Jorge is seeing the rediation doctor today

well guys today we go and see the rediation doctor to see if Jorge has to have rediation .has anyone had rediation done in the lower part of the colon and if so did it work?thanks to all of you hope you all have a great day .hugs Tina
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Comments

  • Sigma34
    Sigma34 Member Posts: 203
    Tina,
    Radiation wasn't part

    Tina,

    Radiation wasn't part of my treatment so I can't contribute that way. I wanted to let you know I thinking of you both.
    Christine
  • herdizziness
    herdizziness Member Posts: 3,624 Member
    Radiation
    Tina, I've never had the radiation done, so I can't help a bit there.
    Someone will come on soon I'm sure, as there are many that have done the radiation.
    Winter Marie
  • tina dasilva
    tina dasilva Member Posts: 641
    Sigma34 said:

    Tina,
    Radiation wasn't part

    Tina,

    Radiation wasn't part of my treatment so I can't contribute that way. I wanted to let you know I thinking of you both.
    Christine

    Thank you
    Christine and Winter Marie thank you so much for thinking of us . It looks like Jorge will be going for radiation but he will get 5weeks of radiation in just 5 days I'm getting very scared .
  • afredorap
    afredorap Member Posts: 8
    radiation
    my mom had radiation but in the lung area (it was colon cancer that had spread). she had some pesky side effects but nothing really serious. does he have to be on a 5-fu drip the entire time? i think that was the main problem for her.

    praying for you both!

    mallory
  • afredorap said:

    radiation
    my mom had radiation but in the lung area (it was colon cancer that had spread). she had some pesky side effects but nothing really serious. does he have to be on a 5-fu drip the entire time? i think that was the main problem for her.

    praying for you both!

    mallory

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • tina dasilva
    tina dasilva Member Posts: 641
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    oh graci
    Oh Graci you are so right I'm worried about a lot of things I'm worried about jorge being in pain I'm worried about him passing away I'm worried about myself not being strong enough to take care of everyone in my house . I've been feeling very sick and not a flu sickest and I think I'm failing him and I don't want to be alone.hugs tina
  • oh graci
    Oh Graci you are so right I'm worried about a lot of things I'm worried about jorge being in pain I'm worried about him passing away I'm worried about myself not being strong enough to take care of everyone in my house . I've been feeling very sick and not a flu sickest and I think I'm failing him and I don't want to be alone.hugs tina

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • Buzzard
    Buzzard Member Posts: 3,043 Member
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    Tina...........
    he's gonna be fine........and so are you.............buzz
  • joy44
    joy44 Member Posts: 50

    oh graci
    Oh Graci you are so right I'm worried about a lot of things I'm worried about jorge being in pain I'm worried about him passing away I'm worried about myself not being strong enough to take care of everyone in my house . I've been feeling very sick and not a flu sickest and I think I'm failing him and I don't want to be alone.hugs tina

    Tina
    I understand your fears, we have only been doing this short time our selves we see a radiation onncologist next week. My husband has already started chemo has jorge?
    We have three daughters two are in college and one about to graaduate, I work full time and try to be as supportive to KC(my husband) needs. Sometimes there is just not enough time, but that is when you take a big breath, close your eyes, smile and remember your wedding vows, the dreams you made, the memories you have already created, and all the laughter to have always shared then open your eyes with a smile and you will see all that beauty is still there.

    Big ((HUGS)) to you and remember you are never alone, you have friends here on the board,
    I send you bunches of love and smiles:)
  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    Deep breath!
    Tina, I'm sure you're both worried about it, but think of the end goal.

    *hugs*
    Gail
  • CherylHutch
    CherylHutch Member Posts: 1,375
    Radiation
    Hey Tina,

    Radiation is just yet another tool in this fight against the beast. Rather than looking at all the things that could possibly go wrong, you are going to want to tilt that way of thinking to all of the things that could possibly go right. As we all know, chemo in all it's various forms can be kind of nasty and no two people react the same way to it... hence there's no way to tell someone new to the battle just what exactly they are going to experience. Radiation is the same thing... there can be various side affects (diarrhea, fatigue, burns sort of like a bad sunburn and even some queasiness although that would be kind of rare I think).

