1st cycle and hubby not coping with side effects - stage 4 bowel cancer

FormerMember over 5 years ago

6 replies
40 subscribers
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Hi all

I first posted the below at 6am ish this morning in the bowel cancer group but thought someone here may be able to help

I feel a bit bad about writing to the forum about this as my husband is only in his first cycle (Oxaliplatin 3rd April then Capecitabine) but he is suffering with constant diarrhoea for the last 4 days despite taking Imodium. He is also since Friday had vomiting after any food and the anti sickness Metoclopramide seems to make it worse. I telephoned the hospital yesterday for advice and they wanted him to go in for rehydration but He would not go as it is a 45 minute journey and He was too scared of having a bowel issue on the way.

He has started saying that he cannot do this and will take his chances. He has stage 4 with tumours on both the colon and appendix removed by surgery beginning of March via a hemicolectomy but fortunately no stoma. Lymph nodes found in pertituneum so hence chemo.

I don't know how to react to this as it is his decision but totally scares me. He is get getting very depressed and anything i say is taken the wrong way by him and he says i don't understand what it is like which is true but I am doing my best to help in any way I can

Can anyone please give me some advice. Does he need his dosage reduced or something else tweaked to help us get through this. He still has 7 cycles to go which feels like climbing Everest!!!

His 1st week off starts on Wednesday so I am praying he will feel better and be more positive going forward

Emmarc

Update at 7am today

He won't take his Capecitabine this morning so very worried about implications of this. He said he can't do this anymore

Help!!!

zumbafan over 5 years ago

Hi, l am sorry l can't help you but replied so you don't feel so alone. Perhaps ring the Macmillan helpline? Hope someone else has answers for you. Carole x

One day at a time .

FormerMember over 5 years ago in reply to zumbafan

Thank you so much just struggling to know how to handle this.it is so new to us both . 8 weeks ago we were on a motorcycling holiday in western Australia

Can't believe this is happening to us

FormerMember over 5 years ago

Hi there,

my wife was on capecitabine and only managed one treatment, for some people the drug is bloody awful and my wife only just managed to avoid intensive care. Speak to your acute unit immediately as they may recommend A&E to check for dehydration. Your acute team will probably recommend changing treatment which is likely to need a PIC line. The change may well be to oxalyplatin which has its own dreadful side effects for some. My wife now suffers terribly with peripheral nerve damage but she is still here.

I wish you well in your journey, it is one none of us want to be on and it will be difficult but with family and good friends supporting you you WILL manage.

Take care

zumbafan over 5 years ago in reply to FormerMember

A diagnosis of cancer is a shock it takes over your life. Accept any help offered, all the best. Carole

One day at a time .

FormerMember over 5 years ago in reply to FormerMember

Hi I am very sorry to read that your husband is going through a really bad time I urge you to phone NHS 111 for advice urgently and speak to the Oncall doctor if your husband is very dehydrated he needs to be hydrated as soon as possible as this can cause further complications.

Do you have a recipe for making a home made hydration drink if not I can send you one but in the meantime please ensure your husband drinks lots of fluids avoiding fizzy drinks.

Ian

FormerMember over 5 years ago in reply to FormerMember

Thanks to everyone that gave me great advice .I finally managed to convince hubby that he needed to go to hospital in Monday morning.

He has neuropenic sepsis with other inflammation issues they are trying to get to the bottom of. His electrolytes are all over the place and He is now quite ill.

I am hoping that this has given my the scare he probably needed, although a very dangerous one, to go to the hospital when I think he should.

His next cycle will be delayed until he is much better so by then I hope to have persuaded him to carry on. I have discussed how he is with his nurses and currently waiting to speak to his consultant.

He has now convinced himself that he does not have cancer so is putting toxins into his body for nothing. Believes all got rid of via the hemi colectomy. Will ask consultant to have a "tough love" discussion with him

thanks again everyone

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1st cycle and hubby not coping with side effects - stage 4 bowel cancer