Possible shrinkage??

Hi Hayleyc89

Best blood count is to look at his CEA tumour markers . If they go down it’s encouraging. But don’t worry if they go up as chemo can cause them to do that . The oncologist only assess progress from scan information alone but things can be encouraging signs . Like being more comfortable and being able to go to the toilet easier . That’s something to be encouraged . Your oncologist would be happy to go through the liver enzymes with you .

How is he coping with the chemo? He is hoping for shrinkage to get a clear margin for surgery ? Is that correct?

Take care ,

Court 

He's back for chemo on Thursday so I will look at he's bloods when he brings home he's blood report and see if I can figure it out. 

He's coping OK with the chemo the first week absolutely wipes him but the week before he seems to come around and can be 'normal' to some extent he is very tired a lot also says hes head feels cloudy a lot but I've read this is chemo brain is that correct?

Yes we are hoping for shrinkage before surgery he has 4 more rounds of chemo and then he will have a CT scan and hopefully surgery then more chemo well this is the original plan but I have been reading a lot on this site and have seen that a lot of treatment plans change due to results etc. 

Is it true that chemo can cause the initial tumor to shrink but also the cancer can spread during treatment? 

Hi 
That sounds as though he is managing ok with chemo . 
Some patients do report chemo brain . I think it’s a well known side effect .

My mum had only shrinkage but now and again if a patient does not respond to chemo they may have some spread on chemo or a mixture of both . But oncologists are very skilled at bringing in other specialists if required .

Take care ,

Court