"best half has finished chemo"

oneagleswings
oneagleswings Member Posts: 425 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hi everyone: Have been reading everyone's posts but have not posted since there really has not been too much to say until now. My darlin has finished his 4 rounds of 5FU/leucovorin that was adjuvant after surgery for resection. All things considered he has tolerated it very well and I guess now the waiting begins...he thought he would be jubliant now that he is done- but instead it looks like what he has gone through has finally hit him- kind of depressed and I think feeling a bit lost since while doing treatment he felt like he was keeping the monster away but now that he is finished he feels very vulnerable...just sitting idly waiting for who knows what?

To all you heroic people who have gone through this before...now what...is there anything he can be doing to keep healthy? I have heard about juicing on this site- and we have a juicer- but am not sure exactly what to juice and how often..so any and all suggestions for both juicing and any other recommendations would be most welcome and appreciated.

By the way- todays calendar on my desk says "You have nothing to lose by expecting a miracle"
Bev

Comments

  • kerry
    kerry Member Posts: 1,313 Member
    #2
    Hi Bev,

    The scariest time is when the doctor says, "you are finished with the chemo"!! Yes, unfortunately, it is a waiting game, but just make sure your doc is monitoring your "darlin" periodically with CAT scans and blood work and keeping track of all his vitals.

    Yes, juicing is BIG at this site and Emily is our expert in that arena (as well as Scouty). I am also a big believer in the juicing theory but have not been as devoted as others.

    Glad your hubby is finished and doing well. Hang in there and keep us posted as to how he and you are doing.

    Kerry
  • jana11
    jana11 Member Posts: 705
    #3
    Bev, time helps with the vunerable feelings after treatment ends. It is one of the hardest steps in this nasty race.
    SAVE THAT CALENDAR QUOTE!! I still have a fortune cookie from 2002 - when I first started chemo. "time heals all wounds" I keep it in my wallet.
    For your "darlin" plan a nice night/weekend to do something nice. For me, having nice plans coming up help distract my mind from the waiting game. Enjoy all moments, create better moments to enjoy. Doesn't have to be pricey.
    I love priceline.com You bid on hotels, and get very silly rates at times. Like $40 for a 4-5 star place. Give it a try.
    The last time I got my CT results (which were NED!!!!!!!) I felt grumpy that night. I was convinced they would be bad. My body stored up so much adrenaline that I didn't know how to deal with the good news.
    This crap changes so much. Hope for the best, but expect the worse. AND LIVE EVERYDAY TO ITS FULLEST.
    May you and your darlin have only good news... take care, jana
  • spongebob
    spongebob Member Posts: 2,565 Member
    #4
    Bev -

    I would propose that part of the depression your hubby may be feeling is the loss of contact with his chemo buddies. It's sort of an odd situation, but sometimes it is therapeutic to sit there for a few hours each week and chat with other survivors. I know I often went back to my chemo room on the days that I took it just to say hello to my friends there. I know Kanga volunteers at his ormer infusion center...

    You are right, the waiting game is always hard. Do you have follow-on tests scheduled? You guys will now find yourself in a really hyper-sensitive mode wondering if the smallest little paper cut is cancer. "Is it back?" will often be your first thought. You will learn to live with it... although I don't know that it will ever go away.

    Be well and take good care of each other.

    - Sponge
  • rejoyous
    rejoyous Member Posts: 259
    #5
    Hi Bev,

    It took me a while to get used to the idea that I'd completed a major piece of the journey, too. One thing I did after I finished chemo was to figure out physical things to do to remind me it was over. I put my drugs in a box in the basement, for example. Getting my port out was also great. I'm planning to have a bonfire with my lab reports.

    Another thing I di was to finally telephone two long-term survivors whose names had been given to me at the beginning of my cancer journey. One of them had Stage III with tons of lymph involvement--I can't remember how many, but tons-- and had been clear for ten years. She told me that cancer felt long ago and far a way--not that it was gone, but not the first, second, or third thing she thought about each day. That felt hopeful to me--that even though I'm jumpy and haunted now, I might not always be so taken over by it all...

    Regarding continued health steps: I'm into a book called YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT by Dr. Gillian McKeith. It's very user friendly and is not just for cancer survivors, it's for all healthy alternative eating concerns.

    Anyway, congratulations on your love's finishing chemo. It's really something wonderful to celebrate.
  • Shandle
    Shandle Member Posts: 204
    #6
    Hi Bev, I can understand. Yes, I think juicing is a great idea! There is many wonderful books on juicing and also on nutrition. I just ordered a juicer and I can't wait to get started. I would also recommend humor!! Read, see a funny movie.. go do something fun! This part of the journey has ended. Now your in cruise mode. Now there's an idea! (if ok with the ol pocket book) Nice trip on a ship!

    Now that the chemo is over.. he may want to consider a detox or a cleanse to rid the toxins out of the system. Just a suggestion.. Huggs ~ Wanda ...xcw

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