Chemo (CAPOX) week before wedding

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Hi I’m recently diagnosed with Stage 4 High Grade Metastatic Goblet Cell Adenocarcinoma of the Appendix. This is an extremely rare cancer for which the optimum treatment is debulking surgery together with HIPEC. Adjuvant Chemotherapy is the same as that for bowel cancer.

I presented to ED in early May 2023 with acute abdominal pain and scans showed a 10cm mass. After discussion between the Gastro and Gynae teams, they decided to proceed to surgery via the Gynae route (assuming ovarian cancer) at the end of May, which included a total hysterectomy, appendectomy and omentum removal.

Pathology results took 4 weeks to confirm my tumour started in the appendix, so in hindsight my gynae surgery was only a partial debulking. I will need to undergo further surgery in Basingstoke, but before then chemotherapy..

Everyone on these fora will know that a cancer diagnosis puts a lot of things into perspective, and it has for me too. We’re planning on getting married and have secured an early date (4 weeks away).

My oncologist is recommending CAPOX and that I start asap. I have a holiday booked for next week so he’s happy to postpone until I come back, but he won’t postpone to after my wedding date. 

I am worried. My son doesn’t want me to postpone treatment understandably and I feel guilty for even thinking of doing so.

I have read through a lot of the threads relating to CAPOX and I am concerned that the side effects will ruin the day. I will have started CAPOX 1 week before the wedding. Will the side effects be worse on day 1? Will I be incapacitated by day 7? it’s only a few hours and only close family, there’s no honeymoon. I just don’t want to be sick on the day Frowning2

  • Hi  

    Firstly congratulations on your upcoming wedding . Fabulous news . 

    I will leave others to address their side effects directly. My mum had it two years running and for her the first cycle was more of a non event . It was the second one that impacted her .

    You could speak to your team about additional anti sickness meds as the first one they normally prescribed can be a bit of an entry level one and the next level up sometimes helps more . 
    Take care ,

    Court 

    Helpline Number 0808 808 0000

  • Thanks Court - I will speak to the specialist nurses tomorrow and will follow their guidance. Anti-sickness meds are definitely an option

  • Hi Fifers I had Capox 31st May this year for the first time. I didn’t realise the tingling hands and reaction to cold started immediately. The other side effect most commonly experienced is nausea. I ate dried crackers rather than take the anti sickness pills. We are all different, and obviously, our bodies don’t all react the same way. I had to stop after two cycles due to the reaction I had, but I have 3 gene mutations which affected my bodies ability to tolerate it. Congratulations on your upcoming wedding. If I had a big decision like that, I’d go for it. I don’t believe living with regrets about things I didn’t do. Wishing you all the best for your big day.

  • Congratulations on your wedding.

    I’m on my 4th and last cycle of CAPOX.

    i’ve. Been lucky with side effects too. Some tingling when touching cold items in the first few days of each cycle. Then some tiredness in week 3. For me I’ve been well in week 2.

  • Hi Fifers

    Another option: you could go back to Oncologist and double check their concerns about delaying just 1 week. As you have no honeymoon, you really are just pushing back a week - many of us have multiple delays in chemo treatment.

    I tried not to have any delays as I wanted to throw everything at it as quickly as possible - however I was had at least 3 weeks postponements during treatment (side effects, staff resourcing, etc) and I nearly had a few week delay at start due to admin errors.

    1. I've also seen various people take a week or two breaks for holidays or important life events.

    So I'd suggest that a very special event such as a wedding is a key quality of life consideration and worth checking if you can safely postpone chemo by 1 week.

  • To update, I’ve managed to get the start of treatment delayed by a week, so yay Grin Tada

    thanks everyone for your support and advice x

  • Excellent. Let the celebrations begin ! 
    Court 

    Helpline Number 0808 808 0000

  • Enjoy your big day.