Broken

Hi Coolcat,

Sorry you're feeling this way, but it's totally understandable.

Are you still on Capecitabine?

The way my wife and I like to think about it, is that there is no cure...yet. Her oncologist is very optimistic that new cancer vaccines will be coming soon, and could be a gamechanger. So we keep grinding through treatment after treatment clinging on to that hope.

Ultimately it's a personal choice whether to live with the side effects of treatment, or refuse treatment. There is no one right choice, it depends on personal circumstances.

Do you have a palliative care team? They have done wonders for my wife's pain. People usually think palliative care is for end of life, and really they're all about improving quality of life.

All the best,

Andy

Hi Andy,

Thank you for your response.

I decided against the Capecitapine. Currently taking Letrozole and having a Denosumab jab once every two months.

Had a bit of a scare last month when my hip sort of gave way. The pain was excruciating and I ended up in hospital for a week until they sorted the pain out. The hospital team were wonderful.

I was referred to the palliative care team on discharge. They have been fantastic too. Can't do enough for me. 

I am taking Morphine prolonged release tablets am and pm and I have Oramorph to take as required.  I have also been prescribed an antiemetic and laxatives to help with side effects of these.

I am also taking Ibuprofen, Paracetamol and Omeprazole.

I recently had a 5 day course of palliative radiotherapy on my hip to help with the pain.

I now have a gnawing pain in my back. Due a CT scan this w/e. Need to establish what is causing it. Maybe mets or side effects from the Letrozole. 

The oncologist said that if the Letrozole isn't working then I can have more radiotherapy.

I don't feel lucky about the options available to me right now. Probably just feeling sorry for myself.

Fingers crossed your wife's consultant is right about these new vaccines.