Strange Numbness

Mary Jo in Dr Galls office

Mary Jo had a special appointment today at 1:20pm to be examined by her oncologist, Dr Gall at his Minnesota Oncology office in Burnsville. Mary Jo has been experiencing an unusual increase in the numbness and tingling in her left arm all the way down to her fingers and stiffness (like a pinched nerve) in her neck for a few weeks now. Mary Jo and her doctors and nurses had originally dismissed these symptoms as common possible side effects from two powerful drugs, Herceptin and Arimidex that Mary Jo is being treated with but the arm numbness has been interfering with her sleeping. The numbness seems to be worsening so Mary Jo scheduled a special visit for a detailed examination. Dr Gall gave Mary Jo a complete examination and believes Mary Jo’s symptoms are likely being caused by one or more possible conditions. The most obvious and first thing to rule out or confirm is an actual pinched nerve. Mary Jo will be schedule to have a C.A.T. scan of her neck on Monday. The C.A.T. scan image will have the ability to show if Mary Jo has bone or tissue problems and could also detect any lesions (cancer) if they existed, which are not at all expected. The power port (implanted under the skin in the chest) through which the chemo is administered could have repositioned and could possibly be now pressing on a nerve or the reconstruction expanders could have repositioned slightly and be applying pressure on a nerve. Dr Gall will review the results of the C.A.T. scan on Monday with Mary Jo and confirm or eliminate the most likely cause and work step by step to diagnosis and eliminate the condition. Mary Jo is otherwise doing well and enjoying the summer.