To break or not to break

AnneCan
AnneCan Member Posts: 3,673 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I called my onc's nurse today to talk about a few things. One of the things I asked was about when my next chemo would be - it wasn't scheduled as it ususally is. I had chemo Dec 2, so should be scheduled for the 16th. The nurse checked with the doctor, who said she thought maybe I would like a break for Christmas. I am worried about having the break + the cancer growing, yet a break sounds so lovely, especially around Christmas. The nurse said it is up to me + she will book the chemo for next week but it can always be cancelled. I will see the onc next Tues, so I can discuss it then. I have had 26 rounds of folfiri + avastin, + 5 weeks of radiation + chemo. In the last little while I had a plugged ear which the doctor needed to fix, a UTI, dehydration + on the weekend another UTI. I am finding the antibiotics tough on my stomach. I am not sure what to do.
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Comments

  • khl8
    khl8 Member Posts: 807
    well, can you bounce back 9
    well, can you bounce back 9 days after treatment for christmas? Only you can make the decision. If I were faced with this, i thnk I would try and just trudge forward and do it. But that is just me, I had my sights set on the end of the treatments and did whatever i could to get it over with as soon as possible.
    You will make the right choice for you!!

    Hugs!
    Kathy
  • bruins1971
    bruins1971 Member Posts: 227
    Drive on
    If it where me I'd tell them to give me the chemo on the 16th but that's because I usually bounce back in 3 days from chemo. If you bounce back quick then sure take it but if not then I say enjoy Christmas without the chance of being sick. I am in the same boat kind of my next treatment is on the 14th which happens to be the day before my 39th birthday. I am then due to have my next chemo a few days before New Years Eve. It will be my last chemo of this treatment plan and so he said let's skip a week and do it the week after New Years. We did the same thing for Thanksgiving to allow me to enjoy the holiday.

    Bobby in Dallas
  • pepebcn
    pepebcn Member Posts: 6,331 Member

    Drive on
    If it where me I'd tell them to give me the chemo on the 16th but that's because I usually bounce back in 3 days from chemo. If you bounce back quick then sure take it but if not then I say enjoy Christmas without the chance of being sick. I am in the same boat kind of my next treatment is on the 14th which happens to be the day before my 39th birthday. I am then due to have my next chemo a few days before New Years Eve. It will be my last chemo of this treatment plan and so he said let's skip a week and do it the week after New Years. We did the same thing for Thanksgiving to allow me to enjoy the holiday.

    Bobby in Dallas

    How long would be the break Anne?
    Hugs!
  • AnneCan
    AnneCan Member Posts: 3,673 Member
    pepebcn said:

    How long would be the break Anne?
    Hugs!

    Not sure
    The nurse said for the holidays, so I am not sure if she means right into the New Year (which worries me) or over Christmas. I will talk to my onc about this next Tues.
  • Kerry S
    Kerry S Member Posts: 606 Member
    Anne Darlin,

    Do what your “gut feel” tells you to do.

    Kerry (The old coot that loves you)
  • damama24
    damama24 Member Posts: 174 Member
    Kerry S said:

    Anne Darlin,

    Do what your “gut feel” tells you to do.

    Kerry (The old coot that loves you)

    Taking a break
    Anne
    I too struggled with this decision. Just before Thanksgiving my onc suggested that I consider taking a break from chemo. I have been on chemo since Sept.02,2009 and just had round 30 on Dec.1st. My first thought was "no,I just want to get this over." She told me it was completely my decision and would support whatever I decided.
    But, as I thought about it more I decided that I needed the break. I'm still considered inoperable and will probably be on chemo for some time to come. So I decided to have chemo on Dec. 15th and then take a 4 week break and resume chemo in Jan. I am still worried a little bit as my CEA continues to drop each month and I'm afraid the break will see it going back up.
    It is a hard decision to make but, you do what you feel is best for you.
    Praying you have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy and healthier New Year.

    Deb
  • pepebcn
    pepebcn Member Posts: 6,331 Member
    AnneCan said:

    Not sure
    The nurse said for the holidays, so I am not sure if she means right into the New Year (which worries me) or over Christmas. I will talk to my onc about this next Tues.

    Well....as per my onc says chemo is working even few months
    after last infusion , so I think not problem for a couple of weeks!But.....you have to decide it!
    Hugs!
  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    Treatment
    It depends on how you usually feel after chemo and if your cumulative chemo is acting faster and lasting longer. The 16th would still give you time to bounce back. When my daughter came in from the Army we decided to wait an extra week because being sick while she was here just wouldn't be good. Christmas comes but once a year, so missing a week might even put a little more bounce in your step. Good luck with your decision.

