infusion pump/ N1 T3 Colon cancer Stage 3

Bluebird_12

Thanks, I hadn't thought about pill size. So far nothing has been said about having radiation. Prayers4U through your treatments. Hopefully during chemo training at the doctors office this week I'll be enlightened. Its only scary and causes anxiety without more knowledge.

Thanks to you and all the others on this site. 

Trubrit

Bluebird_12 said:

Chemo drugs effects??

When you get side effects, do they happen immediately? Do you have chemo treatment then as soon as treatment goes in for day , experience side effects within minutes? Do you have chance to get home before nausea, or vommiting? This is new to me, & trying to see if my husband will need to set up support of friends that can sit with me for the day of treatments or are the side effects random through the day?

Side effects are random

You won't know which your husband will get, though there are a few givens, like the sensitivity to cold. I think few pass that one by. Touching anything cold can give an electrical shock type feeling, so gloves are a good investment.  And drinking anything cold makes you feel like your throat is closing up. My Onc told me that its a sensation and isn't really happening, but it is frightening. So, warm drinks. Fatigue, is another given. I had it bad, but others have a passable amount. You will not know what your husband will get. It is frustrating. 

They can start immedientely or come on gradually. I had my first expereince of the throat closing at my first infusion. I drank a cold drink.  The fatigue came on after the first few treatments and got progressivly worse. 

Tru

 

Trubrit

Bluebird_12 said:

Thanks, I hadn't thought about pill size. So far nothing has been said about having radiation. Prayers4U through your treatments. Hopefully during chemo training at the doctors office this week I'll be enlightened. Its only scary and causes anxiety without more knowledge.

Thanks to you and all the others on this site. 

Note book

You sounds like you are a person to have all your ducks in a row, so this is probably preacing to the choir. But a note book is invaluable. Write everything you can down (or take a tape recorder. One of those little ones). I used a note book throughout my treatment. I wrote everything they said down, and I wrote every single thing I went through down, and then went over it with the Oncolgosit before every treatment. 

Tru

abita

Bluebird_12 said:

Chemo drugs effects??

When you get side effects, do they happen immediately? Do you have chemo treatment then as soon as treatment goes in for day , experience side effects within minutes? Do you have chance to get home before nausea, or vommiting? This is new to me, & trying to see if my husband will need to set up support of friends that can sit with me for the day of treatments or are the side effects random through the day?

Knock on wood, because I am

Knock on wood, because I am doing my follow up  chemo, or mop up, staring next week. I had 4 infusions before my liver resection with no nausea. I get an anti nausea med in iv that  covers me for the 3 days I do have pills that are similar to what I get in the drip but have not had to use then yet.  My side effects were cold sensitivity and fatigue. For me the cold sensitivity last about a week however the last few days it isn't as bad and I can drink cold beverages and that sort of thing.  Weirdly my mouth gets numb during the infusion of the oxiplatin.  My stomach is numb but I don't know for sure that is the chemo it could be the surgery.  My hair has thinned a bit. 

Bluebird_12

notebook

I will definitely write all down. Great idea. 1st in my family to go through this, so a journal is the way to go. Thanks

 

James_B

Trubrit said:

Ignore the six months and live

Live like you have six years, six more after that. Pick an age (mine is 82) and make that your goal. 

It is gut wrenching to be told 'you only have...' so prove them wrong. 

Welcome to the forum.  Stick with us, we will help you make it past the six months and onward. 

Tru

Thanks ! at the moment… been

Thanks ! at the moment… been try to over come the side effect. 

James_B

Tunadog said:

Worry about the Oxaliplatin ...

The side effects of Xeloda are manageable for me.

Oxaliplatin side effects are much worse and cause Peripheral Neuropathy. I’m almost 1 1/2 years out from my last Oxaliplatin infusion and still waiting to recover completely. 

It’s looking good, it’s a challenge, but I’m still here more than 2 1/2 years since diagnosis.

I’m looking forward to years to come. 

 Peripheral Neuropathy  I

 Peripheral Neuropathy  I think that what happend to me right now, but don't you have problem grip small things on your finger? or balance problems during walking? I still have my hair…(though I am going to lost it).

Annabelle41415

Treatment

Mine was the pills/radiation first then surgery, then 5FU infusion after that.  Doctor told me that the infusion is a much greater strength and effectivness is greater with infusion than pill that they gave me.  I'm not sure about the strength that others have gotten with the pill.  The pill gave me no side effects but the infusion gave me lasting neuropathy.  Even after telling my doctor after 5 rounds that it was really bothering me, she wouldn't reduce it.  If you experience a feeling that gets worse or just doesn't feel right tell them right away and be persistent.  Wishing you the best.

Kim