I was diagnosed with Cancer in March and although we knew it was Cancer its still a shock to be told it. I have had 2 chemo cycles now and have my 3rd at the end of the month. I would love to chat about the chemo side affects to anyone..
I feel very upset for you, but I too am a realist, and can perfectly understand how you feel, even though I haven't been through half as much as you. I've said this before, but after my breast ca treatment I swore I would never go through it again, and though I chickened out when it came to the crunch this time, I really do believe if I ever got too exhausted by the treatment to have any quality of life then I would stop it.
I SO hope you are wrong and that you will get some benefit from this chemo regimen, Eileen, and that you WILL feel a bit better afterwards. I am praying for you, darling.
I hope I haven't upset anybody, or made them lose hope - there's always hope, and of course there ARE ladies who have both quantity AND quality of life, we mustn't forget that! This is just my personal opinion and we all have to make our own decisions about these things.
You have had such a long wait for your results, understandably you are so anxious about tomorrow. I hope everything is ok, I will be keeping everything crossed for you too.
Your question about how much chemo is not at all stupid. My understanding is that there are lots of things to consider, type of cancer, type of treatment, patient response and tolerance to toxicity etc. It's not a one size fits all even if you have the same cancer and are on the same treatment as someone else. I found this article which may explain it better - http://www.chemocare.com/whatis/how_long_is_chemotherapy_given.asp
Oh you do sound very down at the moment, do ask your oncologist tomorrow if he can prescribe something different to help, it's worth a try. I know I keep going on about it, but Mary swears that the metoclopramide has made a big difference for her.
I also want to ask about Apirin, as it has been in the news again lately and it seems as though we should all be taking it. Of course I would not give it to her without getting approval first.
I am not down but as I said being realistic, I am ok with new tablets so sickness has gone. I had those that Mary is on but they did nothing.
The reason for my little outburst the other day is that the cancer is in my right groin and I get pain that is constantly their. So that is why I know myself that the chemo isn't working, I am also getting the pain on my right side so for me on a personal level in my heart I know that it is still their.. I will see after my 4th one if I get any better. Also because I had been in bed so long I didn't get the pain but because I have been up and about this week that the pain has started because of me walking about.That is how it started back in July and when I went to see the Dr he said where it had come back to and it was wrapped around the veins in my groin so the pain was going down my right leg.
Anyway thank you both for your concerns but honestly I am not down...
Love to everyone and thoughts are with you all for today. xxxxxxxx
have decided you all know me to well!!! yes I've not been feeling brilliant, abdo pain when I move, so have energy to do things but can't as it leaves me bent in half! due for porta-cath at 8 tom then 2nd lot of chemo at 11.30. however my platelet are very low so not sure if any of it will happen
Eileen I know how you feel, due to my weird symptoms I normally know a few days after the first dose that it is working, however as my muscles have not been bad this time I have no indication that it is, both the rash and the abdo pain remain unchanged. Eileen the 'top' treatment is carbo and tax, however there is really no such thing as 'top' or 'better' when one doesn't work then others (in no particular order as far as I can see) are tried until one works or your bone marrow gets to a point that it won't take anymore. That don't mean that we won't get to a point where WE have had enough and decide to stop, its a personal thing and everyone has there own limits. Are they giving you anything for pain? I have discovered that they ask your symptoms, prescribe chemo and move on without thinking 'lets leave this person in pain for 3 weeks till chemo kicks in'. Had my tele appointment today and told the nurse about my abdo pain she immediately said sounds like the tumour is sticking to things, what pain meds are you on! the onc dr made out like is was unusual (as with everything) and changed the subject! anyway she is arranging for a dr to see me to sort it out while I'm there tom. Don't forget that if you decide to stop chemo you will still be left with the symptoms, they will give strong pain killers for the pain but there is no reason why they can't give these now while you continue chemo. Hope this makes sense but as usual my brain has gone walk abouts!!!
Hope everyone does ok with there treatments today and hope the results are better than expected.