    I had 6 weeks of daily (Mon - Fri and the occasional Sat) of radiation. I was given the talk about all the possible side affects I'd experience, even to the point where I could end up temporarily wheelchair bound. I swear the talks you are given about all the possible side affects and outcomes of anything, bet it chemo, radiation, surgery, etc. are all worse than going through the actual treatment. I did not experience one of those symptoms that they told me I probably would... and if anything, it was a bit of a break for me because I had been on the 5FU pump up until my radiation, but then my onc put me on the Xeloda pills instead of the pump for my 6 week radiation period.

    Now, one of the things I wonder if you've misunderstood.... you said he's going to get 5 weeks of radiation in 5 days. I've never heard of that... that sounds a bit severe and for what reason? Why would they cram 5 weeks into 5 days when the whole idea is to give it to the patient over a period of time so that the body can absorb it? Or do you think they meant they are going to give him a 5 day treatment in the same dose of one week of what normally would be a 5 week period, just to give it a try and see if it helps?

    I think when something happens that really upsets you, rather than stew on it, assume that you haven't fully understood and have his oncologist or nurse explain exactly what the procedure is and why it Jorge is being given it. This is for your understanding as well as his own. There's enough in this disease to set us off, the last thing we need is to be getting upset over something that we don't understand.

    Also... and I hope you take this with the intention it's meant. Cancer doesn't only affect the person who has it... although, it very much does and the treatments can be just as nasty as the disease itself. But this disease affects those who are the spouses, caregivers, parents, grandparents... any relationship around the patient. Caregivers will go out of their way to do whatever they can to make the patient feel comfortable and well-loved... but at the same time, they are going through their own cancer battle of fear, fatigue, isolation, and imagination gone wild. Now, I'm speaking purely from the "patient's" side since I am not a caregiver and as a patient, I just want everyone to treat me normally. I don't want anyone hovering over me... I want us to do the things we used to always do, go out for meals, stay in for meals, check out movies, plays, whatever. If someone is constantly hovering over me or giving me these looks like they are going to break down and cry... I do not want them around me. It's all fine and dandy to know people care about me, but I don't need to feed off their fear or their feeling of helplessness. If they feel helpless, then it makes me feel even more helpless. They say it doesn't take much when you are ill to become depressed and I know depression does nothing to help in the fight with any battle.

    So you are really between a rock and a hard place. You want to do everything you can for Jorge and be the perfect caregiver and see him through this battle... on the other hand, you are wearing yourself down to the point of fatigue and depression. It's time for you to take some time for yourself and go talk to a doctor or therapist. Have Jorge's oncologist recommend someone for you. It may even mean you might have to try some anti-depressant/anti-anxiety medication... not enough that it is going to put you in a zombie-like state, but just enough to get you out of the feeling of terror/fear/isolation that you have found yourself in. It wouldn't help if Jorge did this too, although it sounds like he's not into doing that... so better that at least one of you get the relief from that kind of help.

    By all means, come here, discuss treatments and we all will answer to the best of our ability and experience... but the only person who can help you get out of the scariness of the battle is you... and to do that you have to be open for some help from doctors yourself.

    Huggggggs,

    Cheryl
  • soccermom13
    soccermom13 Member Posts: 224
    tina,
    I did not have radiation so no help here. Sending you good, warm thoughts and prayers~
    Hugs
    shanna
  • JoyceSteele
    JoyceSteele Member Posts: 145
    Thinking of you
    Tina, just got to the board this evening. Have not had radiation, nothing to add but did want to tell you I'm praying for you and Jorge. Do take care of yourself, maybe it would be good to see your Dr. and get something for anxiety and/or depression. Just a thought. You are doing an amazing job, in spite of not feeling like you are. Sometimes we can't see what others see, we all know how devoted you are to Jorge. It's going to ok... Wish I could give you a real live hug, but there's one tucked inside this note. Joyce
  • Sonia32
    Sonia32 Member Posts: 1,071 Member
    Tina
    sorry don't know anything about radiation, but just wanted to send warm hugs and prayers your way. Know how hard it must be for you, but you are doing so great even though you may think you may not be you are, and Jorge is lucky to have you.
  • Lori-S
    Lori-S Member Posts: 1,277 Member
    Tina
    I have no radiation experience to share but ... I do have some best wishes and prayers for you and Jorge. HUGS (to help your worries)
  • AnneCan
    AnneCan Member Posts: 3,673 Member
    Radiation
    Tina, I had 5 weeks of radiation (5 X per week) for a total of 25 treatments, along with chemo. The first 3 weeks were fairly easy; the last 2 weeks I got some "burn" + was sore; this lasted for about 2 weeks afterward. Side effects are diarrhea + fatigue. My radiation was on the pelvic area + my 2 colorectal tumours shrunk by ~ 1/3, so it was very effective. Where is Jorge being radiated?
  • Nana2
    Nana2 Member Posts: 255
    AnneCan said:

