Question for Donna

Hi Patti!
I am on Folfiri with Avastin, and my onc did say the mets were shrinking, I will be doing my 12th treatment on October 14, but I don't ever have pain there, my pain is mostly on my left side, and the incision site, right in the middle of my belly, not even a pain, but a very annoying feeling at times, where it feels like the folds of the incision is rubbing against my organs, because it was such a deep cut to do the colostomy.

My onc did say, that if I did feel some pain in the liver site, that during chemo, it could the chemo killing the tumors, and you would sometimes feel that around the abdominal areas anyway, it was doing its job, but it shouldn't be continous, where you feel it all the time.

I get some backaches at times, it's part of the fatigue I figured, or because I slept and woke up on my back, it will hurt, not alot though, now if you're having back pain, my onc said those could be a sign also of a blood clot, depending what part of the back it is...the upper would be the lungs, and lower would be kidneys, so if you are having any kind of continous pain and swelling in certain areas, to get it checked out, just to rule out blood clots. Do your ankles swell at all?

I'm on Oxycontin for pain and Oxycodone for breakthrough pain, do you not like to take anything for pain? if you're having any kind of pain, you shouldn't have to suffer or anything, take something for it, I only take them when I need them, even though the script says take them 3x a day, I don't have pain all that time, so why bother taking them like that lol..but they work so much better then anything over the counter.

Well, I hope you do feel better, and this pain isn't continous, if it is though, I'd definitely go to the ER when I feel serious chest, back or abdominal pain, just because I'm scared of blood clots. Sure doesn't hurt to check it out to be on the safe side~

Hugssss!
~Donna

ittapp said:

Thanks Donna, my liver is
Thanks Donna, my liver is definitly tender when I turn certain ways or sleep in certain positions. My back had been hurting alot lately, but I do spend a good bit of time in stadium seats watching my kids play sports. Did your Dr. ever talk RFA with you? my Dr. doesn't want to do surgery but is saying if my tumors shrink enouth he wants to have me see a specialist about RFA.....He also mentioned a pump if needed. Have you had your cea tested lately? mine was an 11 the last time we checked down from 13.8 I hope it continues to go down. I read your posts all the time and am encouraged by your spirit, You seem to just glow throuth the screen. Keep on fighting and I will be right there with you. God Bless you, Patti

Awwww....
....Thank You Patti for your kind words, I am just a goofball, and try to help if I can, even if I think what I say doesn't help anyone, I just want to reach out to whoever needs a chat, and am here for anyone.

You know, my onc has never talked about RFA with me or ANYTHING yet, about what she wants to do after this 12th treatment, but I am going to mention it to her if she says we can't do anything more, I will talk to her on Oct 14 right before chemo, she doesn't like to plan ahead, she likes to cross the bridge when she gets there, watching my liver tumors, and told me she has sent plenty of people to liver surgery who she thought would never be a candidate, and then the chemo works, and she was able to send those people to be operated on, she told me at first I was inoperable, but now that the chemo has shrunk the tumors, maybe I can be, she says you never ahead of time what or how the patient will do on chemo, so she can't make a plan ahead of things until the time comes. I actually don't know what my CEA levels are either, I really never asked, I see people talking about them all the time, I'll ask when I see her next time!

If I don't like any of her plans, I think I may even go to Sloan-Kettering for second opinions, I don't know if people do chemo forever, but I sure don't want too, I need a break from it, but have a feeling she isn't going to let me have a break...I know I don't want to do it Halloween week though, because I was planning a Halloween party with the kids, and just don't want to feel like crap for it.

Hugsss!
~Donna