New Here

tlr68

My mother ( 78 years old )was diagnosed with colon cancer . Stage 4 After having stomach issues all spring and summer. Having multiple test they did a cat scan that showed a mass on her right colon . Had a colonoscopy a few days later confirmed it . On Aug 30 she had the mass removed along with 24 lymph nodes . 7 of them tested positive . She also tested positive for that Braf muataion & Kras mutation . Her oncologist sent her for a pet scan . It showed up in her left para aortic lymph nodes. Which is the opposite side from where the cancer was located . We had a port put in last week . She has had two iron infusions . We start treatments Nov 1 . The plan is xeloda and oxaliplatin thru her port . She did well with her surgery . Started gaining weight . No pain . Over the last two weeks we are losing weight . Like almost 10 pounds . She is eating well . She will not see the cancer dr again till Nov 1 . I am so conceded of the unexplained weight loss now . I feel so lost . I understand with cancer we have so many unknowns .. I just need to be informed .

Thanks..

 

Below is the original repost after surgery . Procedure - Right hemicolectomy. Tumor site - Right colon. Tumor size - 6.1 cm in greatest dimension. Macroscopic tumor perforation is not identified. Histologic type - Adenocarcinoma with mucinous component. Histologic grade - Low grade. Microscopic tumor extension - Tumor invades through the muscularis propria into the subserosal adipose tissue. All margins uninvolved by invasive carcinoma. Distance of invasive carcinoma from closest margin - 1.3 cm from radial margin. No history of prior treatment. Lymph-vascular invasion is present. Perineural invasion is not identified. Tumor deposits are present (2) - The largest measuring 0.6 cm. Seven of twenty-four lymph nodes are positive for metastatic neoplasm (7/24). Immunostains on the neoplasm are pending. Appendix - No pathologic changes

Trubrit

Welcome to the forum

I am sorry to hear about your mum. It is never a good thing for us to get new members as it means a whole lot of suffering for yet another family. 

My suggestion is for you or your mum to call and either try adn talk to your mum's onc or one of the chemo nurses. Weight loss happens, its par for the course, so to speak, but should always be discussed with the Oncologist. You don't need to wait until the 1st if you have concerns. 

Our friend, Lizzard, here on the forum, is a slender (OK, skinny) lady, who I'm sure will pop on with more advice, as she is also around the age of your mother and I think she will be a whole heap of great information. 

You are obviously a sweet, caring daughter, to come here to the forum looking for help. 

It's going to be quite the trip, but you will find there are stage IV here, surviving against the odds. 

SUE

lizard44

Sorry to hear about your mother

I'm the elderly  "skinny" member Sue mentioned,  currently age 72 and at  a whopping 85  or 86 pounds :-D I  weighed 79 pounds  when I was diagnosed with stage 4 rectal cancer in April 2015, so have actually gained some weight during treatment.

I think you are right to be concerned about your mother's weight loss. You didn't say how much she weighed before, but 10  pounds in 2 weeks does sound excessive.  Is your mother fatigued, does she get plenty of exercise?  Since you say your mother eats well, there could be a number of causes for the weight loss, including a malabsorption problem, or the loss of  muscle mass. I agree with Sue that your mother shouldn't wait  for her November 1 appointment to contact  someone on your mother's medical team, either her oncologist or one of the oncology nurses.  Does your mother's  medical facility provide nurse navigators?  They can be invaluable in  guiding   a patient through treatment and as a resource for  questions and concerns about treatment, side effects, etc. It might be worth asking if such a service is available. Meanwhile,  learn as much as you can about  your mother's  condition and  proposed treatment and don't be afraid to ask questions.  We have a lot of  people in the forum who are  quite knowledgeable, but  be sure to discuss your concerns with your mother's doctor/oncologist/nurses, and don't let them shrug  off your concerns. Sometimes you have to be persistent in getting answers to your questions.

Best of  luck to you and your mother.  As Sue said, it's  often a rough trip, and there are many ups and downs, but just keep  going forward, one step at a time.  As a stage 4 survivor I  prefer to think of myself as living with cancer rather than dying from it, and of being as proactive, informed and involved   with my treatments as possible, but everyone has to find the way of coping with their diagnosis and treatment that works best for them. 

Best wishes  to you and your mother as you start down this  bumpy road.

Grace/lizard44

 

tlr68

Trubrit said:

Welcome to the forum

I am sorry to hear about your mum. It is never a good thing for us to get new members as it means a whole lot of suffering for yet another family. 

