Hullo All.

Now have my surgery date, 10 may, a five week break after my third chemo cycle.  To beat the chemo brain effect, I read a lot, do sodoku and crosswords. In the first week and early into my second week  of my cycle i found it difficult to concentrate and to maintain focus  and  found difficulty in remembering where I had left off on the books I was reading and indeed the same with the puzzles. I started reading  little westerns, not too heavy on plot and easy to read,  with the puzzles I started on the easy puzzles and built up to the harder one, I am now ending  my third week of my second cycle and completing  Mr Wisdom  whopper crosswords in 2 or 3 days and reading some heavy books.

I am not having trouble eating, only drinking water (tasted s__thouse),. I Started adding cordial to the water but found after a while even that startined to taste crap, I now rotate the cordial flavors and so far so good. Further chemo may change things, but I will continue to maintain my focus and adapt.

Regards Lou

Hi Crystal. I have been reading your thread for a few months now. My Dad had the Ivor Lewis back in 2008. I think you are a brilliant person and you help so many people. My little boy has a disability and i find comfort for myself by answering questions from parents of newly daignosed babies.. i guess you do the same here! Up until now ive been reading and gaining knowledege,checking Dads dumping syndrome and other side effects are "normal". After the Ivor Lewis he had 15 stretches and it seemed to take forever for him to be allowed to wake up and have a good day.Sadly he has become unwell over the last 4 weeks. Yesterday he had 2 liver biopsies with a CT scan,we get the results in a few days. Im not stupid,he does look poorly but im still hanging in there just incase....  i dont want to see him in pain again,he is such a lovely man,but the best ones always suffer. I just need you to know you have been helping me. Thankyou xx

Dear Rubydoo

You are really having a difficult time as you have your little one to worry about as well as your father. I am not familiar with the Ivor Lewis tecnique but it seems quite common (accoring to our little group) but I do want you to know my husbands has survived 2 large secondaries ..op. and chemo and rasdio last years and a huge primary 4 years before.  Now he has 2 more secondaries and will have chemo on Friday ...big deal this week getting a port putinto his chest to receive the chemo as all veins are ruined in arms.

Your dad can take pain in exchange for life.  .Hang in there...you are much stronger than you realise..

...I am sure there will be many choices of treatment for him, but you will have

.  Sorry computer's gone odd..so night night..even more stress.

All the best  and praying for good results but even if disappointing all will be well and you will cope.

Sue

Hello Sue. Thankyou for your reply. Its good to know your husband has come through secondaries as the big worry is that Dad now has secondary liver cancer. Its enlarged and bulging with lesions. The "spots" he had first time round with oesophageal cancer in 2008 have changed. He has been in alot of pain this last 4weeks. I feel so frustrated for him,i just hope he can do it again if we find out cancer is back. Im with him 100% on whatever he decides. The Ivor lewis is a big op and ive been amazed how much recovery varies judging from stories on here. Dad has had a really hard slow recovery,but he has a loving family and we will continue to lift him through what life throws at him next! xx

just want to add good luck to your husband for his chemo friday xx

Thank you Rubydoo...am rooting for your  Dad too.  x

Hi Lou

It will be a relief for you to have a date for surgery as it gives you something to aim for in terms of being at optimal fitness in readiness.  Once the chemo is finished then you’ll be able to do some moderate exercise and hopefully either regain or maintain weight.  You’re doing exactly the right thing in keeping the mind active with the sudoku and crosswords etc. so hopefully chemo brain will be kept at bay.  Actually, I find chemo brain a good excuse for all kinds of absent-mindedness and forgetfulness, at least it’s not my age thank goodness.

Take good care Lou and keep in touch.

Crystal xx

Hi Rubydoo

Many thanks for your kind words and I’m glad that this thread has been of help to you over the months.  You are right in that this thread provided a therapeutic outlet initially, and then it became a kind of meeting place for those in similar situations to share their progress, setbacks, achievements and laughs along the way.  What you are doing because of your little boy will be of enormous value to others and help you at the same time. 

I’m very sorry to hear that your dad has been unwell recently, and I think that by now you will have had the results of further tests and will know more.  My hope for you is that it’s nothing to worry about, but if it has been found to have recurred in the liver, I hope that further treatments will be effective in controlling it for a very long time yet.  Let us know how you get on and I send you and your dad my very best wishes and good luck.

Crystal xx

Hi Sue

Thanks for posting your encouraging news as it’s always very helpful for people in similar situations.  Your husband has been through a great deal with all the treatments he’s had, and I know it will have been hard for you too.  Anyway, I hope that he continues to go from strength to strength as he seems to be coping with everything very well.  Have you had any more news about the CyberKnife after the chemo?   Anyway, keep us up to date and I wish you and your husband lots of good times together and continued success with his treatment.

All the very best

Crystal xx

Hi to everyone, you're never forgotten and always in my thoughts.  I hope your day or evening is a really good and happy one.

Love Crystal xx