I’m a stage 4 bowel cancer patient. My tumour was discovered 10 weeks ago and removed. I have 1 met in my liver. I’m having immunotherapy and had my first session last Thursday. I felt great after it.
Yesterday I was out with my family when my daughter said “Mum what’s wrong with your eye?”. I removed my mask and my other daughter said “And your mouth?”. I felt okay (well as well as you do post op with stage 4) so I wasn’t unduly worried. I could move my arms okay and was speaking normally. I had been sent a large bunch of stargazer lilies over the weekend and the pollen in them always make me look like Quasimodo so I thought it could be that. I took an antihistamine and went to bed as usual.
Got up this morning and although it’s not so pronounced I was still droopy. I called my cancer nurse who thought it might have been my thyroid reacting to the treatment. She immediately arranged blood tests and off to hospital I went. When she saw me she wasn’t too happy and immediately arranged for me to go the ambulatory unit for a CT scan and a neurological assessment. The doctor on the unit explained what they were looking for - stroke, small bleed or tumour.
I honestly hadn’t even considered that my cancer could be in my brain and I can’t deny it was far more scary than being told I had a bowel tumour in the first place. I was so very frightened- especially when they asked me if I wanted them to call my husband so he could be with me.
Luckily the CT and blood results came back very quickly and I’ve been told I have Bells Palsy and I’ve been given loads of steroids to take over the next couple of weeks.
is anyone else here having immunotherapy and have experienced anything similar?
Hi Deb184 Sorry you haven't had a reply to your post yet. I haven't had Bell's palsy myself, but a friend of mine has, and it took her a couple of months to recover. I know it really knocked her confidence.
Thank goodness you have had all the tests and scans and I am happy to hear all that came back clear. That must of been terrifying when you found out what exactly they were checking for. Although Bell's palsy is not nice, what a relief for you that it isn't anything else.
I hope the steroids work well for you, and wish you all the best with your ongoing immunotherapy.
