update my father in law

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jimbohd54
jimbohd54 Member Posts: 8
edited March 2014 in Esophageal Cancer #1
My father in law is on his seventh week of chemo for stage 3. Every 21 days he gets injections of Epirubicin Hydrochloride and Cisplatin. Every week he gets a new bottle of Flourouracil for his 'port' infusion. Now he gets severely chapped lips where he can't eat or drink without pain. Twice he has been to emergency for dehydration. He drinks 'Ensure' when he can, but I know its not enough. Still we are upbeat, he has good and bad days.

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  • Tina Blondek
    Tina Blondek Member Posts: 1,500 Member
    #2
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    Hello Jim
    Is this the first
    Hello Jim
    Is this the first time you have posted? Congratulations to your FIL. Dehydration comes with the chemo territory. He should be hydrated before, during, and after treatments. You may consider getting him a feeding tube. Keep lots of vaseline on his lips. Best of luck and keep fighting the fight! My dad lost his 16 month battle on March 9, 2010.
    Tina
  • sandy1943
    sandy1943 Member Posts: 824
    #3
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    Hello, Right now I am cancer
    Hello, Right now I am cancer free from stage 111. My chem was the same as your father in law. I never experienced the dry lips. People do react differntly to the drugs.Ther is a medicine to help with the mouth pain--check with your oncologist. The 5 fu was the one that caused me the most problems. My counts would bottom out and they would remove the pump and I would have shots for 5 days to build them back up. I ended uo having to take an extra round of all the drugs. My dr. did not do radiation,I had surgery(ivor lewis)6 mths after I was diagnosed. It is important to stay hydrated and to keep the weight up during chemo, I was ok with this but was extremely weak and had nausea for a couple of days after infushion. Reading this site, I know how lucky I was.
    Will He have radiation and when did they say he'll have surgery?
    Keep us posted,there are a lot of people on here with lots of helpful information.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #4
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  • jimbohd54
    jimbohd54 Member Posts: 8
    #5
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    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    update Father In Law
    Thanks William 66, Thanks Tina, and Thanks Sandy,
    No we never had a second opinion, my F I L was so happy with the thoracic surgeons opinion; And he wants to stick within his healthplan.
    So far no J-tube; he alredy hates the port,tubing, and infusion bottle!
    In a few weeks they will check for cancer shrinkage and then decide about surgery, or more chemo, or radiation.
  • jimbohd54
    jimbohd54 Member Posts: 8
    #6
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    sandy1943 said:

    Hello, Right now I am cancer
    Hello, Right now I am cancer free from stage 111. My chem was the same as your father in law. I never experienced the dry lips. People do react differntly to the drugs.Ther is a medicine to help with the mouth pain--check with your oncologist. The 5 fu was the one that caused me the most problems. My counts would bottom out and they would remove the pump and I would have shots for 5 days to build them back up. I ended uo having to take an extra round of all the drugs. My dr. did not do radiation,I had surgery(ivor lewis)6 mths after I was diagnosed. It is important to stay hydrated and to keep the weight up during chemo, I was ok with this but was extremely weak and had nausea for a couple of days after infushion. Reading this site, I know how lucky I was.
    Will He have radiation and when did they say he'll have surgery?
    Keep us posted,there are a lot of people on here with lots of helpful information.

    update my father in law
    Hello again, My father in law got so weak, chemo has been stopped for one week. He may need a blood transfusion, his blood count is low. When they restart, it may be on a lower dose. I think he needs the j-tube. It's so hard for him to eat enough,take vitamins, and drink water, when he gets so rundown. I'm trying to read everyones posts, a little at a time. These cancers are so bad and seem to becoming too common.
  • Tina Blondek
    Tina Blondek Member Posts: 1,500 Member
    #7
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    jimbohd54 said:

    update my father in law
    Hello again, My father in law got so weak, chemo has been stopped for one week. He may need a blood transfusion, his blood count is low. When they restart, it may be on a lower dose. I think he needs the j-tube. It's so hard for him to eat enough,take vitamins, and drink water, when he gets so rundown. I'm trying to read everyones posts, a little at a time. These cancers are so bad and seem to becoming too common.

    Hello Jim
    Thanks for your
    Hello Jim
    Thanks for your recent fil update. Sorry he is not doing too well. Believe me it comes with the cancer territory. Yes, I agree this cancer is bad. It is becoming very common. The actor, Michael Douglas was just diagnosed with throat cancer. They are not sure if it is throat, larynax, esophagus, or tonsil. Wow! He is being treated in Boston Ma. I also agree with you about the feeding tube. Ask his drs about that. With it being so hard for him to eat, the j tube would be most helpful. You are doing a great job, keep up the good work. We are always here for you. Keep in touch. Hugs to you and your fil!
    Tina
  • jimbohd54
    jimbohd54 Member Posts: 8
    #8
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    Tina Blondek said:

    Hello Jim
    Thanks for your
    Hello Jim
    Thanks for your recent fil update. Sorry he is not doing too well. Believe me it comes with the cancer territory. Yes, I agree this cancer is bad. It is becoming very common. The actor, Michael Douglas was just diagnosed with throat cancer. They are not sure if it is throat, larynax, esophagus, or tonsil. Wow! He is being treated in Boston Ma. I also agree with you about the feeding tube. Ask his drs about that. With it being so hard for him to eat, the j tube would be most helpful. You are doing a great job, keep up the good work. We are always here for you. Keep in touch. Hugs to you and your fil!
    Tina

    surgery
    Hello everyone. My computer was 'down' for awhile!
    MY FIL had surgery on Friday. It did not go well. The cancer was found to be wrapped around two blood vessels connected to the heart. He is in ICU, now. The surgeon said, it may have stopped growing.My FIL may go next with radiation. I'm learning that the hardest part is keeping his attitude positive. He does have the 'j' tube inside him. He should come home, maybe Wednesday. My Mother-in-law will get a crash course on the 'j' tube, next.
    Jim
  • sandy1943
    sandy1943 Member Posts: 824
    #9
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    jimbohd54 said:

    surgery
    Hello everyone. My computer was 'down' for awhile!
    MY FIL had surgery on Friday. It did not go well. The cancer was found to be wrapped around two blood vessels connected to the heart. He is in ICU, now. The surgeon said, it may have stopped growing.My FIL may go next with radiation. I'm learning that the hardest part is keeping his attitude positive. He does have the 'j' tube inside him. He should come home, maybe Wednesday. My Mother-in-law will get a crash course on the 'j' tube, next.
    Jim

    Hello Jim, so sorry the
    Hello Jim, so sorry the surgery didn't go well. I understand it could not be removed because of where it is located? Will be prying for him and the family as you go on to the next step,
    Sandra

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