change to chemo cycles...

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Hello everyone! 

My mum who has been diagnosed with pure SCC stage 3b t4a N0 M0 (graded as t4a as its literally just outside of the bladder, it's touching the vagina wall but not invaded it)

she has now finished her third round of cis/gem. the midway scan showed that the tumour has been stopped in its track so it has been labelled as stable disease, she had a bit of a rough week as she had a temperature last week and was in hospital. She is perfectly fine now. 

just confused she had an oncology appointment today, he is happy with her her blood levels are dropping and platelets but he said he isnt worried its the chemo doing its job and she has blood transfusion and platelet transfusions as and when required. 

my confusion is this (I feel the world of cancer journeys are always confusing) as my mum was about to leave the oncology appointment he said o the surgeons want you to have 5 rounds of cis/gem before surgery not 4.......why an extra round? I know the complications of scc and the chemo seems to be doing something for my mum but why put her through another round?! i wasnt in this appointment as I live 2 hours away and I didnt think this meeting would be anything new. 

I said to my mum she should of asked why but she said he said it just as she was preparing to leave and just said it so casually so she wasnt that worried as her words were 'they know what they are doing'

has anyone else had their cycles increased? 

  • I would ask her to talk to her CNS - she should have one for Oncology and also for Surgery. I guess the surgery one might be best if she has had much contact with that side. But the Oncology one may know more about why and when it is likely to happen or can ask the oncologist to explain. 

    It's good your mother is responding well. 

    All the best,

    Latestart

  • her surgeon team is part of another trust, as the hospital she is at is only a small hospital. so we have never actually met the surgical team yet we only get info through the oncologist what the mdt has said. 

    she is back in hospital this week for a potassium and magnesium IV her CNS is generally there i will get her to ask her, thanks for the tip. 

    she has responded so well the chemo, she hasnt felt ill at all its only the bloods highlighting the drop in blood cells and palates and she was only in hospital last week as she had a high tempreture but she felt bad for taking a hospital bed cause she kept saying but I dont feel ill. 

    The oncologist was pushing for early surgery but the surgeons have obviously over ridden this and pushed for 5 rounds, I want to take the fact he threw it in at the end of the appointment that the surgeons didnt say it in a bad way.

  • If they were worried I think they would have said something. Sounds a bit like a professional difference rather than anything with your mother