Struggling today

I was stage 2 and had oxaliplatin and capecitabine for 3 months.so sometimes it is recommended.

I was offered chemotherapy for 6months .My surgeon said that he had removed every bit and a wee bit more of my Tumour and it wasn't necessary but it's a Belt and Braces thing  .He also said that thecan't do a reversal for 6months after   ...Chemotherapy and I didn't get on so I couldn't get it . Which  was a good thing in the end as I had r hernia and a prolapse in one of the Stoma (Wee Nicola  It was to be reversed next year .Had to get an emergency Operation and everything was done in only 4months after the double loop Stoma ...... Good luck to everyone ..Alaine

Hi Parky2170, your option b is the regime that I had, and is doable. I had it stopped a couple of times, and dose reduced twice, but got to the end after about 34 weeks. It is cumulative, but I managed to work part time throughout, just jiggled days a bit. Take care, good luck for Monday.

Yay thank you  Gemmary let’s hope so. Did you have a predictable pattern over the 7 days. ? 

Parky2170, yes. My chemo was on a wed, and I tried to get a morning slot. I work at a high school one day per week, the rest of the time for myself. At the start in May I was doing the Friday at school. This was ok, but come Sept I switched to Mon, which was always my preferred day to go in.

I initially had no significant aftereffects, though you will feel it going up your arm. Oh, keep your hands and wrists warm, it helps with the cannula. I also had odd weeks left hand, even ones right, to spread the load!! I never planned anything much for the Wed or Thursday initially. See my profile for when things got changed, but it started to bite after a few weeks, dose got dropped etc. As time went on I added Friday to the not plan much. It is difficult not ever having a week off, as you just start feeling ok, then its wed again! After about halfway (and a treat to myself of a bracelet!) I started to wonder about giving it up, but decided to do one more week. And the one more week got me through to the end. 

So it is doable, just expect to be fatigued. I still kept my business ticking over. School were in the know, so if I was having a bad day I could leave early. 

The first week I got a lift as I didn't know what to expect. At the end, the last 3 or 4 I also got a lift as I'd rather not drive the 20 miles there. 

Your bloods will be done every week initially, then every month. The monthly ones my GP surgery did them, save driving to the hospital, and save the stress.

Shout if there is anything I've missed. x

That’s soo helpful thank  you

my Dx identical to you  do you know   Was your vascular invasion infra or extramural ? 

good on you reaching 30weeks . I won’t have the luxury of swapping arms due to lymphodema/ in right arm from breast cancer in 2013 
I will get a lift week 1 and Maybe aim for Tuesday infusions eventually.

I hope your long COVID is improving 

xx 

I believe it was EMVI as it was 'outside'. As mine was rectal, either are a flag for chemo, too enclosed in the pelvis.

It might be worth you thinking of a picc  line. I was asked, as it was getting more difficult to find a vein, slowly working their way further up. But I didn't like the sound of it. If I ever have to have chemo again, particularly at that frequency, I would now consider it.

I have finally been referred to a long covid clinic, whenever that might come through!

Take care x

Hi Chelmarsh,

Just wondering how you got on with your appointment a few days ago - hope things have improved for you?

Take Care

Net77x

Hi ,

New bags are much better just keeping  my fingers crossed  it stays that way. Heard from the hospital  yesterday  after some delay,  I do need chemo  as cancer found in some lymph nodes . Now just waiting for  an appointment  with oncologist.  Hope everyone  is doing OK.

Hi Chelmarsh glad to hear your new bags are better for you 

Sorry to hear you need chemo as well, I’m looking at mine as a good thing as it will give me a blast and get rid of any little bits that might have got away, but I am very nervous as it’s just the not knowing, I’m sure once I start I’ll feel better, hopefully. 

I find out on Tuesday what the plan is and what I’ll be given, they are also doing MSI testing to see if I need to be referred to Guys to have genetic testing, I believe it’s because my tumour is mucinous adenocarcinoma of gastrointestinal tract

i hope you get your appointment soon so you know your plan and I’ll keep you updated 

xx