So, my husband had a scan half-way through FOLFOX chemo after 6 cycles. The results are delayed but the nurse phones to give us the 'good' news that the cancer is stable and has not spread further than the local lymph nodes. I am, however, feeling a bit upset that the cancer hasn't reduced (we'll get the report eventually) as the fatigue is horrendous (no other side effects). I've found conflicting info: some says chemo is most effective in the first couple of cycles, others say it can take a few doses before it works. Do I have grounds for hope that the tumour will start to shrink? And if it doesn't, but remains stable, what will happen next?
Sorry - we will ask the oncologist when we see him in four weeks.
Thank you.
Sometimes, we are so eager for information, that we are given it without further consideration, (sorry this was my initial thought on reading your post)
You say the results are delayed, but what is clear and obvious is that things are not worse, i.e. they are stable - the immediate imagine will show things looking similar to before, but the results, where further investigation and accurate measurements have been defined, will tell you whether there is reduction.
Dal's main tumour has taken years to reduce even slightly since being classed as stable, so there is always time.
I hope when you get the full details from the results, that you will receive even better news.
Lowe'