My suggestion is for you or your mum to call and either try adn talk to your mum's onc or one of the chemo nurses. Weight loss happens, its par for the course, so to speak, but should always be discussed with the Oncologist. You don't need to wait until the 1st if you have concerns. 

Our friend, Lizzard, here on the forum, is a slender (OK, skinny) lady, who I'm sure will pop on with more advice, as she is also around the age of your mother and I think she will be a whole heap of great information. 

You are obviously a sweet, caring daughter, to come here to the forum looking for help. 

It's going to be quite the trip, but you will find there are stage IV here, surviving against the odds. 

SUE

I am going to watch her

I am going to watch her weight for the next few days. I will call her Dr on Monday. I knew once treatments start we would have weightloss. But that has not started. She eats well.  No pain. No nausea.  Thanks for your reply.. 

tlr68

lizard44 said:

Sorry to hear about your mother

I'm the elderly  "skinny" member Sue mentioned,  currently age 72 and at  a whopping 85  or 86 pounds :-D I  weighed 79 pounds  when I was diagnosed with stage 4 rectal cancer in April 2015, so have actually gained some weight during treatment.

I think you are right to be concerned about your mother's weight loss. You didn't say how much she weighed before, but 10  pounds in 2 weeks does sound excessive.  Is your mother fatigued, does she get plenty of exercise?  Since you say your mother eats well, there could be a number of causes for the weight loss, including a malabsorption problem, or the loss of  muscle mass. I agree with Sue that your mother shouldn't wait  for her November 1 appointment to contact  someone on your mother's medical team, either her oncologist or one of the oncology nurses.  Does your mother's  medical facility provide nurse navigators?  They can be invaluable in  guiding   a patient through treatment and as a resource for  questions and concerns about treatment, side effects, etc. It might be worth asking if such a service is available. Meanwhile,  learn as much as you can about  your mother's  condition and  proposed treatment and don't be afraid to ask questions.  We have a lot of  people in the forum who are  quite knowledgeable, but  be sure to discuss your concerns with your mother's doctor/oncologist/nurses, and don't let them shrug  off your concerns. Sometimes you have to be persistent in getting answers to your questions.

Best of  luck to you and your mother.  As Sue said, it's  often a rough trip, and there are many ups and downs, but just keep  going forward, one step at a time.  As a stage 4 survivor I  prefer to think of myself as living with cancer rather than dying from it, and of being as proactive, informed and involved   with my treatments as possible, but everyone has to find the way of coping with their diagnosis and treatment that works best for them. 

Best wishes  to you and your mother as you start down this  bumpy road.

Grace/lizard44

 

My mother two weeks ago was

My mother two weeks ago was 188. She is now 178. This is all post surgery. She eats well. I have moved her in with me so I   She has low blood. Just finished her iron infusion on Tuesday. She does get exercise. She is not really fatigued. The iron infusion has helped.  One thing I have noticed with her blood work is her hemoglobin seems to keep creeping dowm.  Her regular oncologist is out of town for two weeks. I will call and ask to speak to her nurse tomorrow. Thanks for your reply . I am trying to learn and connect with people. 

150amanda

My sister is experiencing the

My sister is experiencing the same issue of weight loss. They believe her weight loss is due to a partial bowel obstruction. The obstruction is causing her body to not absorb her food properly. I am assuming that once the tumor starts shrinking, she will begin gaining her weight back.

Bellen

Weight loss

The week before I had my 1st treatment, I prepped for colonoscopy, had colonoscopy next day, two days later had port inserted, next day had partial blockage (intestinal stricture) due to codeine med given for port surgery pain.  I lost 5lbs.  I had my chemo the following Friday.  Also my WBC has been low since - had 1st treatment reduced 20%, then 30% 2nd time.  I am trying to put my weight back on - I had intended on gaining some before started, and just the opposite happened unfortunately.  Working with dietician as well.  Wishing your mother all the best.

John23

Rapid loss of weight.....

Dehydration will cause a rapid loss of weight. In it's earlier stages, the weight loss is noticeable first. As dehydration progresses, dizziness upon standing becomes a problem. Fatigue will set in, with a loss of appetite.

Dehydration can be very subtle and slow to progress, it all depends on the individual, but weight loss is the most common symptom, along with a lowered blood pressure between sitting and standing. (the reason for "dizziness" upon standing).

And of course, chemical therapy (and radiation) can cause dehydration, or more loss of hydration than one normally loses.

Best hopes,

John