Starting FLOT on Tuesday

Hi 

sorry your having to face this it’s not a easy journey but glad to hear you have had results quickly it makes a big difference ! 

im on the same path as your husband and started my FLOT chemo on the 5th Dec next treatment on Thursday so far no side effects but not sure how long that will last ! They give you mouth wash along with a load of other meds  

hope all goes well 

take care Tricia 

Thank you …. wishing you the very best for your treatment. It’s encouraging to hear that side effects are not always immediate ….. every good day must be a bonus. 

Yes it is ! When was your husband diagnosed ? 

18 November after an endoscopy and CT scan all within the previous fortnight. Pet scan in Taunton shortly after the diagnosis appointment and then ultrasound endoscopy at BRI.

Looks like we might be on the same time scale I was diagnosed on the 4th October ! My CT Pet scan was the longest I had to wait for Southmead’s machine had broken so that put us back 2 weeks I’m T3N0M0 last chemo 16th Jan then CT and hopefully surgery. Has he had a laparoscopy? 

No laparoscopy…. they said one might be needed after the second endoscopy but evidently not. I don’t know the TNM scores …. forgot to ask and doubt if my husband wants to know. He’s not into the detail just getting through the treatment.

Wishing him well for Tuesday

• One of the effects of chemo that I found was that it gave me a very dry mouth so I ended up eating a lot of juicy fruits. Pineapple (fresh & tinned), peaches, nectarines, mandarin oranges, etc. If it is the FLOT chemo he is receiving, then the main side effects that I had were diarrhoea, fatigue and peripheral neuropathy. For me this was confined to fingertips, nose and cheekbones so I wore gloves and wrapped a scarf around my face when going outside. Also wore gloves when retrieving anything from the fridge and avoided the freezer altogether. I found that the side effects were more severe and lasted longer with cycles 3 & 4 than they did with 1 & 2 so be prepared for this. Hair loss affects people in different ways. My head hair became quite patchy so I just went for a #2 all over. Apart from that, the only hair I lost was nose hair. Some people lose all body hair so it seems to vary from person to person. Keeping eating during chemo is difficult as it can make you nauseous and the chemo also knocks your tastebuds out but you just have to try to make yourself eat to avoid losing too much weight. The fatigue will be like nothing you’ve ever experienced before. I used to find even the effort of getting dressed or having a shower necessitated a lie down afterwards to recover. You just need to go with it but, on the days when you are feeling a bit stronger, try to fit in a bit of gentle exercise to keep your strength up for the surgery because, believe me, you’ll need it!! I was diagnosed in October 2023 and, after all the scans, laparoscopy, etc. started my chemo treatment in December with surgery in February 2024. It has been a long and difficult year and I’m still nowhere near the end of my recovery so it’s best to be prepared for something similar. It’s bloody tough to be honest and your role as support team will be crucial to your husband’s success in getting through it. You will have many questions as you navigate the months ahead and here is a good place to get answers from those who have travelled this path ahead of you. Best wishes to you both. CB

1. Wowww..... you're way ahead of the game! I was nowhere near as prepared as you are, well done!

Thank you so much for this advice it’s really helpful.