Hello Karen,

You know I never gained my weight back after radiation, then continued to lose, not quickly but I figured I had heard so much about after effects I wasn't real concerned. I finished radiation January, 25 2002.

I had a few really bad bouts of gas. To the point at one time I even had chest x-rays to insure it wasn't my heart. Also, my finger nails were turning whitish and shredding. (I have always had strong nails) This is one sign of liver problems.

In September I looked down and saw that my right side was swollen. Above the abdomen below the ribs. I have since learned this is where the gall bladder and the liver are. Sure there was some pain but in my case not great, just annoying.

Then I read on the boards here, an answer Brian posted about spread to aerodigestive system and I asked what he meant. After finally finding a doctor and after every test you can imagine including a full body bonescan, they found the tumors on the liver and my ribs and spine.

The other areas are small so the main concentration of the scans has been the liver. Since I am being treated systemically(sp) they feel it should take care of the bones, too. And these doctors haven't been wrong yet.

Hope I was able to answer your question. I will add that the first thing they did was a blood test. Evidentily most times it will show in the blood. Not mine.

Take care,
Dinah