    Radiation
    Tina, I had 5 weeks of radiation (5 X per week) for a total of 25 treatments, along with chemo. The first 3 weeks were fairly easy; the last 2 weeks I got some "burn" + was sore; this lasted for about 2 weeks afterward. Side effects are diarrhea + fatigue. My radiation was on the pelvic area + my 2 colorectal tumours shrunk by ~ 1/3, so it was very effective. Where is Jorge being radiated?

    Hi Tina,
    Jim did have

    Hi Tina,
    Jim did have radiation with chemo for 5 weeks. He did fine and it did shrink the colon tumor quite a bit. I'm a caregiver too and understand your worries. So much is not in our control but we can research, and love them, and pamper them and pray. You will be fine. Hold on to hope honey!
    (((HUGS)))
    April
  • ktlcs
    ktlcs Member Posts: 358
    Nana2 said:

    Hi Tina,
    Jim did have

    Hi Tina,
    Jim did have radiation with chemo for 5 weeks. He did fine and it did shrink the colon tumor quite a bit. I'm a caregiver too and understand your worries. So much is not in our control but we can research, and love them, and pamper them and pray. You will be fine. Hold on to hope honey!
    (((HUGS)))
    April

    Tina
    I hesitate to post most of the time because you are all fighting and unfortunately my husband lost his battle. But he had a number of other health problems and made the decision not to have any surgery but I can share his experience with radiation

    Hubby had 5 weeks of radiation 5 days a week on rectum. Other than what was like a bad sunburn and some mild diareah he did very well and the tumor in the rectum shrunk considerably. He was taking Xeloda at the same time. Acccording to our onco the combination of chemo and radiation at the same time is like 1 plus 1 equals 3, in other words the benefit is much better than either option alone.

    I don't know what part of the body Jorge is having his radiation, side effects can differ based on where the radiation is aimed. we met a lot of people at our radiation center and all seemed to have little to no signifcant side effects

    As other have said before me, take a deep breath, believe me as a caregiver I know how frightening this is, but you can and will get through it. And all will be OK

    Kathy
  • tina dasilva
    tina dasilva Member Posts: 641
    AnneCan said:

    Radiation
    Tina, I had 5 weeks of radiation (5 X per week) for a total of 25 treatments, along with chemo. The first 3 weeks were fairly easy; the last 2 weeks I got some "burn" + was sore; this lasted for about 2 weeks afterward. Side effects are diarrhea + fatigue. My radiation was on the pelvic area + my 2 colorectal tumours shrunk by ~ 1/3, so it was very effective. Where is Jorge being radiated?

    Annecan
    Anne thank you so much for your input Jorge is getting the the rectum done with radiation but they are looking at 5weeks into 5days.the radiation doctor said that if the gave the radiation in 5 weeks that the tumor in his liver can get strong and can spread because they are just going to radiation the colon where it meets the rectum so with them doing it in 5 days The tumor is in the rectum and has gone into the fat in the back.and they are talking about surgery in March .but we go and see the colon doctor on the 15th of this month and will know what way they are going to go .man this is hard to do .hugs Tina
  • tina dasilva
    tina dasilva Member Posts: 641

    Annecan
    Anne thank you so much for your input Jorge is getting the the rectum done with radiation but they are looking at 5weeks into 5days.the radiation doctor said that if the gave the radiation in 5 weeks that the tumor in his liver can get strong and can spread because they are just going to radiation the colon where it meets the rectum so with them doing it in 5 days The tumor is in the rectum and has gone into the fat in the back.and they are talking about surgery in March .but we go and see the colon doctor on the 15th of this month and will know what way they are going to go .man this is hard to do .hugs Tina

    THANK YOU
    Thnank you to all of you guys your post has helped me alot i dont show Jorge how im feeling because i dont want him to worry about me so thats why i come here so i want to say again thank you so very much hugs Tina