had it before.  I thought that maybe it was cause my body has so much tx built up in it that is just freaking out.  I'm sure others will say that it is NOT due to tx but my opinion is that it IS.  I am glad to hear you are doing well and take care.

[GoofyDad]

missmiss, I did go to see the chiro last night. He, of course, is certain the tingling comes from the back. 'T2' according to him. But, between you and me, I think he'd be happy to attribute my flat feet, thinning hair, and occaisional halitosis to the back as well.

Fresno, Where have you been girl? Nice to have you drop in. The diff with my tingling as compared to what yu and other have reported, is mine was gone on tx. It was there before, gone during, and now it's back. Could be coincidence, or as others noted, maybe the anti-inflamatory activity from the interferon.