Hello Diamond88

l had the exact same regime post bowel and liver op eleven years ago.Be prepared to find she will get very tired, It has a cumalative effect, so each course gets harder on you, with the final two being really tough. l was left with neuropathy in hands and feet, although it dissapated in the hands its permanant in the feet.

Everyone has different tolerance levels and reactions, but it will leave you exhausted.ln order to hit the cancer your body has to suffer. Hopefully it might give her more time but at the possible cost of life quality

They will monitor your mum closely to see if it is slowing the spread because there is no point in the treatment dragging her body down further if its not working.

Sorry but its a case of watching and waiting and not trying to prejudge,but adjusting to the facts as they present themselves, since every individuals case is unique.

Best advice l can offer is live for the day and hope for another tomorrow to repeat again,

be gentle with each other

David

Thankyou for your reply David, I am really worried that my mum isn't going to be strong enough for the chemo she has to have 6 rounds. With 0 breaks so in total it will be for 18 weeks. I suppose I will just have to wait and see like you said. I'm trying to stay strong but it's really hard. Does the chemo make you really poorly,? I'm so scared xxx

Hello Diamond88,

yes the chemo will almost certainly make you very tired, some can suffer sickness as well but l just felt really grotty. Appetite can be hit and drinking enough fluids can be a challenge,its little and often, ginger beer worked for me and is kind on your stomach.

l had the six courses of 3 week treatments,but my third week was clear and for recovery, so only 14 days of capicitibine tablets, so as you say your mum will get no respite so l can well imagine judging from my experience it will be really gruelling for her. She will be monitored but l would imagine the strength of the treatment is reflective of the progression of the invader and the need to hit it hard in order to slow its advance.

Sorry that l do not have any easy answers for you,just the recognition of the extremely hard place you and your mother find yourselves in.Its often harder for those looking in from the sidelines than those that are in the struggle, so you need to look to yourself and ensure you make the very most of your time with your Mum,

my best wishes for making some special moments in the weeks to come,

David

Hallo Diamond 88 and Mum

My Husband is having this treatment at present for oesophageal junction cancer at present. It is his 2nd cancer treatment.  It reduced the tumour after the 3rd cycle. The steroids given after infusion help enormously with increasing his appetite and thus giving him strength to recover. He has suffered with severe constipation with this, so watch out for that as that was painful but treatable.  He should be having 9 cycles but has stopped after 5 to give him a rest as he had pneumonia (may be unrelated)  This rest in between is doing him the world of good as he is now eating and going to the toilet regularly.  The aim is to restart the treatment after he has gained strength to carry on with it, Soups and soft steam puddings with custard are favourites.  Hope this helps

Hi Diamond88

I’m really sorry to hear about your mum, I feel for you as I know what an awful time you will be having. It’s so sad to watch your mum go through this and to feel completely helpless.

My mum had the same treatment recently and it has had a positive impact. But while she was going through the treatment she had some really bad days, days why I felt awful that she was putting herself through it. 

Sadly no-one can say with any certainty what the impact of the treatment will be. Having lost my dad to cancer around 15 years ago and seeing him suffer badly, I did tell my mum that I would understand if she wanted to stop treatment. But she’s a little fighter bless her… she was diagnosed two and a half years ago and we’ve had some really tough days, she’s still fighting. 

I know it is so hard to do in the circumstances but I hope you and your mum and your family can try and stay positive. Take care of yourself as well as you can really lose yourself caring for someone. I care for my mum and cared for my dad and it is really easy to forget to care for yourself! 

Also, ask questions of the doctors, nurses and other health care professionals and if your mum is suffering or something isn’t going well, tell them. We live in the north east and all of the health care professionals involved in my mums care have been amazing.

Take care of yourself,

S