    Kim
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    A wise nurse said to me:
    "Whatever your decision is, it's the right one". (When I asked her to explain, she said...no second guessing!!!)

    I 'had' to take a 2-week break because of low white count...that was for the rectal cancer...

    With the breast cancer chemo, I skipped the last Adriamycin/Cytoxin (my choice) because my heart was giving out...this was back in the day when ACT was the gold standard, before they realized how much damage actually occurred...

    No one can make your choice but you...and then you should own it, whatever it is...

    Hugs, Kathi
  • AnneCan
    AnneCan Member Posts: 3,673 Member
    khl8 said:

    well, can you bounce back 9
    well, can you bounce back 9 days after treatment for christmas? Only you can make the decision. If I were faced with this, i thnk I would try and just trudge forward and do it. But that is just me, I had my sights set on the end of the treatments and did whatever i could to get it over with as soon as possible.
    You will make the right choice for you!!

    Hugs!
    Kathy

    Kathy
    Thanks for your response. I usually bounce back after ~4 days but lately it has been tough, as I have had 2 infections, dehydration, etc. I am inclined to push on, but I will see after I see my onc. I hope surgery is going well!
  • AnneCan
    AnneCan Member Posts: 3,673 Member

    Drive on
    If it where me I'd tell them to give me the chemo on the 16th but that's because I usually bounce back in 3 days from chemo. If you bounce back quick then sure take it but if not then I say enjoy Christmas without the chance of being sick. I am in the same boat kind of my next treatment is on the 14th which happens to be the day before my 39th birthday. I am then due to have my next chemo a few days before New Years Eve. It will be my last chemo of this treatment plan and so he said let's skip a week and do it the week after New Years. We did the same thing for Thanksgiving to allow me to enjoy the holiday.

    Bobby in Dallas

    Thanks Bobby!
    Thanks for your input. Right now I am leaning towards having the treatment, but we'll see next week. Good luck with your last few chemos!
  • AnneCan
    AnneCan Member Posts: 3,673 Member
    Kerry S said:

    Anne Darlin,

    Do what your “gut feel” tells you to do.

    Kerry (The old coot that loves you)

    Thanks Kerry!
    I love you too! And you are not an old coot!
  • AnneCan
    AnneCan Member Posts: 3,673 Member

    Treatment
    It depends on how you usually feel after chemo and if your cumulative chemo is acting faster and lasting longer. The 16th would still give you time to bounce back. When my daughter came in from the Army we decided to wait an extra week because being sick while she was here just wouldn't be good. Christmas comes but once a year, so missing a week might even put a little more bounce in your step. Good luck with your decision.

    Kim

    Thanks Kim!
    This was helpful. I think if I am feeling good next week, I can bounce back in time for the big day.
  • AnneCan
    AnneCan Member Posts: 3,673 Member
    KathiM said:

    A wise nurse said to me:
    "Whatever your decision is, it's the right one". (When I asked her to explain, she said...no second guessing!!!)

    I 'had' to take a 2-week break because of low white count...that was for the rectal cancer...

    With the breast cancer chemo, I skipped the last Adriamycin/Cytoxin (my choice) because my heart was giving out...this was back in the day when ACT was the gold standard, before they realized how much damage actually occurred...

    No one can make your choice but you...and then you should own it, whatever it is...

    Hugs, Kathi

    Kathi
    This is excellent advice. I have skipped before, for dehydration + low neutrophil situations (no choice). This time it looks like I will get to choose. And I need to own my choice.
  • plh4gail
    plh4gail Member Posts: 1,238 Member
    I agree with the others. I
    I agree with the others. I don't have too much experience with the chemo yet,as I am on day 3 of #1. But...from what I get from all of you is there are times your Dr will delay your treatment due to health issues. Now, for some reason they are giving you the choice. What is your intuition? If you don't feel comfortable with the delay, then get your treatment. I think you will bounce back after knowing you're sticking with it. Then relax and enjoy your Holiday, you deserve that. You can only do what you can do, so don't push yourself. .....Remember...your family is happy and grateful you are with them, not how much you can prove you can do.:)

    Gail
  • AnneCan
    AnneCan Member Posts: 3,673 Member
    damama24 said:

    Taking a break
    Anne
    I too struggled with this decision. Just before Thanksgiving my onc suggested that I consider taking a break from chemo. I have been on chemo since Sept.02,2009 and just had round 30 on Dec.1st. My first thought was "no,I just want to get this over." She told me it was completely my decision and would support whatever I decided.
    But, as I thought about it more I decided that I needed the break. I'm still considered inoperable and will probably be on chemo for some time to come. So I decided to have chemo on Dec. 15th and then take a 4 week break and resume chemo in Jan. I am still worried a little bit as my CEA continues to drop each month and I'm afraid the break will see it going back up.
    It is a hard decision to make but, you do what you feel is best for you.
    Praying you have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy and healthier New Year.

