My Dad 66yr old with bowel cancer stage 4 with liver mets

Jacqui,

My advise is go for it, we have been on a couple of holidays when partner is on oxi and cape and he said the heat made him feel better. Our onc has always said they will fit the treatment around the holidays i think they see at as important to carry on as normal

I think holidays are good you get a break and so do they you can almost forget the cancer when your away.

My advise is go for it and ENJOY

Sarah be

Hi everyone,

Havn't had time to read posts so I hope you are all ok.  I am tired and emotional.  Nev has a total bowel obstruction and is having surgery tomorrow.  I am so upset and scared for him I feel sick.

And so it goes on!

Love Ann xx

Ann, I bet you are tired and very emotional.   It's so hard to get your head around things when they can change so quickly.  Try to keep focused on the positives (how well he has done up until now!) once he gets over this operation, then things CAN get back on track.  You can live without the bowel, just another step to get used too.  Ann you have been such an inspiration to me on this thread.  Keep strong and my love goes to you and Nev.  

Dad is back home.  They didn't end up doing a scan like they said as they were striking would you believe!  They did an ultra sound and said that his kidneys are all good, and doesn't appear to be any obstructions.  They think the potassium thing was to do with the infection and having such severe  diarrhea  and vomiting that his body didn't retain the potassium.  His level had dropped down to 1.7 and you are meant to have around 5, and under 2.5 can be life threatening... so no wonder they admitted him quick smart!  Now he has had two teeth taken out that were infected, and of course being on morphine was unaware of the full extent of how sore they were!  So a course of antibiotics to make sure no infections from that!  Booked in for chemo on Tues... let's hope as been 4 weeks now since the last one.  Dad now has his balance back and doesn't need his walking stick... the potassium thing again!   

Does anyone have any information on vitamin supplements?  I would like to get Dad into something that would help his immune system, but doesn't effect chemo?  Anyone tried anything that has helped?

Love to all out there XOX

Ann poor poor you and poor poor Nev, what an awful time. That coming home from the hospital on your own is so horrible. I could hardly wait to get in to get a glass of wine poured. Please let us know how it goes, we all recognise that awful sick feeling. Poor Nev really didn't need this, but keep focusing on the tumour shrinkage and how much better he'll fee; when this is sorted.

Jules glad your dad is a bit better. Two teeth, as if things weren't bad enough, his immune system is low and so he must have been prone to infection. Bob also has an abscess which our dentist refused to treat. Said as Bob has had chemo he's not insured. When I said our Macmillan nurse who is also the chemo nurse said that it was fine as he's had a 5 month break, he said my anger is displaced. He is now our ex dentist!

Well we saw the thoracic man today, he could see 3 tumours, but said there was some uptake on the pet scan elsewhere which meant Bob was better to have the chemo and then to come back and see how things are. He seemed reasonably optimistic about the chemo and avastin sorting out a lot of it and said the tumours would just reseed without it. It was exactly what I thoiught he would say, but nevertheless I hoped he might say there has been a huge mistake. He didn't. 

Persoanlly I feel much stronger now and up for a fight to kick cancer where I hope it hurts. 

Love to everyone, here is the only place where you feel people really understand what is happening.

Patrick I hope you feel better and that you can cope with the next dose.

Thinking of you all

Love Judy xx

Magda,

Thank you for the information on ganoderma lucidum. My wife and I are well into supplements dring my chemo but I have not come across ganoderma lucidum before. Where can you buy it in the UK - or indeed elsewhere. Please post precise details of the place you buy it.

I have also not heard about not taking any of the B vitamins during chemo. My consultant oncologist (oncon) seems to be both ignorant about supplements and somewhat against any and all of them. However that does not stop me as I have had them checked out by the hospital pharmacologists for any possible conflict with the chemo I was taking. Interestingly they didn't rule out the B vitamins. However in view of your better informed oncon it seems I should leave out the B vitamins.

Do please let me know your source of ganoderma lucidum. Thank you.

Patrick

Magda,

ganoderma lucidum

Please also let me know exactly what it is that you buy. I ask as it appears that ganoderma lucidum come in a variety of forms - so your precise description is crucial to me. Thanks

Patrick

Patrick I have forgoten to say which form Gregory takes. He takes that one http://ganoderma.pl/en/product/16/Mushroom_and_spores . It is the weaker option. We may move to stronger one when he finnishes his treatment in some months.

Magda

Magda,

Thank you so much for your helpful reply about all the supplements you give your financée. You comments about B vitamins is particularly interesting and informative. Please let me know the type of cancer he has got and the chemo he has been receiving. Many thanks,

Patrick