questions

Hi Momof4. Here’s my thoughts on it

1. It all depends on the best treatment decided by your oncologist. I had 6 months mop up chemo after my op as I had lymph nodes affected. Some people now have 3 months mop up and on the other hand there are people on the bowel cancer uk board who have had 100+ sessions. Chemo is tailored to suit each individuals needs

2. Yes definately. I had a picc line which is in the arm rather than the chest and it was a god-send - bloods taken out, chemo put in. My arm got painfully sore after the oxaliplatin IV and I couldn’t bear anything touching it for days after so the picc line was such a relief.

3. I wouldn’t have thought so. You are usually started on the maximum dosage calculated on your weight and height but it is often lowered if side effects are becoming a problem. You may well be scanned regularly throughout so a good response may affect the number of sessions? 

4. I think they will have weighed up the best course of action and decided to zap the liver tumours first. If you have the op first then you would have to wait several weeks before being fit enough to start chemo. 

That’s my take on it anyway! Please keep asking as I’m sure there will be lots of others both now and in future wondering the same thing so you’ll be helping them out too. 

Take care

Karen x

Thank you so much Karen you are always so helpful!

I think that 6 mths. is quite normal/ average time for Chemo....but it all depends on your personal case. The team of Oncologists/ Surgeon usually work together/ discuss after meeting to get the best outcome for each individual. In most cases, prior to surgery, Chemo is used for shrinkage purposes. After surgery, it's usually as 'mop up,' treatment.

Marianne x

Hi Momof4

I think Karen is right my husband Pete first had is bowel op and could not start his chemo until his wound was healed, as chemo  lowers the healing process. Pete was due for 6 months of chemo, then they stopped it at 4 months. The oncologist said that new surveys had shown  that apparently the results would be the same whether it was 3 or 6 months of chemo, well in Pete`s case anyway. Pete has a picc line in and although he on occasions had a sore arm, it was the best thing.

I think the length of time is an individual thing, Pete also had stage 4 lung cancer and the chemo just  went on and on.

I wish you all the luck in the world, also the procedures are changing all of the time as new and life saving results are getting better.

Thank you so much Neve. I really appreciate the information. You all have been so wonderful every time I have a question or concern, and I appreciate it!