Hi Den and welcome to the forum

There are loads of people here going through similar things and people are very helpful and friendly.

People can't answer that because it simply varies so much - it will depend a lot on how well he responds to the chemo.

As to how the chemo will affect him people have very varying experiences - my wife for example was on pretty much continuous chemo for 3 years and apart from some flu like symptoms for a day or so after she was pretty much unaffected for the rest of the month.

But I know others have a more difficult time what sort of cancer is the primary?

If you worry too much about the time he has left you won't be able to help him through this difficult time -spend time with him and just try to help him take his mind off of it.

Post in the Caring for someone with cancer and I'm sure you'll find people in a similar position

Best of Luck

Hi Denkelly

Sorry to hear about your friend.  Chemo is not nice and everyone reacts differently depending on the chemo drugs themselves.  The hospital will give medication to stop most of the side effects (nausea etc) but some people experience different side effects, I had pains in my joints for several days afterwards but never felt sick. The hospital should also give an emergency contact number if you have any worries.

I was told to drink plenty of water before, during and after the treatment.  I found avoiding alchol, coffee and spicy foods a few days before and after treatment helped.  Most people experience a metalic taste to food and drinks which increases as the treatment goes on so some foods become unpalatable. I used to drink Cranberry juice (diluted with mineral water) flavoured teas - Lady Grey has a orangy taste and I went right off milk and dairy products.

No one will or can say how long he may have left I was diagnosed stage 4B in October 2014 and I'm still here and feeling almost back to normal (whatever that is).

Its difficult not to worry but talking helps and trying to be as posative as possible I used to go from I am going to beat this to planning my funeral, so its going to be up's and downs.

Ask as many questions as you want of the staff in fact write them down as you think of them.  I used to keep a chemo diary and wrote down how I felt every day so I could report at my check up how I had been also you begin to see a pattern so that helps to arrange your life around how you will feel.

Come on here anytime even if its just to let off steam we all understand.