Dad broke pelvic bone after 1st chemo/rad advice about restarting

Marie59
Marie59 Member Posts: 6
in Anal Cancer #1

My father is 86 and was diagnosed with stage 1 squamous cell anal cancer and underwent chemo and radiation on November 27th, that evening/early morning on Tuesday he fell getting out of bed and fractured his pelvic bone. He is being discharged from rehab tomorrow morning and we are meeting with the oncology team tomorrow too. In talking with them over the past few weeks, it's sounding like they want to restart treatment next Monday, 12/18 if it's determined he has a "strong baseline" which they described to mean he is physicially at or as close to where he was before the accident. They won't administer mitomycin again until the last week, he will have the pump reattached to administer the 5-FU with radiation.

I'm so nervous it's too soon. I feel like he should have a few more weeks to regain his strength. Thank God it's stage 1 and I feel that waiting a few weeks, as long as it's not detrimental to his health and not compromising his diagnosis (i.e. low to no risk of spreading), will make a significant difference in his ability to handle treatment. You should know too that my father is stubborn and anxious to get the treatment over with. He has a strong will which is why he has done so well rehabilitating himself from this injury, our Dad is spunky and has gumption God Bless him. 

I greatly appreciate your input and advice. Thank you. 

Comments

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #2
    Marie59

    So sorry to hear of this health setback for your dad.  I really don't know what I would do.  My best advice is to have a frank discussion with the doctors tomorrow about his ability to tolerate treatment.  How mobile is he?  I ask because I made many trips to the bathroom during treatment because of the diarrhea, which is common with this treatment.  Since he most likely has had only 2 radiation treatments, he probably hasn't had those issues yet.  Ask lots of questions about how delaying the treatment might effect his chances for successful treatment.  I'm not a doctor, so I really can't speak about that.  I wish your dad and you all the very best.  Keep us posted when a decision is made.

  • Mollymaude
    Mollymaude Member Posts: 431 Member
    edited December 2017 #3
    Marie59

    Your question is a tough one, but if your dad is as stubborn as you say it sounds like he will be all for treatment restarting ASAP. I agree it might be good to wait until he is stronger but it doesn't sound like he will listen to that. All you can do is support his decision and help him as best you can. I'm sorry he has this problem to deal with, and he is lucky to have a concerned daughter helping him out. Keep us posted if you can.

  • Ohmy
    Ohmy Member Posts: 102 Member
    #4
    Lots of things to plan for. 

    Lots of things to plan for.  How mobile is your Dad with a broken pelvis?  Will he be home alone during treatment?  You can provide a bedside comode but he will need assistance to transfer.  Also someone to provide meals for him.  I needed lots of encouragement to eat and drink during chemo.  Other than that, I spent most of my time sleeping during and after treatment.

  • tanda
    tanda Member Posts: 174 Member
    edited December 2017 #5
    Marie59

    So sorry to hear about your father's fall; I agree with others that it would be helpful if someone could be with him during treatment , or at least the last few weeks  when fatigue,bowel issues and weakness set in.

    I agree with your thought that a delay to regain strenth would probably NOT compromise his health or the treatment efficacy;; the tumour has probably been there for a long time before it was discovered. I was between Stage 1 and 2 . I had a positive biopsy in early December and did not begin treatment until early February.  The delay was due to difficulties getting oncology appointments!I was upset about the delay, but was reassured that it would not cause a problem.

    Another possibility, would be to ask the medical oncologist if your father could have the 5FU in pill form(capecetabine/Xeloda) instead of the infusion. On Day 1 I had mitomycin infusion, 5FU pill(and 5FU pills 5 days a week concurrent with radiation.  For some reason, I did NOT have the final dose of Mitmycin the last week. I thought that it would be easier to take a pill, rather than to have a port.That protocol was one of the 3 protocols listed in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines.

    access to the guidelines is free, but you have to register

    NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology

     There has been some research (from Sloan Kettering and other centers) that capecetabine (5FU in pill form) is as effective as an infusion and less toxic.


     

     

     

  • Marie59
    Marie59 Member Posts: 6
    #6
    tanda said:

    Marie59

    So sorry to hear about your father's fall; I agree with others that it would be helpful if someone could be with him during treatment , or at least the last few weeks  when fatigue,bowel issues and weakness set in.

    I agree with your thought that a delay to regain strenth would probably NOT compromise his health or the treatment efficacy;; the tumour has probably been there for a long time before it was discovered. I was between Stage 1 and 2 . I had a positive biopsy in early December and did not begin treatment until early February.  The delay was due to difficulties getting oncology appointments!I was upset about the delay, but was reassured that it would not cause a problem.

    Another possibility, would be to ask the medical oncologist if your father could have the 5FU in pill form(capecetabine/Xeloda) instead of the infusion. On Day 1 I had mitomycin infusion, 5FU pill(and 5FU pills 5 days a week concurrent with radiation.  For some reason, I did NOT have the final dose of Mitmycin the last week. I thought that it would be easier to take a pill, rather than to have a port.That protocol was one of the 3 protocols listed in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines.

    access to the guidelines is free, but you have to register

    NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology

     There has been some research (from Sloan Kettering and other centers) that capecetabine (5FU in pill form) is as effective as an infusion and less toxic.


     

     

     

    Thanks everyone on this board

    Thanks so much for your helpful advice. I'm sorry I haven't replied before now. My Dad restarted treatment yesterday with the 5FU Pump no mitomycin thank God and radiation. He's weak on the walker and in pain due to what was just learned a mild fracture to his tail bone when he fell and broke his pelvic bone. Had we known, he wouldn't have had the PT treatment that he did it only irritated his lower back. God bless all of you and for what you went through I'm so sorry. I am just overwhelmed by all of the people suffering with cancer - I know it touches all of our lives but to be in an infusion room and radation and all of the side effects my heart goes out to you all. I pray for everyone fighting cancer and thanks again for the help with our Dad. 

     

  • Mollymaude
    Mollymaude Member Posts: 431 Member
    edited January 2018 #7
    Marie

    Thanks for the update on your dad. I'm glad he is able to skip the mitomycin C. He has been through so much, it seems unfair he has to deal with cancer too. I just can't imagine having to do the treatment 35 years older than I am now! Tell him there are people on this site thinking of and praying for him.

  • Marie59
    Marie59 Member Posts: 6
    #8
    Mollymaude said:

    Marie

    Thanks for the update on your dad. I'm glad he is able to skip the mitomycin C. He has been through so much, it seems unfair he has to deal with cancer too. I just can't imagine having to do the treatment 35 years older than I am now! Tell him there are people on this site thinking of and praying for him.

    Thank you so much!
     

    Thank you so much!

     

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