    Deb

    Deb
    I can't believe how similar our situations are. I too started this chemo (folfiri + avastin) on Sept.2/09, after 5 weeks of radiation + chemo. I am considered inoperable also. Thanks for sharing your story.
  • AnneCan
    AnneCan Member Posts: 3,673 Member
    plh4gail said:

    I agree with the others. I
    I agree with the others. I don't have too much experience with the chemo yet,as I am on day 3 of #1. But...from what I get from all of you is there are times your Dr will delay your treatment due to health issues. Now, for some reason they are giving you the choice. What is your intuition? If you don't feel comfortable with the delay, then get your treatment. I think you will bounce back after knowing you're sticking with it. Then relax and enjoy your Holiday, you deserve that. You can only do what you can do, so don't push yourself. .....Remember...your family is happy and grateful you are with them, not how much you can prove you can do.:)

    Gail

    Gail
    Thanks so much for your thoughts. The family thing is hard; I want to do much more than I am currently doing.
  • plh4gail
    plh4gail Member Posts: 1,238 Member
    AnneCan said:

    Gail
    Thanks so much for your thoughts. The family thing is hard; I want to do much more than I am currently doing.

    I know, I feel the same. I
    I know, I feel the same. I am used to being a busy body, baking everyone's favorites, shopping, playing, decorating. My little one's are 9 and 10 and go up to 25. My 25 year old is the one who really looks after me. Calls me everyday from work and then stops by too. My little one's now know that instead of the normal active activities, we will more than likely comfy up to a movie, play a board game, or sometimes I will lay on my son's bed and watch them play video games. I think these activities are all things they have come to appreciate because it is a different kind of closeness. My oldest looks closely for a sign of a "good" day and will have me out of the house for whatever I'm up for, Target,grocery store, eating out.....I have 2 others in between also that live out of state, 18 and 23 that check in with me regularly.

    So, I started going on about myself and my family, but this is about you. I just wanted you to know that I know how you feel and that change is hard for us, but I think our families are very adaptable and accepting. They will be grateful andf proud of you for doing your best.

    Take care, Gail
  • snommintj
    snommintj Member Posts: 601
    plh4gail said:

    I know, I feel the same. I
    I know, I feel the same. I am used to being a busy body, baking everyone's favorites, shopping, playing, decorating. My little one's are 9 and 10 and go up to 25. My 25 year old is the one who really looks after me. Calls me everyday from work and then stops by too. My little one's now know that instead of the normal active activities, we will more than likely comfy up to a movie, play a board game, or sometimes I will lay on my son's bed and watch them play video games. I think these activities are all things they have come to appreciate because it is a different kind of closeness. My oldest looks closely for a sign of a "good" day and will have me out of the house for whatever I'm up for, Target,grocery store, eating out.....I have 2 others in between also that live out of state, 18 and 23 that check in with me regularly.

    So, I started going on about myself and my family, but this is about you. I just wanted you to know that I know how you feel and that change is hard for us, but I think our families are very adaptable and accepting. They will be grateful andf proud of you for doing your best.

    Take care, Gail

    Skipping chemo
    It sounds as though you have a good bit of accumulation in your system. Skip it. Your chemo will still be there after christmas.
  • Sundanceh
    Sundanceh Member Posts: 4,392 Member
    Darlin' Annie
    Do yourself a favor and take a week off and that way you can feel as good as you can for the holidays. No one wants to feel crummy on Christmas day - I don't either and had my chemo pushed back a week 'cause I want to see if I can feel human, even just briefly.

    The way I see it if one weeks make a difference in my life and death - then I'm dead anyway and why are we doing chemo and radiaton on me, you know.

    John eluded it as well - cancer and chemo will still be there for you and me as the calendar rolls on - sometimes we have to take back from cancer a little bit of ourselves - and the recharge and refocus will help keep you going.

    I just finished another infusion - told my onc to start me back up on the 29th, so New Year's won't be good, but I decided to play for Christmas...gives me about a 10-day break. And all I want for the holidays is just to "feel" what it's going to be like to "feel good" again.

    No worries here - which ever way you go will be right, just food for thought.

    So glad you got your card and knick-knack with it - hope that brightens your spirits some this holiday season - and for all of your future holidays:)

    -Santa Craig