FOLFOXIRI/bev Treatment 2 of 6

Good luck, hope you get great news. 

is also a silent demon.  My husband has restarted treatment for what feels like the 10th time this year.  He started in March with Folfiri.  While constipation was always an issue for him, the Irinotecan piece of Folfiri (the nurses call I ran to the can" seemed to balance him out.  He had some diarrhea, but not too bothersome and controllable with immodium.  After an obstruction in May where he acquired c-diff for the 2nd time this year, treatment was delayed a few months due to the infection and then his parotid gland flared up again.  He had one dose of Folfiri with Vectibix in late July, some liver issues and then into the hospital in late August for 10 days where he had a stent put in his bile duct and for extreme pains in his abdominal area.  Another trip to the ED last week because his right wrist wasn't working.  Fear of a possible stroke sent us to the trauma bay where they quickly ruled it out and determined it was radial nerve palsy.  He was able to have just the Vectibix last Tuesday and extreme fatique followed for several days.  While he was in patient, he had 2 ct scans, an MRI and the endocsopy to place the stent, called ERCP.  Hoping he can get 4 Vectibix treatments in before they scan again to see if his lymph node tumors are shrinking.  CEA has never been a good indicator for him, but when it goes up or down, they always mark it as good or bad on his paperwork.  Yesterday we saw a neurologist about his wrist and the NP from the oncology center came over to see us.  She said she is very optimistic the Vectibix alone with shrink his tumors and alleviate some of his pain.  Neurologist specializes with oncology patients who also gave us good news saying they think the nerve will recover on its own in a few weeks.

It's always something, right?  Have you now or ever taken anything for anxiety?  My husband takes a few things now and was very much against starting medication of this type, but realized he does need it.  He takes Ativan when needed and Celexa every day.  He also has Xanax for extreme episodes but has not needed it (yet).  The Ativan helps him sleep, which is necessary in the healing and recovery process.

Another thing I wanted to add, each time he has restarted treatment, the first session seemed to be hard on him, but then the body seems to adjust.  Hopefully your 2nd session Thursday will be easier on you.  Try to keep visualizing all those cancer cells getting killed with each drop of chemo.  His cancer center always says to call with any concern, which always seem to happen at night or on the weekends, but we do call and they are always very helpful and calming.  Don't be afraid to call.

Try to get some rest and relaxation today.  My husband also has anxiety right up to the moment he gets in the recliner - then he almost immediately falls asleep! 

Linda

Trubrit said:

Thinking of you, Phil

I am so sorry you are going through all of this again. 

I hate to sound like a broken record, but I have to share. I'll say the usualy two things, one: you may already have thought of or are doing this, and two: what works for me may not work for you. And with that....

When I was first going through treatment, I honeslty thought my head was going to explode. I did great through the day, when I could keep my mind occupied, but at night, oh the pain. My mind raced and raced and raced. I knew it couldn't happen, but I really thought my head was going to blow up. I got very little sleep, and it was very unhealthy situation. 

That is when I found 'Meditiation to help you with Chemotherapy (Healthy Journeys). I played this when I went to bed, and it was like a miracle in my life. WOW! It REALLY worked for me, and I have not looked back since. 

I really, really want you to be as comfortable as you can, and I will pray fevereantly that you find something that can help you to sleep. Something that works for you. I will pray that you can find as much physical comfort as you can, knowing how uncomfortable chemo can make you. 

Good luck with this round. You are in my thoughts and prayers. 

Sue - Trubrit

Prayers, good thoughts and cyber hugs.  i'm on Folfox. My body doesn't know if it's in diarrhea mode or constipation mode. It's a day by day thing. If I have diarrhea Imodium started right away will help. I also use meditative music to sleep or nap. It does really help all those tensions we aren't aware exist in our body. This disease can get the best of our nerves especially in the dash when everyone else is sleeping. Looking forward to good news.

Yolanda