Help needed - looking after my sister who has bowel cancer

Hi would just like to say hi . I'm looking after my sister . She's got bowel cancer . Find out tomorrow if radiotherapy worked . She so thin getting im struggling a bit . But any help would be great 

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  • Radiotherapy builds up so, i'm afraid energy levels might get a little worse for the next couple of weeks before they get better - but they do get better. Start small - a walk to the end of the drive / street then further. I borrow a wheel chair at first, and post surgery too and built up. I finished in early November thyat year  and by the Christmas I was the fittest I've been for years. Just take it nice and slowly, one step at a time (literally!)

    I think a wheel chair is a good idea and plenty of encouragement to get up and walk around. I ate small and often (just forgot to stop once I'd piled the weight back on :D )

  • Thank you I see her getting there slowly. Then there's days she looks so tired . I encourage her everyday .and I think she's up for a walk on Friday.  As you said just small steps . Wheelchair would help when legs get heavy.  That's her eating small but every so often .hopefully she will put weight on .. she's so thin was a 15  now  11 stone . But we all try and help her but my sisters are all late 60s and 75 .  I'm youngest not 60 yet.keep telling her you got this .. thank you for replying back so gratefulx.

  • That's it small steps .I will get wheelchair to help her .her legs swollen up .but she will get there . She's eating small but more each day .gd sign .be nice seeing her put weight back on . Gd it helped you I feel  it's been gd to talk to someone other than family . We are all close but my sisters are all in there late 60s and 70s I'm youngest nearly 60 . But look after them if they need me . Thank you for replying back x

  • I was in my early 40's when I was diagnosed - I don't know how people older (and from the looks, people in their 80's) cope with all the radio/chemo. I found it pretty hard by the last week of treatment (in fact they stopped the chemo for the last week). But as I say, it _does_ get better and I found eating small meals often rather than 3 a day helped a lot. And certainly walking and getting out as much as possible is a huge help. Hope all goes well with you and your sister :)

  • About the heavy legs: we asked about this for months before working out that the heaviness was caused by oedema. The recommended treatment was to a) elevate legs/arms as much as possible; b) sleep in a bed' c) massage the arms and legs to move the fluid upwards . This worked and helped my husband to walk more easily which then meant he didn;t develop oedema. HTH