PET/CT results

What kind of chemo? I found that when I was on chemo and radiation over a year ago along with radiation I was extremely fatiqued. I'd lie in my bed and just stare out of the window. I'm normally kind of an ADD person who can't sit still so it was very weird. But, was it the radiation or the chemo or both? I had no other issues and a few weeks after it was over I felt normal again.

That being said, when I had the chemo with the oxyplatin I had neuropathy with cold sensitivity in my feet, hands, throat and even my face because it was winter. That was miserable. I read somewhere that if you drink something cold while you're getting the chemo it reduces it. I tried it but it didn't work for me. The worst part was probably the throat and not being able to drink anything cool let alone cold. The neuropathy would go away just before I had to have the next round. I was supposed to have 12 rounds but was going to tell my onc that I wasn't going to complete it after the 8th (I think it was) but then ended up in the hospital with a blood clot in my lung so that was the end of it.

I had the Emla cream for the port so that it wouldn't hurt so much but I found it did nothing. I was never nauseous, I didn't lose my hair, and other than the neuropathy was doing okay. I hope you'll be lucky and not have too many issues.

Jan

NEDbound said:

my chemo

I will be doing Folfox 12 rounds 2 weeks on 2 weeks off.  Pretty standard.  My onc is suggesting adding Avastin even though I am not stage IV.  There are some oncology centers that use Avastin adjuvant without evidence of mets.  I am probably going to do it.  I wouldn't be to handle it if I didn't take the Avastin and ended up with mets (I have twin 3 yo girls).  So I think I'll risk the cardiac and GI bleed complications.

Looks like you will be starting the same treatment that my husband just started.  He had his first treatment this past Wed.  He went home with a pump to keep the chemo going for a few more days.  He just got the pump disconnected today.  Yesterday and today were awful for him.  Very tired and just felt yucky.  He had to force himself to do simple tasks.  Am hoping tomorrow goes better.  I feel for you with 3 yr old twins!  Have family and friends around, you might just need them.  On the other hand, the children might keep your mind off of this cancer.  When you find time, please keep us updated.

the seventh round of neoadjuvant chemo for stage IV rectal cancer with  mets to the liver: Oxaliplatin, Fusilev, Avasin, 5-FU.  I've been fortunate in that  I haven't suffered any of the more severe side-effects of chemo, and most of the effects have been more annoyances than  anything else. The fatigue has tbeen the most noticeable, occasional  fleeting feelings of nausea, dizziness, facial flushing and  heat while on the 5-FU pump, alternate bouts of constipation and diarrhea, and I  need  to wear reading glasses now although I've always been nearsighted. Until this last treatment I didn't have a problem with neuropathy or cold sensitivity.  This time,  I definitely felt discomfort in my hands when I picked up some frozen food without gloves on. I've  tried to folllow the directions the nurses gave me when I started and have avoided eating fried, spicy or ice cold food or drinking anything other than hot or room temperature drinks;  have stayed out of the sun unless wearing  good sun protection,  wear gloves (most of the time) when reaching into the fridge or freezer.  I  take frequent naps when the fatigue hits but try to stay active otherwise and  have been going to yoga classes regularly. I've tried to avoid being exposed to people who might have colds or appear to be sick, so have been avoiding indoor crowds for the most part, but have been to outdoor events like  farmers markets, ball games, etc.  where I don't have to  get too close to other people.  After the third chemo treatment my white bood cell count dropped and we had to delay treatment for a week.  Since then I've been getting Neupogen shots between treatments to keep the levels up since the count has been dropping pretty rapidly in a week's time. The oncologist has me scheduled for  one more chemo treatment before we do a scan to see how effective the chemo has been.  I can definitely tell there's a difference in the rectal tumor and feel it has shrunk a great deal.  We're keeping our fingers crossed on the liver mets at this point.

As others have mentioned, everyone seems to react differently.  I hope you are one of those who  gets minimal side effects, but if you do get  more severe ones, don't push yourself beyond  safe imits and be sure to let your doctor know  what effects the chemo is having.  Good luck.

Grace