Is chemo really necessary?

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  • SandiaBuddy
    SandiaBuddy Member Posts: 1,381 Member
    edited June 2020 #22
    Cosette24 said:

    He will be on CAPOX, so yes,

    He will be on CAPOX, so yes, Oxaliplatin. They warned us not to let him touch or drink anything cold. I will make sure he uses the cream before his skin starts cracking. 

    Anti-nausea

    Anti-nausea drugs are also a useful thing to have on hand before the treatment starts.  Also, ask for the infusion in the non-dominant arm (left for most of us).  That can keep the dominant arm working better for things like driving, etc.

  • Cosette24
    Cosette24 Member Posts: 14
    edited June 2020 #23
    Hi everyone, another update: 

    Hi everyone, another update: 

    Husband had his first infusion yesterday and started taking Xeloda. He is doing very well. Had a runny nose after the infusion and some sensitivity in the left arm, but that has stopped now. He has gone to work today. I am hoping he will continue to feel well. He is taking anti-nausea medications, using the cream on his hands and feet and rinsing his mouth with the mouthwash from the onc. 

  • SandiaBuddy
    SandiaBuddy Member Posts: 1,381 Member
    edited June 2020 #24
    Cosette24 said:

    Hi everyone, another update: 

    Hi everyone, another update: 

    Husband had his first infusion yesterday and started taking Xeloda. He is doing very well. Had a runny nose after the infusion and some sensitivity in the left arm, but that has stopped now. He has gone to work today. I am hoping he will continue to feel well. He is taking anti-nausea medications, using the cream on his hands and feet and rinsing his mouth with the mouthwash from the onc. 

    Some days are better than others

    Thank you for the update, it is great he is doing well.  My experience with Xeloda (capecitabine) is that the effects can sneak up on you and some days are better than others.  For me, the worst time was in the afternoon.  Some days were great and almost normal, but others I really tried to avoid people in the afternoon.  Hopefully your husband can work out a system where he is able to take off work if it turns out to be a bad day or a bad time of day.  Best of luck with the upcoming challenges!  Hopefully he will be a lucky one who sails through without issues.

  • Cosette24
    Cosette24 Member Posts: 14
    edited June 2020 #25
    SandiaBuddy said:

    Some days are better than others

    Thank you for the update, it is great he is doing well.  My experience with Xeloda (capecitabine) is that the effects can sneak up on you and some days are better than others.  For me, the worst time was in the afternoon.  Some days were great and almost normal, but others I really tried to avoid people in the afternoon.  Hopefully your husband can work out a system where he is able to take off work if it turns out to be a bad day or a bad time of day.  Best of luck with the upcoming challenges!  Hopefully he will be a lucky one who sails through without issues.

    He is going to work twice a

    He is going to work twice a week now. He wants to go more often, but I think it's better to wait. Thankfully his boss is really accommodating. We are expecting some side effects to come up, but are grateful that right now he is living normally. Taking it one day at a time..

  • avargov
    avargov Member Posts: 24
    edited June 2020 #26
    Side effects

    I found that the side effects occured more as time went on.  Looks like 6 session (3 months), would take to at least the 3rd or 4th before anything really started happening for me.  I was on FOLFIRI w/ Avastin for a little over 2 years (30 rounds I think), and it stopped working.  So now I am on Longsurf (and oral chemo).  Hopefully it won't be too bad.  But, fortunately, the side effects were all manageable with other drugs (magic mouthwash was a Godsend).  We are all here to help if we can, so please keep reaching out!!!

  • kathy54487
    kathy54487 Member Posts: 2
    edited July 2020 #27
    husband colon cancer

    My husband had a large tumor in his intetines that broke through and ate through the muscles of his stomach and adhered to his abdominal wall. They removed the tumor and some intestine and 32 lymph nodes that were cear. They want to do chemo for 6 months (IV) and the pills. he has stage 2-C adenocarcinoma. but the dr says he got it all why such harsh chemo?

  • SandiaBuddy
    SandiaBuddy Member Posts: 1,381 Member
    edited July 2020 #28
    kathy54487 said:

    husband colon cancer

    My husband had a large tumor in his intetines that broke through and ate through the muscles of his stomach and adhered to his abdominal wall. They removed the tumor and some intestine and 32 lymph nodes that were cear. They want to do chemo for 6 months (IV) and the pills. he has stage 2-C adenocarcinoma. but the dr says he got it all why such harsh chemo?

    The Boss

    From my perspective, the patient is the boss in health care treatment, and the patient should be well informed of the risks and reasons before making a decision about any treatment.  You might want to make a list of the questions and concerns you have and take them to your next appointment.  Visiting a forum like this is also a good way to ask questions of people with personal experience.  Whether to engage in chemo is a very tough and very personal decision.

  • abita
    abita Member Posts: 1,152 Member
    #29
    Cindit said:

    is chemo really necessary

    Hi, 

    I was diagnosed with stage IV. I was lucky enough to get into a trial of immunotherapy. While i think the Immunotherapy helped fend off side effects, I also did my own research on how to avoid them. I took zinc supplements (for the taste thing and mouth sores), I iced my hands and feet AND mouth (sucked on ice) during the 2 hour treatment.  I have had hardly any side effects....a little tingling in hands, nothing in the feet and never lost the taste sense. The eloxatin was in my folfox therapy and doc stopped that after 6 rounds (was having some neuropathy in fingers and i type for a living). My hair thinned but not to the point i needed a wig, just a hairpiece. Also, before treatments i would use a aromatherapy nose inhaler of ginger. THAT really helped and i hardly had any nausea the entire time. I'm going on last treatment (have had 11 treatments plus surgery) but will continue on immunotherapy for another year and a half. I would do the therapy again of course because i prefer life to the alternative. Your hubby will get through it with a positive attitude and realizing it's keeping him alive.

    Are you in a keytruda trial?

    Are you in a keytruda trial? I see it was approved for colon cancer today.

  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    #30
    Proceed with Caution

    The bottom line is that I'm in favor of doing the chemo. I can appreciate your husband's hesitation. Getting through each chapter is a challenge so when there's a break in the action you want to savor it. Many of us have been there. 
    I strongly suggest that he keeps the momentum going and do the follow up chemo. 

  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #31
    PhillieG said:

    Proceed with Caution

    The bottom line is that I'm in favor of doing the chemo. I can appreciate your husband's hesitation. Getting through each chapter is a challenge so when there's a break in the action you want to savor it. Many of us have been there. 
    I strongly suggest that he keeps the momentum going and do the follow up chemo. 

    Agree

    It's hard to wrap your head around doing treatment with all the side effects as I've got them after treatment, but like Phil said, each step is (or could be) a difficulty.  Take it one step at a time.  Wishing your husband the best going forward.  Good to see you Phil.

    Kim

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