Hi cockburn

It may be worth posting this in "ask the nurses" section. Including which cancer you have and the name of the drug you are being treated with. They are here Monday to Friday.

Loss of taste usually leads to loss of appetite I had this when getting radiotherapy to my jaw. There are appetite stimulants available your doctor can advise but sadly not for taste. 

It is hard to pinpoint whether the fatigue is due to the cancer or the medicine. So you may still suffer from it even if you stop the therapy. I deal with fatigue by getting as much excercise as I can do but sometimes if I do too much Im wiped out the following day. I also eat a healthy diet which is difficult if you have poor appetite. Neuropathy is a common side effect of many cancer treatments. There are treatments available which come with their own side effects.

Stopping treatment is a difficult choice to make for all of us. Only you can decide. Wishing you the best outcome whatever your decision.

Ed

Hi Cockburn.  Sorry to hear about your diagnosis.  Like Ed says It is your choice, as difficult as it is.  How long have you been on this trial because sometimes the side effects can lesson over time.  I have incurable cancer and treatment is hard but I am on the sixth cycle now and it does seem to be getting better over time.  Someone on another forum was given 6 months and she was on a trial as this was the only option for her.  Eight years later she is still here.  A good quality of life is very important.  I really wish you well and I am sure that your decision will be the right one for you.

Lee x

• I was. Diagnose with oesophagus cancer. 1 month  stage 4 not operable chemo not offered because of stage 3,CKD but having seen the effects of certain treatments on friends I elected to choose quality of life over quantity of life , After all the most important thing is a peaceful pain free death 

Thank you for responding. May I wish you well. 

Many thanks your reply. I am 6 months in and latest scan has shown new growth which they want to tackle with radiotherapy.. So may give this a go and then make a call after that. Good luck with your treatment. I think it is fair to say most cancers are ‘incurable’ and we must find a way that allows us to live with it. 

Thank you Ed for your constructive, helpful reply. I will take up your advice re ‘ask the nurses’. The support services I am receiving through the hospital and the Cove Macmillan centre here are really quite outstanding.