Sorry John, knew I'd missed something, from what I've read about the aspirin it reduces the risk of developing cancer if taken for 2 years and reduces the risk of the cancer spreading if taken for 5 years! I've been on it for nearly 3 to be fair my tumours are well defined with no signs of spread ? aspirin ?luck ?would have happened anyway! who knows. With the ovarian cancer if its going to spread I have my doubts it will wait 5 years, and as it effects blood clotting as does chemo its not something anyone should consider without the onc input (as you also suggested). I find for about a week post chemo i have nose bleeds/bruising and my platelets are now really low (which is unusual) having said that i also take a blood thining injection! Hope this helps a tiny bit
Hope Mary continues to do well and the maxalon works from day one follow this lot of chemo! no nausea or sickness tell her its banned!
Take care of yourself to, being a partner is often worse than having the disease!
Well I should be in hospital for chemo, but my blood count was 0.4 so can't have it. I also have trouble with my picc line as they can't get blood out of it so they sent me for an x-ray which has showed it has moved but still ok to have chemo next week. I have to have 4 days of filstagrim to get my count back up. I have the pain in my groin but I think I just get used to it as I don't take pain killers.
It's strange because I have been so ill the last few weeks and my blood count has been ok. I feel the best I have for the last few days and it's low. I certainly am very strange.
Anyway Sharon I hope your results are good ones xxxxxx
Hi Eileen, you do like delaying your chemo don't you lol
Still think if you can't get around/do things you need pain tabs, pain tells us something is wrong, but we already know that, so there is no point putting up with it! why not try simple stuff like paracetamol or ibrufen? (stores own brands are the same and way cheaper!) if they don't do it then please discuss it with your team. Pain will make the chemo harder to deal with (and you have enough problems with it lol) but may also lead you to stop treatment cos you've had enough when getting it sorted could leave you coping for longer. Maybe I'm just feeling like that cos I'm getting very fed up being limited in what I can do! even my past walking difficulties i could struggle though but this abdo pain just leaves me sitting in a chair with feet up all day - very fustrating!
I have only one last comment on the subject of quality of life over quantity. I don't want to die, of course I don't, but maybe it's because I'm pushing 68 anyway and so much older than the rest of you - apart from dear Dot - that I have a slightly different view on the subject. I still stand by what I said before - I would rather just rely on palliative care if treatment became too much.
Anyway, poor Jackie and Eileen, you seem to have more problems than the rest of us put together, and I can only admire your resilience, and hope things do improve, and that you get to have everything done today, Jackie
Incidentally, Jackie, re your suggestion to Eileen of paracetamol and ibuprofen, I have been told not to take anything like that as it could mask any infection because it lowers temperature. My GP has given me codeine phosphate, but I've yet to prove it's efficiency as pain relief, I am waiting to see if it prevents the terrible stomach cramps like those I had after last chemo. I shall find out in the next few days! When I am not in the "danger zone" of lowest blood levels and highest risk of infection I still sneak the odd couple of paracetamol now and then after checking my temp first to be sure. I think paracet. is by far the best as it doesn't cause the cursed constipation!
Am now the proud wearer of a porta cath, yea no more needles!!!! Chemo has been delayed till next week cos platelets 79 and need to be over a hundred, if it happens again they will try reduced dose and if that don't resolve the problem then they will remove one of the chemos (prob carbo) and hope the other works solo.
Got given buscopan (which I had already bought yesterday lol) but have to take 2 tabs 3 times a day. Dr recons I've got bowel spasm though no explanation as to why I've got it! Not one to have suffered with bowel problems till now and not much enjoying it!
Haze, I do understand I intend to stop chemo as soon as the side effects are worse than the disease and I feel my quality is compromised. I was merely saying that chemo is also palliative and can reduce the symptoms, as pain seems to be reducing Eileen's quality, then sorting the pain should increase her quality, even if she wants to continue with or without the chemo.
I hate to say it but if you have problems with constipation be wary of anything with codeine in it! co-dydramol, co-codamol, codeine phosphate etc!!! its one of the main culprits imho.
Re temp, there is lots of evidence that if you are going to have a temp it is most likely to be at 6 in the evening! so if you take paracetamol at breakfast, lunch, post temp and night you should be fine! (that's if you need it that often) taken that often it to can cause constipation
