Has anyone had this symptoms?

Glv49
Glv49 Member Posts: 206 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hi,
I am a 5 yr survivor of Stage IV colon cancer... for those of you who don't know me.. DX in 2003, surgery, radiation, 5FU contn. with a pump for 6 wks, and then 6 mos of oxaliplatin 5FU, and leucovorin. All my PET scans of been NED since then, and I am so grateful. My sweet husband was just dx in June of this year, with Stage 3 colon cancer. One lymph node had microscopic cells so he is taking 12 treatments of 5FU, decadron, oxaliplatin, and leucovorin as a precaution only. He didn't have any problems at first.. but now after the 3rd treatment he got very hoarse.. couldn't breathe good either.. then that subsided our onc told him to stay out of air conditioning with the oxaliplatin. Then on his 5th treatment which was the other day, he was nausious, and his face got bright red, and stayed that way and the top of his scalp was burning for a couple days... and diarreah. I never had those symptoms I know everyone is different, just wondering if anybody had these same symptoms.. thanks for your imput... and LIVE STRONG

Gail

Comments

  • JMARIE66
    JMARIE66 Member Posts: 55
    #2
    Wow!
    Let me start by saying how awesome for your NED for 5 years with Stage IV colon cancer. I am sure you with give such encouragement to others on this site. Now, how terrible your husband is battling the same beast!! My husband had stage 3b-he did Folfox-12 treatments. He started ok and after the 3rd treatment-red face, constantly sweating, diareha....Make sure they check his potassium levels. My husband had to take potassium pills during the 3 days of treatment after it was discovered how low his potassium got. It can even simulate a heart attack~so keep an eye on it. My husband also looked like he had been sunburned after treatments. Whiter than a ghost while he wore the pump-but then beat red once taken off. Tell his doctor about the side effects. I understand they cannot cover them all-nor do they want to scare you and tell you everything up front-but I found his side effects were very common and there was always a pill, advise, or way to cope. Best of wishes to both of you!! Are thoses your children?
  • Madre
    Madre Member Posts: 123
    #3
    I am dx 3b and just finished
    I am dx 3b and just finished number 10 out of 12 FOLFOX. I noticed I got acid reflux really bad after about number 5 so they have me on protonix and tagament. It felt like a lumb in the base of my throat I kept thinking it was phlem from my sinuses which also get really stuffy and sometimes bleed. Nope, they told me that is reflux. Chemo can eat away at your stomach. I also get hot flashed something terrible and chemo burn on my skin. My face is red alot too. Mosturizing helps. Again like the others inform his doctor. They scolded me for waiting so long to tell them of my pain. They are there for you and my doctor told my husband that if he felt there was something not normal and I wouldn't call that he should call, and he has on a few times as I am stubborn. Congrats to you and good luck to your husband. Keep fighting and praying.
  • jenjerandkatesmom
    jenjerandkatesmom Member Posts: 37
    #4
    Gail,
    I had the redness in
    Gail,
    I had the redness in my face every time that I had chemo. It looked like a bad sunburn. I recall the nurse telling me that this symptom was from one of the drugs they gave me prior to chemo to prevent an allergic reaction. Can't remember the name. Sorry. The good news is that it only lasted a day or two and then went away. I would strongly suggest discussing these sypmtoms with the oncologist. One thing I can tell you is that through all of my chemo treatments,my doctor and nurses ALWAYS had a solution to the side effects that I was experiencing. The other thing that I learned is that everyone reacts differently to the same drugs. Nothing seems to be "normal" so asking the doctor for advice will give you some reassurance. Good luck to you and your husband.
  • Glv49
    Glv49 Member Posts: 206 Member
    #5
    JMARIE66 said:

    Wow!
    Let me start by saying how awesome for your NED for 5 years with Stage IV colon cancer. I am sure you with give such encouragement to others on this site. Now, how terrible your husband is battling the same beast!! My husband had stage 3b-he did Folfox-12 treatments. He started ok and after the 3rd treatment-red face, constantly sweating, diareha....Make sure they check his potassium levels. My husband had to take potassium pills during the 3 days of treatment after it was discovered how low his potassium got. It can even simulate a heart attack~so keep an eye on it. My husband also looked like he had been sunburned after treatments. Whiter than a ghost while he wore the pump-but then beat red once taken off. Tell his doctor about the side effects. I understand they cannot cover them all-nor do they want to scare you and tell you everything up front-but I found his side effects were very common and there was always a pill, advise, or way to cope. Best of wishes to both of you!! Are thoses your children?

    anyone had these symptoms?
    Thank you for replying... those are my Grandchildren... they are now 8 and 6. They were younger in the pic. I will definetly talk to the onc about his symptoms.. and good luck to all battling this beast.

    Gail
  • doris2657
    doris2657 Member Posts: 38
    #6
    stage 4
    Hi Gail

    I have the same treatment as your Husband,the redness in the face is from the steroids they give us,the itching comes from the 5 fu,I have different reactions everytime I have chemo.I just finished chemo and this time I had a rash all over very itchy so I take Benadryl for it,I also have sinus drainage real bad the first week of chemo,which makes me more nauseaus now I take Claritin for it,pretty soonI will travel with a suitcase full of medicines,but thats ok since it keeps me going.God bless you

    Doris
  • jenhopesprays
    jenhopesprays Member Posts: 128 Member
    #7
    Gail,
    So sorry you have to

    Gail,

    So sorry you have to go through all of this again with your husband and deal with all that cancer entails.

    I had the redness too. It did not burn my scalp but it made my face look as though I just got back from jog. I'm pretty sure it was from the decadron which is a steriod. If he is in pain it would be worth mentioning.

    About that 5 yr survival of Stage IV colon cancer...WOOHOO. You made my day. I'm Stage IV and a mom of 3. I hope to hold my grandbabies in my lap some day. Thanks for the encouragement.

    Jennifer
  • lisa42
    lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member
    #8
    Hi,
    While on both Folfox
    Hi,

    While on both Folfox last year & now during my current chemo of CPT-11/Erbitux/Avastin, I've had a problem with becoming hoarse and froggy sounding every time I've gotten a chemo infusion. With the Folfox, it would last close to a week & then I'd have a week of sounding okay (I got the Folfox treatments every two weeks). Now, I get my current chemo once a week, so I'd say I only have maybe a day or two of sounding better before I get hit with it again.

    So far as the scalp burning, my scalp got very sore and sometimes did burn with the Folfox- it isn't doing that this time.
    I didn't have the other couple of issues you mentioned.

    My heart goes out to you and your husband, with both being hit by this horrid illness- God bless you both.
    Lisa

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