Hi I am having the same procedure on Wednesday I have found it doesn't matter what anybody says the fear is constantly with you ,I am the same ,I don't switch off at night neither.I think my fear is to find out what stage i am at.Hope you find something to help you .

Its all constant fear. I know its not happening to me, but my son, but its constant fear as to what theyre going to say. My son will be told the stage soon as well but hasn't got appointment through yet. Keep googling what I know so far about his tumour size and no spread etc to try and predict - it's driving me mad!

Well basically they are being poisoned the chemo is toxic eek

Did the med team give your Son meds for the tummy trouble?

The fatigue is part of it too

Depending on the chemo they can get very sensitive to cold too. 

So gloves

Does your Son have a Pic line in?

The temporary tattoo "arm" covers make a great and cheaper and less medicalised way of keeping it covered. 

We take each day at a time 

And I get out for a walk as often as possible to have some head space otherwise it is all about cancer...

Sending positive vibes

Take care  

Sorry to have missed this message Mouser. I thought about you this week more than once while at work of all places, remembering you have the op on 10th. Hope its gone well and I know you won't be up to message us all back yet but let us know how you are doing when u can. Great idea about the chair.

Hi, yes he does have a picc line. His tummy upset only lasted a few days but now he's just tired a lot. I keep trying to get him out for walks especially with the weather being so good the last 2 weeks. I go at least 3 times a week after work to the forest by where I live as yes, everything else is about cancer. Its not Dean making it that way, its me I find it hard not to think about it.

Hows your hubby doing now?

Hello Mouser 

Hope all went well and your recovery is smooth as possible

Sending best wishes

Ps recliners are great 

Hope you are good. Just wanted to ask, Dean had his first chemo and I think we may have expected too much re him being able to eat better. I know it will be different for everyone. He has had a sore mouth & throat (fairly common with chemo) so that eating has felt painful & scratchy for the last about 8 days. You did say didn't you that you could eat a lot better about day 10 of the 1st chemo cycle?

There is something called mucositis which is fairly common from chemo as a side effect which it could be - Dean will ask when he goes for 2nd chemo on Monday14th. His oncologist called him today and asked if hes noticed any shrinkage, but he couldn't say because hes had the painful throat and mucous production. He did say prior to the soreness that food seemed to be going past better where the tumour is. Not sure though. We were hoping it'd be a case of yay I can eat better. He seems a bit down about it which I hate to see.

Hi Karen 

Im sorry to hear Deans suffering with this it must be really painful and frustrating.

Did the Dr suggest any medication to help with the ? Ulceration?

I would give his 24/7 contact a call if not and ask for some advice....it will be a long uncomfortable weekend otherwise 

Can he tolerate cool foods

plain yogurts? Most important 

His he drinking,/ keeping fluids up 

Hopefully once on top of the sore mouth etc he will be able to judge better re eating.

I think it will be very individual my hubby has to have lots of sauce gravy with things to help them go down ....and often has pureed things like stews etc.

I hope this helps a little bit 

Hi Karen

Thank you for asking :-)

He has been extremely fatigued so not able to do much. 

From blood tests  he has  low iron ( another side effect) which they can treat so Im hoping that improves the tiredness for him.

Hard seeing our loved ones struggling I can only imagine how it must be as a Mum.

Hugs 

Sending positive vibes to everyone 

Hi ya  Boxbrain0 

Thanks for your reply 

Yeah hubby is struggling this time round. 

They are prescribing sone meds to help with the pain.

Just hoping this will ease off and its worth it 

( hubby treatment is palliative)

Hope the iron gives your hubby more energy. No need to answer if you don't want to but did your hubby have treatment a while ago and then it came back?

Hope the iron gives your hubby more energy. No need to answer if you don't want to but did your hubby have treatment a while ago and then it came back?

Hi Karen its okay

To clarify and to lessen your worry by comparing to something that doesnt apply....

Hubby has been palliative  treatment from the get go. He has secondaries else where

So yes he had treatment which gave him some relief for a few months

Athen it has grown again hence more treatment. .

The first time after completing the chemo the neurothapy improved  somewhat which was good and able to be more active etc.

