treatment side-effects?

peachycream
peachycream Member Posts: 33
edited March 2014 in Esophageal Cancer #1
So my dad is 58, had a bad stroke 5 1/2 years ago and has stage 3 esophageal cancer. I'm not sure how they stage it, but it hasn't gone out of the stomach or esophagus, but it is in one lymph node. It actually started at the top of his stomach and spread up a bit, so it's more like stomach cancer but the are calling it esophageal. They said it's at the junction. We are at MD Anderson, and we were told he is inoperable. They are treating him with docetaxel every Monday, and Monday-Friday he is on a 5-FU infusion. He also gets radiation everyday. Today starts the third week, and he will be getting it for six weeks. The first two weeks he sailed through it, but this weekend he got extremely dizzy and he actually fell once. As expected, he has started sleeping constantly. Today we wheeled him around the hospital and he got very emotional and cried a long time before chemo treatment. Other than this, he has done great. He is able to eat just fine (he was having trouble, but nexium helped a ton and chemo has done wonders), so we are thankful for that.

Have any of you experienced this?

Comments

  • Betty in Vegas
    Betty in Vegas Member Posts: 290 Member
    #2
    Wow
    Ok, I am very confused. They said he is stage III but they won't operate? That is odd. Layne was stage IVM1A and they operated on him...

    Also, no oxaliplatin? Only Doxy and 5FU?

    Make sure that he is getting a lot of liquids--and I think I'd ask WHY no surgery and WHY no chemo with platinum? What do they see they have not told you or what is their reasoning? This seems so odd to me. It's good to ask why. Questions are always good.
  • paul61
    paul61 Member Posts: 1,391 Member
    #3
    No?? Surgery?
    No surgery for stage III seems a bit odd. Did they give you staging information that looked like TxN1M0?

    Perhaps the "inoperable" is due to other medical issues that effect the potential surgical risks?

    After my first three week round of chemo I got very dizzy and I found that I was dehydrated. Be sure your dad gets enough liquids. Chemo drugs can also effect your mood so if you discuss this with your dad's oncologist they might be able to help.

    Best Regards,

    Paul Adams
    AKA "paul61"
    McCormick, South Carolina
  • Tina Blondek
    Tina Blondek Member Posts: 1,500 Member
    #4
    Hi Peachey!
    I have been
    Hi Peachey!
    I have been wondering about you and your dad. I have not seen any recent posts from you lately. Glad dad did well with the first couple of treatments. I agree, the dizziness can definitely be coming from being dehydrated. The hospital can hydrate him with iv fluids. I would also ask why not surgery for stage III?
    My dad was stage IV, but could not have surgery because of past heart condition. Your dad will be very emotional now. It is normal. They get worried, scared. They are not sure what to expect next. They worry about "us" their families. Just listen, give him your shoulder to lean on and cry. Ask some more questions. Why???.....why not surgery? why not another type of chemo? If you are not comfortable with the answers, or how dad is being treated, get that 2nd opinion. MD Anderson is top notch. Keep in touch as things change. Hugs to you and dad and your family. Peace.
    Tina
  • peachycream
    peachycream Member Posts: 33
    #5
    Tina Blondek said:

    Hi Peachey!
    I have been
    Hi Peachey!
    I have been wondering about you and your dad. I have not seen any recent posts from you lately. Glad dad did well with the first couple of treatments. I agree, the dizziness can definitely be coming from being dehydrated. The hospital can hydrate him with iv fluids. I would also ask why not surgery for stage III?
    My dad was stage IV, but could not have surgery because of past heart condition. Your dad will be very emotional now. It is normal. They get worried, scared. They are not sure what to expect next. They worry about "us" their families. Just listen, give him your shoulder to lean on and cry. Ask some more questions. Why???.....why not surgery? why not another type of chemo? If you are not comfortable with the answers, or how dad is being treated, get that 2nd opinion. MD Anderson is top notch. Keep in touch as things change. Hugs to you and dad and your family. Peace.
    Tina

    They said it was too risky
    They said it was too risky because of his stroke... Said because it is at the junction, the would have to remove half of his stomach and part of the esophagus. They said it is a very hard and long surgery, so I don't know. Also, what is this about another type of chemo?

    And yeah, I do think it may be dehydration. It he ups his fluid intake, will that help or should he go to the hospital?
  • paul61
    paul61 Member Posts: 1,391 Member
    #6
    peachycream said:

    They said it was too risky
    They said it was too risky because of his stroke... Said because it is at the junction, the would have to remove half of his stomach and part of the esophagus. They said it is a very hard and long surgery, so I don't know. Also, what is this about another type of chemo?

    And yeah, I do think it may be dehydration. It he ups his fluid intake, will that help or should he go to the hospital?

    They should be able to give him fluids where he gets his chemo
    Peachy,

    Of course drinking more will help, but sometimes if you are very dehydrated a boost with IV fluids will help. You should be able to call where ever he gets his chemo (I assume at your oncologist's office) and explain that he is dehydrated and you would like to bring him in for IV hydration.

    When I am on my third week of my chemo regimen (I get three chemo drugs at the same time) I sometimes get very dehydrated. I call my oncologist's office and say I want to come in for fluids and they just have me come in for a couple hours and get the IV and I am fine.

    Hope this helps...

    Best Regards,

    Paul Adams
    AKA: "paul61"
    McCormick, South Carolina
  • Tina Blondek
    Tina Blondek Member Posts: 1,500 Member
    #7
    peachycream said:

    They said it was too risky
    They said it was too risky because of his stroke... Said because it is at the junction, the would have to remove half of his stomach and part of the esophagus. They said it is a very hard and long surgery, so I don't know. Also, what is this about another type of chemo?

    And yeah, I do think it may be dehydration. It he ups his fluid intake, will that help or should he go to the hospital?

    Hydration and other chemos
    Hi Peachy
    There are many types of chemo treatments that can be tried. Some are stronger than others. It is a game of trial and error. If one does not work, try another one and so on. I would suggest that he goes to the hospital to get rehydrated. There they can monitor him. He can drink more at home, but usually this is not enough. IV fluids are the best. I would call the dr and see what he/she thinks. Keep in touch.
    Tina

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