Colon cancer

Hi and welcome to the board. 

Chemo is unfortunately a necessary evil in the treatment of Bowel cancer for a lot of us. I finished capox/xelox (oxaliplatin and capecitabine) over 18 months ago and still have numb tingly feet which I’ve just accepted is probably not going to get any better now although the reflexology that I’ve had does seem to help a bit.

Are you still having chemo? Have you discussed the side effects with the nurses? There are lots of different remedies for sickness for example and sometimes it’s a case of keeping on trying until you find the one that suits you. Tiredness is a tricky one but you need to rest if you need to but try and have a little walk or meet a friend for coffee when you feel up to it. 

Are you coping ok with your Ileostomy? Ian aka on the Ileostomy board will be happy to help you with any issues on that side of things

https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_experiences/ileostomy_and_colostomy_discussions/

Please feel free to post with any specific issues and we’ll be happy to help if we can

Take care

Karen x

Thanks Karen,

I have been treated with cetuximab and 5FU. I have had 24 treatments over the last year or so. I am due more. I find that the further you continue with treatment the more difficult it gets to bounce back. Currently on a break, but the fatigue still tends to kick in. As for the ileostomy I will join that group. I have also found it difficult to adapt to using stoma bags. Im sure many out there feel the same.

Hi I'm the  that Karen mentioned and I'm pleased to see you have become a member of the Ileostomy, colostomy, urostomy and any other stoma support group or as known with affection poo corner.

Please feel free to post any concerns about using your bags, it can take time to adjust to them and sometimes it means trying out lots of different bags until you get one that suits you, it's definitely not a case of one size fits all.

I can often be found lurking about in this group but as often as not I'm in residence in the stoma group and will do all I can to help you settle into being an ostomate, anything you need to know just ask most of us have found the solution to most problems by trial and error and will pass on our tips and experiences to you.

With regard to your fatigue have you asked you GP to check your B12 levels as being an ileostomate can reduce your levels, although it is well documented most GPs don't do a routine blood test.

Hope to see you on the other side and please remember our motto "There's no such thing as a daft question, only the one never asked" if you're thinking it ask it one of us will have the answer.

Ian