Colon cancer removed in August, starting chemo in October. Feeling a little "cheated" as was orriginally told cancer was contained within colon but have now been told it's in a couple of lymph nodes. Felt knocked sideways by the surgery and worrying that I'll be similarly wiped out by chemo.
I had op abroad as it was emergency but treatment was great.Im back here and now worried if the chemo will be properly done here.Literally told the GP and hospital doctors that it's about my life here and having appointment next Tue regarding chemo.Do u know how many lymph nodes?
I can't see any reason why chemo wouldn't be done properly here but currently have no personal experience to base that on! Where did you have your surgery?
Cancer found in 2 out of 19 lymph nodes. I've been told that finding cancer in so few of a relatively large number of nodes is a good sign.
I hope your appointment goes well - take someone with you if you can (I don't mean if they'll let you, more if you have someone who can attend). I was able to have my husband present at the appointment and he took in some of the information that I might have otherwise forgotten or missed. The Macmillan nurse also gave me a useful booklet so hopefully you'll have a similar experience. Let me know how it goes.
I can't see any reason why chemo wouldn't be done properly here but currently have no personal experience to base that on! Where did you have your surgery?
Cancer found in 2 out of 19 lymph nodes. I've been told that finding cancer in so few of a relatively large number of nodes is a good sign.
I hope your appointment goes well - take someone with you if you can (I don't mean if they'll let you, more if you have someone who can attend). I was able to have my husband present at the appointment and he took in some of the information that I might have otherwise forgotten or missed. The Macmillan nurse also gave me a useful booklet so hopefully you'll have a similar experience. Let me know how it goes.
I was on holiday in Poland and had it over there.Everything went smoothly and a week from colonoscopy I had the op.cancer found in 5 out of 17 nodes and was told to start chemo max till 6 weeks after op.Also had already arranged for chemo last week in Pl but was assured I can continue here so obv came back as my family and work is here.I just hope the despite having everyth done abroad the doc here will accept the documents as I know from the experience that they need they like to have the evidence from here.Not sure if I want anyone to go with me as they panic more than me
Stressful! I'm happy to send you the list of questions I asked if it helps? You should try to write everything down, if nothing else it'll give you a moment to process what's been said. If you are attending on your own, ask if you can review what's been discussed afterwards with an experienced nurse. Ask this in advance of your appointment so you can't be fobbed off on the day.
TBH oncologist covered many of my questions before I'd asked them but this is the list of questions I had:
How soon would chemo start?
How often?
How many sessions?
how long does each session take?
What are the side effects?
How is chemo administered? If iv, are tablets an alternative?
Should I have a flu jab?
And one I didn't have the nerve to ask - is chemo intended as a cure or as a delaying treatmet?
I was given some information sheets about some of this stuff eg a fact sheet about the type of chemo I'm going to have, another sheet about the more common side effects. I also received a 100+ page book printed by Macmillan entitled "Understanding Chemotherapy". I hope you'll receive all of these or similar information. I hope this helps.
My mum is going through a similar journey as you. She had a pain in the left ovary and went to Poland for a holiday, but her stomach started growing very fast and she ended up at A&E 2 days later. They wanted to do surgery immediately, saying it was ovarian cancer, but found the mets in her lungs and said she wouldn't be able to survive the surgery. After a week in the hospital, I took her back to the UK and my mum was admitted to acute oncology straight after coming from the airport. She had 2 drains because of the ascites and was supposed to get biopsy and chemo to confirm the diagnosis. After 2 weeks we've been told it's bowel cancer and it's spread to ovary and lungs. Her met in the ovary was growing so quickly that she wasn't able to walk and she needed a drain all the time. The doctor said she wasn't fit for the chemo and gave her steroids to make her better and told us he would visit her in the ward in the next 2 ways. They did another CT scan and 2 days later they decided she needs surgery ASAP and removed both ovaries the next day. She is now 4.5 weeks after the surgery and we had a consultation online last week. She is supposed to start palliative chemo next week. Sunday she has blood tests and CT, Monday another consultation and Tuesday CAPOX. They said 4-6 cycles, but we will see. Hopefully, it only gets better from here.
I did all the translation of the documents from the hospital in Poland and they accepted it. They were supposed to base on that but because of the ascites not stopping they did another CT scan and I'm glad they did cause it only helped my mum to have ovaries and mets removed. The mass was approximately 20cm...
I'm scared about her going through the treatment and we still hope it's all a misunderstanding and there will be a miracle and all of that will shrink... She had colonoscopy back in Jan 2019 and it was all clear so we don't know how it all grew and spread so quickly...
Sorry to hear about your mum.I know its not easy especially when its sudden and you read all this prognosis online etc.
I have just had the Capox second cycle and its not too bad.Some pins n needles and nausea but hoping it wont get worse.Stay positive as thats what helps me not to think about it and be there for my kids and my family who is more worried than I am I think.
