Chemotherapy stopped due to adverse reaction following first ses

Hi BJ

Has the chemo actually stopped or is your oncologist looking to change/reduce your dose or waiting for a recovery of cells? Have they not given you any indication of what/when they will be doing anything else?

My hubby has 2 tumors T4 T3 and has been diagnosed as terminal, he did have a problem (neutropenia) to do with his white cells and ended up in hospital but they changed his chemo to help, he has been fed by NJ tube for some time now as he is unable to eat or drink anything. He is finally having a stent fitted on Tuesday thankfully so will let you know how that goes.

Big hugs to you

Carol

Hi Tony S1.        

            Many thanks for your reply .My best regards to both you and your husband.Yes chemo has actually stopped it is deemed too dangerous to continue since the neutrophils had not recovered after 6 weeks. I suppose like your husband I am now diagnosed as terminal All other treatment has been ruled out. I have a further appointment with the Oncologist in two weeks to see if I’m ready for a stent Ican still swallow soft foods so don’t. think I’m ready for this yet.At present I’m finding it so difficult to come to terms with where I am in the journey.  I have heard very good reports on how a stent can help with the ability to swallow so every good wish to your husband . By the way I’m a 79 year old woman and in many ways feel very lucky . I would be grateful to hear how your husband gets on .  With every good wish Billie

Hi Billie

We found this all so difficult my hubby was a very fit 56-year-old bricklayer who started with a sore throat then found it difficult to swallow which turned to impossible, diagnosed terminal on 29/3/18, but he's still here and still fighting, not got much of a quality of life at the moment but hoping the stent will give him that. To go from being a real food lover, someone who lives to eat unlike me who eats to live!!  to not eating at all has been the hardest for him, and its hard for our daughter who is only 18 to come to terms with a different dad one that is tube fed and housebound. We had scan results yesterday and the tumors have stabilised which is good not spread or grown but the chemo is grueling but he just wants to live and enjoy life as we did before so any treatment is welcome. Looking forward to stent on Tuesday and hoping it will give him the quality of life he deserves.

Do you have family around you to help and support you ?

Lots of love Carol xx 

With love and best Hi Carol,           

           On reading your post I realise more so how fortunate I am to be in my late seventies before secoming to oesophageal cancer.I do hope the stent will make a significant improvement. No I am not on my own I remarried almost 8 years ago, my first husband died after suffering a severe stroke. I then met Ernie who was also widowed. I did not have a family  since I was in my fifties when I first married.Ernie has been very supportive but I feel awful  re the situation  since he lost his first wife to ovarian cancer.       With love and all good wishes Billie

Hi Billie

Glad your not alone and you have a supportive hubby, my husband is very much dependant on me now which has been hard for him being the strong one he was the one we all relied upon, but he would do the same for me. So hoping the stent will allow him a better quality of life. 

Are you having further blood tests before you see the oncologist again in case the white cell situation has changed? Tony (my hubby) has had a couple of blood transfusions is this an option for you perhaps?. 

Sending hugs xx

Carol

Hi Carol   My thoughts are with you and your husband hoping the stent will be of help.       It appears that further treatment including chemo is stopped and it is now palliative care apart from a stent when I need one The blood cells had not recovered after six weeks (they should have recovered within one week) and so it is too dangerous to continue chemo. I have accepted this but find it so frustrating feeling so tired and not able to get on with things  With all good wishes Billie xx

Hi Billie

It was a stressful day today, hubby passed out in the gastro unit through dehydration & low blood pressure. Put him on a drip and said they would delay till lunchtime. The consultant came to see him and said that it may be difficult because of the 2 tumors but he would do his best. I popped home then realised I was shaking and felt sick at the thought it may not be possible and what that would do to him mentally because anything that can go wrong does seem to with him. Anyway he managed it now he has 2 stents fitted, he's home and had a few sips of water and same of milk but he is in pain ( but he was before so cant say its the stents fault) 

This last year has been horrendous because the chemo has been grueling and being unable to eat or drink naturally has made it so much worse. I think if my hubby thought he could have 1 year quality of life being able to eat & drink with the stent he would probably give up the chemo rather than prolong the misery he has been going through with palliative care. We will see how it goes with the stent but its so much nicer not seeing a tube going through his nose and listening to the noise of the feeding machine !!

Wishing you all the very best

Carol xx

.Dear Carol. So sorry you had such an awful day. I did hear someone who had a stent say they had some pain for a week or so after it was inserted due to stretching of the oesophagus I’m so glad your husband has got rid of the nasal tube and hope soon he can enjoy being able to swallow some nice soft food.One positive thing that is shared by being in the community is knowing we are not on our own in the battles we have to face . You and your family are much in my thoughts and prayers.  With every good wish Billie xx