Chemo advice

You said he is constipated, right?  If so, could be a blockage or one forming.  Call doc first thing in the morning.

I developed clots in my lungs on FOLFOX. NP said it was caused by the cancer, the Internet disagrees. I guess they don't mention this side effect of chemo because there are people who would be reluctant to take it. I was on thinners for the entire time I was on FOLFOX, but have not had any issues since.

The debilitating effects of chemo are going to be hard on anyone's mental state. I hate feeling sick Monday - Thursday, and "only" having to deal with frequent heartburn and fatigue until the next treatment is a welcome relief. I have my return to the track to look forward to at least, something I can enjoy and make me feel like I'm accomplishing something tangible (rather than work or other drugeries). That might be something you can find with your father, find him something to look forward to, something to keep going.

worriedson714 said:

Chemo 2 Avastin on hold

Dads chemo 2 on but Avastin on hold which is disappointing.  But onc is concerned about bleeding so hoping folfiri works for now.

 

I can't tease out the Avastin side effects from the rest. I will have an upcoming dental appointment and they will hold off the Avastin for a treatment so maybe I can tell you at that point.

Pam gets an injection of anti nausea meds at infusion (Folfiri, Avastin, 5-FU). She had the melt in your mouth nausea tabs, uses sugar free mints and ginger tea, ginger tincture, and acupressure points. Acupressure gives relief quic and lasts about 20 minutes. 

worriedson714 said:

thank you

Thank you for sharing this it is the kind of info I am looking for sounds like my dad may be lucky that they are holding it for now since he already has blood clots . Did the avastin at least shrink your cancer or at least keep it stable ? 

I had some early tumor shrinkage with Avastin and Irinotecan, about 20% or so. My CEA cut in half but not into normal range, has stabilized actually.

NewHere said:

Talk To Your Oncologist

There are things that can negatively affect chemo.  For instance when I was on FOLFORI I also got a medical marijuana card.  I did not need to use it, but the intergrative medicine department told me not to use CBD, it would could make the side affects of the chemo worse.  THC was fine.

Also they recommended natural things instead of pills.  I would need to check what I took (been a few years), but instead of magnesium, they would recommend certain nuts.  I know I took pumkin seeds instead of some vitamin or supplement.

Be careful, there is a lot of bad information out there about these things. And bad websites.  Some of them are which of are popular.  For instance, Life Extension is quesitonable for a variety of reasons, including FDA violations:

https://quackwatch.org/cases/fdawarning/prod/fda-warning-letters-about-products-2017/lef/ has the letter which starts off with:

This is to advise you that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reviewed your website at the Internet address www.lifeextension.com in December 2016 and has determined that you take orders there for the Life Extension products.  The claims on your website establish that the products are drugs under Section 201(g)(1)(B) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act) [21 United State Code (USC) 321(g)(1)(B)] because they are intended for use in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease. As explained further below, introducing or delivering these products for introduction into interstate commerce for such uses violates the Act. You can find the Act and FDA regulations through links on FDA’s home page at www.fda.gov.

Examples of some of the website claims that provide evidence that your products are intended for use as drugs include:

On the webpage titled, “HEALTH PROTOCOLS”, under the disease, “Breast Cancer” you include a link to a page with information about breast cancer and include, “Life Extensions Suggestions” which lists products and directions for use as part of the protocol. For example, as treatments for Breast Cancer, you suggest the following Life Extension products which are for sale on your website:

Scientifically, Quackwatch is a pretty questionable site, created by a hyper adversarial guy with a defamatory streak, with a vexatious history of extortionate demands, a "law school" dropout whose legal training is from a defunct diploma mill that used to advertise on matchbooks and the back of comic books...

Yeah, I know QW has its "skeptic" fans but it is very partisan in nature. QW looks for bad sounding things without finding, or at least telling, the full story. So, when I want background information on individuals with only warts on it, QW is a juicy place for a quick read, or perhaps malign entertainment.  It's a pharma biased attack dog, like a supermarket tabloid of the medical world.   

What you could have learned there (and close associates) over the years, like many, might cost you your life.  Like us, maybe for Vitamin D or Vitamin C alone.

worriedson714 said:

Update

Dad has had alot of loose stools today and alot of stomach problems causing him to not feel like eating and frequent orange and cloudy urine . I'm not sure if these are chemo side effects but if so they side effects clearly picking up . Also it could be another infection cause even water isn't helping the urine color . Trying to get him to go into the cancer center but of course he doesn't want to will continue to try won't ever give up on him . But for anyone new to this chemo for sure watch out for stomach problems seems to be one of the main side effects in my experience with my dad so far . 

My onc has them pumping several nausea medications along with the irinotecan, and recently added a steroid. I wonder if I am being over medicated? I am more about pain management than having to take a drug for every discomfort. So as for your father, there are many things they can think to give. It depends on whether he wants to have them.