Newly diagnosed

Hi Coblady and a warm welcome to the bowel cancer page. Do you know which chemo you’ll be having? Everyone reacts differently to chemo but I’ve attached a link to a thread that we started with some top tips. 
Chemo care ! Top Tips:- 

Just the thought of chemo can be scary and there are a lot of side effects but you may only have a few and they’re often manageable with the pills and potions that the chemo team will give you. One of the main side effects is a reaction to anything cold which you’ll need to watch out for at this time of year so hat, gloves, scarf and cover your mouth when leaving the chemo unit - the cold can make your face spasm which isn’t serious but can be a bit scary if you’re not prepared for it. You could also take a flask of something warm too. You’ll need gloves for getting things out of the fridge - I got a jar of jam out and it made my hand tingle almost like a mild electric shock.

You may also suffer diarrhoea but will probably be given loperamide to help with that and also may find yourself very tired so rest when you need to. It’s worth keeping a bit of a diary as you might find you feel a bit grotty for say the first 3 days but then not too bad after that so can plan your days and when you might need help with the horses around that? It’s also a good reminder of any side effects which you may want to mention to the nurses.

Chemo isn’t very nice but it’s worth having to zap anything that might still be lurking from the op and we’ll be happy to help you through this

Take care

Karen x

Hi Coblady. I was diagnosed in July 2022 and had follow up  CAPOX chemo from the end of September 2022. I was worried about the impact of chemo on me but managed to complete the 4 rounds with very little impact on my day to day routine. I am 60 and am very active. I managed to continue to walk my German shepherd every morning for around 40 minutes, got mild neuropathy in hands and feet after infusion but just wrapped up against the elements. Managed to work through the treatment as I am lucky enough to complete my role from home, although it is a stressful job, carried on as before. I am lucky that my employers are very understanding and I did work compressed hours to allow for rest etc. Chemo can be awful, as I remember, before I started my treatment, reading about all the issues others had to contend with, I was very lucky. I am also a very positive person and that has helped tremendously throughout. a diagnosis of bowel cancer is hard to accept but I have not let it rule my life totally. Chemo is extremely doable and hopefully you will be lucky like me . Keep us updated on how your treatment goes. There are lots of medication which can help reduce side effects but it is not worth worrying about treatment that will help us all get better and rid of cancer. I am envious of your interaction with horses but will stick to dog walking for now xxx

Thankyou for your reply, think its capox I'm having. Wasn't feeling too bad till I read all the side effects, glad you warned about the cold that could be a problem. Am hoping that the chemo will stop anything that could be lurking, but afraid I have been very much an ostriche with the idea just do what you need to do. A frightening time  need all the support I can get so thankyou.

Yes it's capable I am having. Same as you I read the literature and all about the side effects, this is what has worried me so much. The consultant has said I should be back riding once everything has healed but feel a long way off it. I think this group will help me enormously , my husband is very supportive but being a northerner I have spent my life being strong, but this has tested me. Thankyou for your sharing, it has helped me.

It's not capable, it's capox, 

I know all the side effects look scary but you’d be very unlucky to get all of them. Sometimes it helps just to be aware of something - I remember someone once commenting that she’d experienced 1st bite syndrome but wasn’t worried because she’d read about it before hand. 
I worked part-time in an office throughout my chemo which was a distraction and made things feel a bit ‘normal’ - I’m not a superwoman but just wanted to show that life can carry on around chemo x

I think it's dependent on the Chemo you will be prescribed with. Perhaps find out which one it will be, & then ask those questions - as each presents very different side effects. I just had Capecitabine Tabs. for 5 cycles, & had no side effects, until the 6mth month, which were minor, but a bit uncomfortable at the time....but were short lived. I was also 70 & active at the time...I'm a few years older, but still active, though not with horses!

Best of

Marianne

Sorry, didn't read all the earlier replies. I see now that ir's Capox, which is the infusion, with Capecitabine Tabs, then a break for a week.

Yes capox. Someone else here has had that so gave me good tips. I realise must take the positives, that at least I am being treated. So glad it has happened now as I reckon I probably wouldn't have gone to the docs with the symptoms I had during covid.