Hi. So I was diagnosed with bowel cancer during a colonoscopy 12 weeks ago then had emergency surgery 9 weeks ago and starting chemo next week. All been a whirlwind to be honest and don't think ni have fully taken on board what has and is happening.
I’m not surprised - emergency surgery must’ve been frightening but I hope you’re recovering ok now? Are you having Capox ie. Oxaliplatin by iv then capecitabine in tablet form? I’ve attached a link to a post with some top tips but if you’re having a different chemo or want to ask anything then please feel free
Glad you’ve joined the board - bowel cancer is very treatable nowadays and we’re all at different stages of treatment and recovery so happy to share advice and support you
Recover is going well thank you. Had an infection along the way but that has cleared up now just in time. Having Oxaliplatin and Capecitabine and start on Monday. Just want to get started so I can deal with any side effects. The not knowing is the worse thing at the minute.
Hi again. Yes it’s hard to predict what side effects each person will get but they’re usually manageable. Talk to the nurses if you start to struggle as there are different options eg. There are several antisickness meds and they often start you on the cheapest one so trying a different one can make all the difference or a drop in dosage etc. Sometimes it’s good to know what’s normal and what isn’t and you should be given a 24 hour helpline number too if you’re worried.
To be honest the ‘reputation’ of chemo can often be worse than the actual experience and it might not be as bad as you think so give it a go and we’ll help you through it x
Hi Sunny2023 I’ve recently finished my first 4 cycles of chemo. My advice is to tell the nurses of anything you experience that you’re unsure of. I didn’t with my first infusion of oxi, and ended up with a numb arm! A heat pad sorted it out, so drama over. Don’t assume whatever you experience is “to be expected”. Good luck.
