Hello Dean

Welcome to the forum although I am so very sorry to hear about the news that leads you to find us. It's obviously an incredibly difficult time for you all at the moment but from your post, I sense there is some positivity in your mindset to hearing this diagnosis and undoubtedly this will stand you in very good stead. 

Can I ask what type of cancer you've been told you have? Hopefully, we can then signpost you to some information and possibly connect you with others who have a similar diagnosis and are undergoing treatment. 

If there's anything you'd like to talk through with one of our nurses you're most welcome to call them on 0808 800 4040, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. 

Keep in touch Dean and let us know how you're doing. 

Best wishes, 
Jenn
Cancer Chat moderator 

hi jenn, 

thanks for the warm welcome and wishes. 

I've been diagnosed with lower food pipe/ stomach junction cancer. quite advanced and incurable. no chance of surgery just yet. was losing alot of weight and having terrible heartburn. so the tumour had reached the point of me not eating anything but shakes and soft foods. 

3 weeks ago I had a stent fitted so nearly straight away I was at least eating much better. now I'm 1 week into chemo and I feel alot better. 

Deann

Guys I'm having the most intense  diarrhoea. Could this be down to the chemo? Before treatment I was having major constipation thru taking too much protein shakes, but it was the only thing keeping my weight on.

I am getting very concerned about the morphine medication.  After only 10 days I was using it as a crutch for quick cancer pain relief. I'm not impressed with my behaviour and was beating myself up out it ,so Yesterday decided to have a full day off it all..pills and liquid. I was doing fine then I started with the toilet visits..12 times later and I'd lost alot of fluid and was very concerned bout salt loss so I had electrolyte drinks to compensate. Still within 10 minutes of consumption I'd be on the toilet evacuating everything. I had no choice but to revert back to the morphine based ds. Within 30 minutes my bowels settled down and the gas and pain significantly reduced . This is terrible news for me. I feel horrible, sleepy and groggy on this medication.  Can anyone advise me a alternative please  thanks D

Hello d23

Your post is hard to read with all your suffering, Im really sorry to hear this.  Im not sure that I can help with any advice.  I remember my husband was given a synthetic morphine, I think it was because of reactions to morphine,  I think a lot of thngs my mind shuts down on.  I hope others come along and can be of help to you.

I would say though that you can call the Nurses helpline on this forum for advice.  

I hope this is resolved quickly for you d23,

Take care.  Thoughts and best wishes to you Leigh60

Leigh I thank you, 

The suffering is nothing really, im expecting things to get alot worse than this. I don't know why, but you imagine to be bed bound, exhausted, lifeless even. So, im super glad it's just a bit of pain and toilet trouble! 

I did in fact call my care team and they informed me that if I stop using morphine sulphate then I also have to halt treatment on all fronts. I explained that I'm already using it as an easy go to pain killer, they replied that's the whole point! So I'm back using again and it has improved my situation even tho im a sleepyhead within 10 min. I'm just going to take the zomorph 10mg less per day.

Thank you for the support  leigh,  I was getting a little paranoid that I might have said the wrong things in previous posts because it went a bit quiet on the replies for a day lol.. 

Dean

Sorry for the slow response, I’ve been offline for a day or two. I was thinking about the loss of appetite as much as anything. Capecitabane really b*ggered up my taste buds - single malt whisky tasted like petrol! 

Oh that's a relief  Dave..haha I had a horrible feeling I was doomed from what medication and symptoms I'd mentioned! Thank u so much for clarification  

Hi again - diarhea is the most common side effect of Capecitabine. A friend on here used to call it Cr@ppysh1tabine! 
Your care team might add Loperamide to your regime.

Well between this and constipation ill take that..I'd never suffered constipation before and its not for me mate! Cheers

Lol - I was just travelling with work then I had a drink or three … I try not to drink and drive a keyboard as that often gets me into trouble! 
North Goa had turned into a province of Russia the last time I went back - very sad. 

David mate,

I don't know when you first visited Goa, but for us it was 1992, so of course change is inevitable.. I was a dj at the full moon parties.  A very free lifestyle back then you can imagine! No direct flights and very little laws so to speak of. If you'd ever been to stone henge festival or Glastonbury in the 80s it was like that,but permanently..incredibly cheap to live in paradise after escaping Thatchers UK. Over time it's just become another Thailand or ibiza. We lived/ seen the best of it. It wasn't trendy at all haha. Now it's mostly a middle class indian clientele. I know what era my local/ Indian friends preferred, but they know they got rich off the change in tourist class including the Russians, so they can't have it both ways. I've no regrets,but right now I'm so glad I moved back and settled here in 2007! I wouldn't be getting chemo in a third world hospital that's for sure.

Dean (toilet master)

We first went in 2004 - Anjuna was already getting commercialised by then but Palolem was still laid back. I was last there about 8 years ago - local businesses were fighting a losing battle with what they described as Russian gangsters buying up local properties and businesses. 
More victims of globalisation. 

We first went in 2004 - Anjuna was already getting commercialised by then but Palolem was still laid back. I was last there about 8 years ago - local businesses were fighting a losing battle with what they described as Russian gangsters buying up local properties and businesses. 
More victims of globalisation. 

Yeah it's a shame mate,  although these same locals are the ones selling for ridiculous profits and moving to the UK or Portugal with money from their ancestral family homes.  I love the goans and still remain close to many I've known for years. I'm surprised the Russians can by pass the very strict property laws these days. Its taken us 14 years to sell our little cottage! We did absolutely everything by the book because we knew the future pit falls that was bound to happen. They didn't like us selling, but we have proved we fulfilled all rules. Now it's impossible because you'll never get a visa longer than 184 days. We were there years without a break on employment visas which granted us residency, Otherwise they'll take your rupees but close the net before the ink has dried on the deeds lol..

So anyway must remember im on a cancer site, not the expats ! 

I've just finished a massive pie and had lots of food all day..still blasting the meds, still feeling more power daily. I have my meeting with the big boss surgeon on Thursday and hoping he has a positive spin for me as I've yet to meet him ! Only his side kick who was an Indian lady registrar. My scoots have slowly subsided and I'm full of fight again. 

I'll keep you guys up to date and again big respect for all the input  and knowledge you give me  on my level of cancer. 

Dean x