Colon cancer

Hi 

Welcome to the forum . So sorry to hear about your recent surgery .

My mum had table form treatment and actually had it over two years . She got into a routine with it . I am going to tag Kareno62 in as she will be able to give you a much better overview from experience. Hopefully others will pop on too. 

The infusion was the harder part for my mum. The tables gave her colic type symptoms but she got assistance to deal with the side effects . Lots of hand cream and moisturiser! But others will tell you how best to deal with these aspects .

Your prognosis sounds very good indeed but it’s totally understandable to think that . Your confidence in your health has taken a knock and recovering that a process . Also keep in mind bowel cancer actually has quite a few treatment options even in a stage 4 setting . 11 and a 1/2 years for my mum and still living a good life . 

Ask anything you like and we will try our best . You are also welcome to join us in the catch up threads . Some people in treatment others recovering and moving on with life . Leading the way for others .

Take care ,

Court 

Thank you so much 

Hi and a warm welcome to the board from me. I presume the tablets that you’re being offered are capecitabine? I had these with radiotherapy before my op and then again with an iv chemo after my op. I found the tablets to be quite doable - it is the iv one that has the worse side effects. My only real side effect was tingly feet (palmar plantar)- it felt like I was walking on sand. This reappeared with my post op chemo and I still have the sensation of sunburnt feet now -they feel very hot and there is a lack of feeling in them however I can live with it. This is also partly my own fault for not telling the nurses about it because I wanted to finish the course!

So to have chemo or not have chemo? It is a precaution so you could ask your oncologist what percentage difference it would make? Personally I wanted to throw everything I could at it and then, if I was to have a reoccurrence, I wouldn’t be thinking ‘I wonder if I’d had the chemo....?’ Unfortunately chemo affects everyone differently so there are no guarantees which side effects you may or may not get. Having said that there are pills and potions for most of the side effects and, if one doesn’t work, then there’s usually a different to try. 

At the end of the day it is your decision and one that you have to be happy with. Nobody will make you have the chemo and if you start and then decide that you’re not comfortable with it then you can stop?

Cancer is a very emotional journey and you’re still recovering from your op. Please remember that they’ve removed the cancer and obviously think that you’re fit and healthy enough to put the belt and braces on it if you choose. You will be closely monitored with scans and bloods over the next few years and time is a great healer. 

I hope this helps a bit and if there’s anything specific you want to ask then please do

Take care

Karen x

lattee and Marianne26. Would you be able to advise on how you got on with the capecitabine please? x

Thank you Karen x

Hi , I had 30 weeks of 5FU, so different drug but similar duration, if I can help at all.