Recurrence of cancer information

Sounds like a nightmare.

I had stage 3 colon cancer - 2 lymph nodes with cancer.

The CAPOX treatment is not nice.......the OXY IV does result in some difficult side effects. I had terrible problems with nausea for my first 2 sessions. This became better when i had a nausea tablet before my chemo started. The Macmillan nurses will help you.

I was told that the belt and braces job increased my chances of it not coming back by 15%. I did wonder if i would go ahead with it. My partner and family persuaded me to do it. After every session i said that i would not do any further sessions .......but by week 3 i started to feel better.

After the 3rd session they reduced the OXY IV to 80%.

The neuropathy effects do build up after each OXY IV. The Neuropathy got to level 2 and as such on my final chemo session they didn’t give me OXY IV, just the cap tabs.

I finished my chemo on 17th Feb 20. I still have Neuropathy today, which i hope will decrease with time.

My CT scan on 1st April showed no signs of cancer thankgod.

So the question is - would i do it again. Yes i would. Never mind how bad it is just think it must be killing any little cancer cells swimming around looking for a place to land. 

Chemo is one of the hardest things i have ever had to do, but if it takes poison to kill any cells then so be it.

I also started to take CBD oil after 4th session and this helped me with the nausea.

If you have any other questions just ask.

Good luck

Paula 

Auster I forgot to say my platelet levels decreased for my last 3 sessions......which resulted in them delaying my chemo for a week until they increased.

It was nice to have an additional week to feel normal.

Paula

Hi . You poor thing - you sound to have had a horrendous time of things. It’s no surprise that you’re feeling exhausted (both mentally and physically I shouldn’t wonder) without the delights of capox thrown in.

So you’re debating whether to carry on with it? I was stage 3 with 2/17 lymph nodes affected. I was late starting chemo due to a couple of setbacks and the oncologist said that she wouldn’t be unduly worried if I didn’t get round to chemo with the 2 affected nodes being close to the tumour. I think lymph nodes are strung out in a chain so the fact that they were close to the tumour was better than if they had been at the furthest point of the biopsy taken which could potentially mean that there were still some present outside the biopsied area if that makes sense? You could ask your oncologist or support nurse how close yours was to the tumour?

Have you been mentioning your side effects to the nurses? There are a lot of anti-sickness meds available and sometimes it’s just a case of finding the right one. I’ve heard a lot of people say that Emend is good but one of the more expensive ones so not readily given out from the off. Another thing to consider would be asking them to reduce your doseage? They tend to start you on the highest dose for your weight and height but it is common practice to reduce it if the side effects are unmanageable. 

How many sessions are you having? The Scot trial recently found that 3 months was as effective as 6 and a lot better for the side effect aspect.

At the end of the day it is your decision whether to continue with it and one you must be happy with. 

Take care and please let us know how you’re getting on

Karen x

Hi Karen

I'm having 3 months so 4 cycles as you say research in last 2 years shows this to be as effective as 6 months.

to be honest I'm exhausted and quite traumatised by pre surgery experience . I will never forget vomiting faeces and saying now will you listen to me .. I'm not constipated. 

I feel my story is an example of how it's not all about blood in stools .. so often that's what everyone waits for.

i am close to letting my body rest now and not having chemo.

this forum is wonderful support. Thankyou for taking time to reply to me

Pamela

Pamela, you have completed 2 sessions, so in effect, only 2 more to go.

Emend anti sickness tabs are fab.......you take these for the first 3 days of chemo. You will need them before your next session as you need to take one before the chemo IV is given.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Paula

PS....If you do the next 2 sessions it will only be another 2 months of pain. At least that way you are giving yourself the best chance of it never coming back.

You are also lucky in that my brother had a blocked colon and was vomiting up faeces. He unfortunately had stage 4 cancer that had spread to his Liver. He had a stoma bag fitted.
After 18 months of either chemo, operations (colon and 2 x liver) he died on 28th April this year, after the cancer had spread via lymph nodes and ended up causing kidney failure. He almost beat it. 

Paula

i am so sorry your brother has passed . You must be devastated. He must have had a horrible time I am indeed very lucky in that I have no metastasises . 
Thankyou for your kind words of encouragement

Pamela