Here is the latest on my dad.

Pghmomma
Pghmomma Member Posts: 141
edited March 2014 in Esophageal Cancer #1
He is doing good, you know the saying, one step and day at a time. Thats how we take it now.. He had his 1st chemo treatment on the 28th of Jan, he did good. Didnt get too sick but for sure during that first week he didnt wanna eat at all. He lost 6lbs. He did feel the cold sencetivity right away. They switched his nause meds to zofran and now that is causing him headaches. He goes every thursday for his blood to be drawn. His Iron low and is on pills now for that. He's also on the max dose of xolda. The Dr said they would allow him to have a wk off but hes unsure since hes in it for the cure. They keep telling him that as well. He did get mouth sores and found magic mouth wash to work. But the salt water works too, he found that he has to rinse all the time to keep them away. He started to get the hand and foot last wk but that went away. His tips of his finger are a bit numb he says. He goes this thursday for his second treatment. My mom will talk to them about the zofran causing the headaches.. He is starting to lose his hair, he ordered caps for his head now. He is not using the feeding tube at all, he hasnt since he got the ok to eat food after his leak. And he is maintaining his weight now. He wants the tube out but I keep telling him NO.. Just keep it in until done with chemo and rad. We will see..

He is going back to work anytime after the 23rd. He is very very excited and really wants to go back, he is getting so board sitting at home. I dont think he is ready for full time but he will see.

He is also eating so much more stuff... Chicken is a staple now. Potatoes all the time, and pasta and he loves sweets. I made him a chocoalate cake and boy did he have a dumping epiosde... He also started backing out of his feeding tube. So now we know no chocolate cake, but vanilla with choc icing is fine.

but that is his update. They did say his numbers are now low enough for him to get anything....

Ill keep you all posted.

Thanks for the thoughts and prayers!
Tina

Comments

  • Tina Blondek
    Tina Blondek Member Posts: 1,500 Member
    Congratulations Dad!
    Hi Tina,
    Thanks for the update. So nice to hear from you. Things sound like they are going quite well. It is great that he wants to go back to work. That is a good sign. My dad just finished his first week of the oral chemo xeloda, and is now taking a week off. So far so good. Prayers are being said for you and your family daily.
    Tina (too) :)
  • Donna70
    Donna70 Member Posts: 852 Member
    your Dad
    Hi,
    That is so good to hear good news!!! Can't get over his eating ability. Something always to be thankful for. I mentioned to Erika and I am telling you that Ativan is used for nausea and maybe your Dad would not get those headaches. take care, prayers for all!!
    Donna70
  • mumphy
    mumphy Member Posts: 440
    Donna70 said:

    your Dad
    Hi,
    That is so good to hear good news!!! Can't get over his eating ability. Something always to be thankful for. I mentioned to Erika and I am telling you that Ativan is used for nausea and maybe your Dad would not get those headaches. take care, prayers for all!!
    Donna70

    WOW!!!
    Hi Tina,


    Thank you for your post. I always happy to here good news. It sounds like your dad is doing great. Donna is right we use Ativan also but Al's appitite isn't very good right now.

    Keep us posted on his progress please.

    God Bless,
    Kath
  • vava
    vava Member Posts: 2

    Congratulations Dad!
    Hi Tina,
    Thanks for the update. So nice to hear from you. Things sound like they are going quite well. It is great that he wants to go back to work. That is a good sign. My dad just finished his first week of the oral chemo xeloda, and is now taking a week off. So far so good. Prayers are being said for you and your family daily.
    Tina (too) :)

    xeloda
    My mom is on her second series of Xeloda. 2 weeks on 1 week off. The first go round was a piece of cake. This second series has been a nightmare. She's so very sick. Vomiting, hands and feet so sore, she can barely use hands and walks so tenderly. She's tired all the time, has a sore throat, has sores on her arms and face. She has constant pain in her stomach and is on the potty all the time. She just finished 2wks on and I'm hoping the one week off will give her some relief. She just can't eat and doesn't want to get out of bed. She is 83 and has no appetite and is very frail. She has stage 4 liver cancer, the doctor has given her 3 to 12 months... if this chemo continues to make her so ill, I just can't see the value...
  • Pghmomma
    Pghmomma Member Posts: 141
    mumphy said:

    WOW!!!
    Hi Tina,


    Thank you for your post. I always happy to here good news. It sounds like your dad is doing great. Donna is right we use Ativan also but Al's appitite isn't very good right now.

    Keep us posted on his progress please.

    God Bless,
    Kath

    Kath, Thanks alot, Ill have
    Kath, Thanks alot, Ill have too look into that, Im sure DR. G will reccomend something else...

    Donna you sound like you are doing well too, I told my dad about you eating crab meat for xmas and he was amazed, he really wants some lobster. But cant have that yet, soon thou I hope.

    God bless,
    Tina