Feeling stronger

Hey Annie!!
Yayayaya... .what a wonderful first post to read tonight!! I haven't been over for a little while because I've actually been busy here at home working, working, working. Well, the "working" is at the computer with an opening night looming on Apr 2

BUT, I am taking a break and came over here to check up on how everyone is doing and am THRILLED to read your post! That is such excellent news! Hahaha... now just what drug did your onc give you to turn you into the Energy Bunny?? I want some of what YOU are having!!! LOL! I'm only getting the Irinotecan (no Erbitux) and I'm in Week 2 right now and although I don't have that deadly fatigue, I definitely am probably operating at 60% energy than what I'm used to. I know I'm being a wuss and still anxious about that first go-round for me, expecting it to come back with a vengeance at any time... but it hasn't. It's been much much better for me... just not quite up to snuff on the energy... and I live on Lomotil on a daily basis

So just think... while you are doing these treatments, you are going to be energetic throughout the spring and summer... and while you are feeling better, the combo chemo is going to battle killing off those cancer cells!! It's a win-win situation no matter how you look at it YIPPPPPPEEEE!!

@Graci You know, it always amazes me when I hear stories here on the forum about people saying their oncs either don't want to listen to them, don't want to hear about the side affects or if they do, they basically tell you "Hey, you are on chemo... what do you expect? There are side affects and you are just going to have to deal with them." That just blows me away because it seems so against the code of ethics of any doctor. I thought that yes, they are out to fix the medical condition and sometimes that can be painful and not fun... but even if the treatment is hard on the patient, there should be compassion there.... and heaven forbid, if there are meds that can help make the treatments easier on the patient, why wouldn't they explore those options?

Then again... if I calm down and think about it.... some medical oncs have a background in research and data and that is what their main interest is in. So the fact they actually have the degrees to be medical oncologists and take on a practice... if their expertise is in research, trials and data... then bedside/patient manner might not be their strong point, even though they are excellent oncologists.

It's kind of like a surgeon. If you had the choice of a super nice, kind, compassionate surgeon, who's strength was NOT surgery.... or a surgeon who was a phenomenal surgeon, but his bedside manner was not his strong point... which one would you want to be doing your surgery? Obviously the phenomenal surgeon... and you could get the compassion and understanding from the nurses who are caring for you after surgery. I guess in a way, oncology might be like that too. want a brilliant oncologist who knows his/her stuff and all the stuff that's coming down the pike... and if they happen to be wonderful, compassionate and understanding, then that's icing on the cake. I feel I've won a lottery in having the oncologist I have... and only wish everyone else had one just as wonderful

Cheryl