Delayed chemotherapy

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Hi everyone.
I have had a low anterior resection and ileostomy. After surgery it was found to have spread into lymph nodes so began chemotherapy.
before my first infusion my liver enzymes were too high (perfectly normal/low, immediately post surgery) so chemo that week was cancelled. The following two blood test showed enzymes going up. Did a dose of chemo just to get it into my body.
Refered for ct scan of liver. No metastasis, but found multiple gallstones?

So now we have the dilemma, to have surgery to removed gallbladder and chemo can’t go ahead until that’s over, or keep hoping by a miracle that enzymes drop enough to give the odd dose here and there !!

Has anyone had chemo delayed for any reason and how does this effect the outcome and effectiveness of the chemo long term.

Kareno62 over 2 years ago

Hi Loving life I had my op in 28/11/16 but didn’t start chemo until 3/4/17 due to post op complications. I had 17 lymph nodes removed and 2 were positive for cancer. Both the affected nodes were close to the tumour - lymph nodes run in a chain effect - so the oncologist said she wouldn’t be unduly worried if I never felt fit enough for chemo. I decided ‘better late than never’ so I would have no regrets if I was to have a recurrence.

I think you’ll need to be guided by your oncologist on this. You could ask how close the affected nodes were to the tumour and what % benefit the chemo would give you? I don’t know if having the occasional blast of chemo as opposed to 3 weekly continual cycles would make it any less effective? You could perhaps ring the support desk on the number below and see if they can help?

Take care

Karen x

Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

Loving life over 2 years ago in reply to Kareno62

Thank you so much for sharing your experience and for the advice. It has helped a lot. Xx