The side effects are cumulative so this has flared it up for him 

Its hard to watch let alone go through it. And nothing I can do nor say makes it better .

Encourage Dean to be open and honest They can reduce the doses to make them more tolerable. 

It really is one day at a time Karen rotten cliche that it is 

And I looked it up the term for all this rollercoaster of emotions is anticipatory grief .....our loved ones are going through it and so are we 

It helped to know its a real thing

Any how I hope Dean gets some relief on Monday

Hubby turn Tuesday

Take care 

You're so right about nothing you can say or do makes it better, but we keep trying don't we, and we are there if they need us. Dean always says how lucky he is to not be going through this by himself, as he knows there are plenty of people who have absolutely no one & go home to an empty house.

Best vibes for Tuesday

Thankyou Karen 

Ditto for Dean 

Hi all so today I am now sitting outside the Cancer unit  and about to go in and have my CT scan done to see how the chemo has gone. I’m so scared of it as it’s yet another result to wait for. The operation absolutely terrifies me however so does not being able to have it. This silly damn disease just turns people into irrational looneys. You ladies that care are the most important people in our lives and it sometimes just needs a hand hold and nothing more. Our moods are up and down constantly and any time we seem irritable or just a moody git really is not meant against you. Sometimes just going through the doors of the hospital is so horrible but we try and pretend it’s ok. Thank you for all you do 

Hello Boxbrain0

Just picked up your message and I am moved at your words.

And want to say here for handholding venting hysterical laughter ( more me probably eek)

And any other shares.

I hope the CT scan brings good news / and the Cancer is doing a runner for you 

Sending Hugs

RB x

Everything you say I can identify with as I see it with Dean. He's been a right mardy git many times - still he was even before all this!

I hope you get really great results from your scan. As you have been able to eat so much more easily I'd take that as a very good sign its shrunk, but I get it that you don't try and anticipate with this.

Deans terrified of the op as well & I understand why. On the one hand you're 'lucky' if you can have it as so many can't but it looks an ordeal. At least you will have an amazing story to tell for years to come once you are through this part of it. I was only thinking this morning if only we could fast forward 12 - 18 months and it all be behind us.  

Hi Karen

Oh yep mood swings especially from steroids not fun to be on receiving end and horrible for our loved ones going through it.

A heads up the cancer and the chemo can cause low iron /anaemia which can add to the fatigue .

Hubby having to have blood transfusions to bring it back up so bare in mind and keep checking blood results.

Obviously not being able to eat a good diet doesnt help either.

Fear of the operation is understandable its not a small thing to undergo. Its not an option for hubby so cant say more than that.

Re looking back 

We have been on this path for over a year you quickly become all about the cancer and adapt to things but 

I see we are still dealing with "the new" every day

Sometimes it wears you out and you really dont "get it right" for your

Loved one but we are doing our best and we are all human.

..ultimately it really is one day at a time 

Id say 

Do stuff to keep you a float cos its a long road.so you dont lose yourself and also gives you the energy to be there.

I take my hat off to anyone enduring cancer treatments they are all awful grueling and traumatic. 

Strength to everyone

RB

Hi all. 
Hope everyone is as well as they can be. 
I can’t remember when I last posted on here , I’m assuming it was before the operation. 
im out after 11 nights in hospital im told I recovered extremely well. I won’t go into any gory details unless asked.  I’ve got a pipe for evening feeding ( 15 hrs drip fed with my own portable stand )  and I can eat what is described as sloppy food.

Shortneass of breath is a bit of a *** but I think that part of that is psychological. 
Once I’ve recovered enough it’s back to the chemo for another 2 months. 
typically my body hair has just started to regrow

Hi Mouser good to hear from you :⁠-⁠)

How is it being home ?

Sending best wishes

RB

It’s great to be out as it’s another box ticked off on the recovery road. 
I’ve had to get a book so I can write down what tablets I’ve had and when. 
Have to crush them and dissolve in water before drinking them down. 
Had my top off in the garden today thinking that the sun will help heal the scars and where the lung and abdominal drains where. 
kept family away while I was in there and now they’ve all been round to visit which was lovely. 
can’t beat sleeping in your own bed even if it is only 2 hours at a time x