Sorry that you find yourself here. Which hospital are you under? I too have OC and have just finished the four for rounds of chemo and waiting to hear about surgery. They have told me my tumor has shrunk, so good news.
If it helps any, please click on my profile picture and it will take you to my diary of events which I've written as I've gone through the journey. Obviously, it may not be exactly like that with you but it should give you an idea of what's to come.
Been very inspired by my mate Nicnac today who phoned to say he's off home tomorrow after 7 days in hospital following two ops. He sounds great and very positive. I'm so pleased for him.
The best of luck on your journey. Keep positive, don't Google. Get your info first hand from others with the same thing.
Hi Geo I'm under the Churchill Hospital in Oxfordshire. My tumour is fairly small 4cm near the oesophagal junction. The plan is 2 months chemo probably starting in the next week or so then the major op to remove tumour followed by another 2 months of chemo. Hope I won't be too ill during chemo.
Just had my appendix out last week as the Pet scan highlighted it. Once recovered chemo can begin
The chemo knocks you about for sure and the side effects are pretty individual.
I had a lot of skeletal pain after my first chemo. I think it was a result of the gcsf injections not the chemo. I rang the rapid response line and they asked me to go to hospital where they kept me overnight to administer some pain relief. I left first thing in the morning. Sickness, runs, fatigue are quite common. Tingling in the hands and feet.
Getting the actual chemo is nothing to worry about. It's a bit boring sitting for hours while they drop feed the chemo. Take a good book or your iPad etc to pass the time. At some point too possibly have a picc line inserted in your arm as a delivery system for the chemo and it will stay in for eight weeks. Again nothing to worry about the nurses take good care of you. I've found that each chemo session makes you progressively worn out. Oh I lost my ability to taste anything and had a horrible metallic taste. Thank goodness that's slowly getting better now I've finished my chemo.
Sorry you find yourself in this position. I am now 10 months post op, finishing my last chemo in March this year. There is no hiding the fact it is a tough year to go through but you do get there. When I was struggling I kept reminding myself it would pass and knowing it’s part of the process and relatively short term helped.
Chemo is cumulative and whilst you will have common side affects how bad or many you get is individual. It’s good to talk to others when you are receiving chemo as I got some good tips albeit no one was having the same chemo as me. The post op is harder but mentally you know it’s the end of treatment which got me through it.
Once you have had the op it is major and I think everyone (or the relatives) worries when they get home especially on eating enough but it gets better just take your own time to recover, you can’t rush. I found just as I started to feel better the post op chemo knocked me back again but you do feel better again.
Enjoy eating and drinking as much as you can now. It will change how you eat and drink and that takes time to learn as we are all different albeit with some common areas. I am still trying to get on top of the dumping and drinking enough, every time I speak to someone they tell me something else. I’ve found so much is trial and error and finding what works for you.
Trust the medical teams and tell them everything, they will have heard it before and can normally help, I found resolving some of the smaller issues helped me cope with the worse ones.
Exercise really helps, it helps with the chemo, get in shape for the op and in your recovery after both physically and mentally. I have walked throughout although for a long time it was very short walks, I have tried to keep moving most days.
I wish you all the best and just remember when it all feels hard it will pass.
