My wife is diagnosed on rectal canc

protta · New User Joined: 20 May 2008 Posts: 7

Hi,i'm new on this forum.Want to ask Dulcimera something because i see that she do radiot. first.My wife is diagnosed on rectal canc. and she tomorow start chemo,before operation.Did radio do something,did it shrink tumor?

REB

The plumbing is working. Where the colostomy was, they left it open slightly beause it was common for reversals to get infected if they close it. Its slowly healing, but I don't like having an open wound. I hope it heals up soon.

My stomach doesn't look too pretty right now. I used to have a nice flat stomach. Now it has two big scars and is lumpy. Hopefully mos of that is swelling that will go down.

I never did radiation, so I don't know how that feels.

I was in the hospital yesterday. Not for my self, but for my wife. She has Lupus and it decided to go after her heart. She is okay today and back home. Lupus is weird sometimes.
_________________
10/01/07 - Removal of Stage III Colon Cancer Tumor and Temporary Colostomy
Started Chemotherapy 11-07-07 - FOLFOX regimen - 5-FU (5 Flurouracil) and leucovorin, oxaliplatin. Also Avastin
Last Chemo treatment 04-09-08, Colostomy Reversal 04-28-08 Age:41

protta · New User Joined: 20 May 2008 Posts: 7

Hi REB,my wife today start with folfox+avastin,that's why I'm looking for information about that.Thank you,best wishes
Alexandar

REB

Make sure she stays hydrated. The first treatment was my worst.

She'll have her good and bad days. Even thou I felt yucky most of the time, I still felt better than I did before they removed the tumor.

At first, nausea was the worst side effect. I only threw up after that first treatment (I couldn't hold anything down, which is why I got dehydrated. Getting dehydrated led to muscle cramps and a bunch of other problems).

The cold and numbness issue is more of an annoyance than anything else.

Towards the last few treatments, my muscle started to ache, especially that night right after my treatment.

I am assuming she has a port.

She'll have to take home the 5-Fu. I believe it is because this drug quickly breaks down. I never could sleep well with the pump (Make sure it is strapped to her. She does not want to pull out the needle). You can't shower with, which bugged me because I hate going to bed without a shower. By the second day I could start feeling the needle and the tape started itching. I was so ready to get the thing off and go homke and shower. At least your wife won't have to shave her chest like I did. I learned the hard way after they ripped the tape off my chest and took a bunch of my chest hair. *Ouch!* I started shaving after that.

I hope your wife will not suffer too many side effects and gets through this with the least discomfort as possible.
_________________
10/01/07 - Removal of Stage III Colon Cancer Tumor and Temporary Colostomy
Started Chemotherapy 11-07-07 - FOLFOX regimen - 5-FU (5 Flurouracil) and leucovorin, oxaliplatin. Also Avastin
Last Chemo treatment 04-09-08, Colostomy Reversal 04-28-08 Age:41

protta · New User Joined: 20 May 2008 Posts: 7

Well,she' in the hospital for three days,she drink plenty of water,not eat too much.Don't have a port,it's in left arm.Now got a pump with 5fu.We will see about side effects.Thank you,
Alexandar

REB

Are they going to give her a port? It makes it easier. I would recommend it. They probably can't implant one while she is doing chemo- since we don't heal very well while doing chemo.
_________________
10/01/07 - Removal of Stage III Colon Cancer Tumor and Temporary Colostomy
Started Chemotherapy 11-07-07 - FOLFOX regimen - 5-FU (5 Flurouracil) and leucovorin, oxaliplatin. Also Avastin
Last Chemo treatment 04-09-08, Colostomy Reversal 04-28-08 Age:41

DulcimerGal

Hey Alexander -

What is your question about the radiation?
If you want to know did it shrink the tumor - I would say at this point my guess is "YES" - but I can't be sure until the Doctor does his exam on JUne 12th or so - right before I have the surgery.

The combo I had was daily radiation for six weeks along with chemo - to shrink a rectal tumor (this is not usually done for colon tumors)

There has been good success shrinking rectal tumors with this combination, then you have the surgery done, hopefull the thing is shrunk.

I certainly feel like my tumor has shrunk, I have much less rectal pressure than I did before, and my bowel movements are more normal.

We will know for sure on June 18th when they open me up for surgery and take it out.

Cheers!
DulcimerGal
_________________
Rectal Cancer diagnosed Valentines Day 2008
Finished 6 weeks of radiation and chemo 4/23/08
Surgery to remove tumor - June 18th
6 months Chemo to follow

protta · New User Joined: 20 May 2008 Posts: 7

Thank you,we need every information we can get,I hope the surgery go well.Today is second day and she feel pretty well,got some nausea but is normal.

protta · New User Joined: 20 May 2008 Posts: 7

I just back from hospital.Wife is felling almost good,little bit of nausea,nothing else.Only pain she got is in the arm because she didn't have aport,but she say it not so bad.

protta · New User Joined: 20 May 2008 Posts: 7

Wife got strong contraction's after chemo.What to do ?

REB

I never had that happen to me. I did get muscle cramps all over my body that first time, but that was due to dehydration.
_________________
10/01/07 - Removal of Stage III Colon Cancer Tumor and Temporary Colostomy
Started Chemotherapy 11-07-07 - FOLFOX regimen - 5-FU (5 Flurouracil) and leucovorin, oxaliplatin. Also Avastin
Last Chemo treatment 04-09-08, Colostomy Reversal 04-28-08 Age:41

protta · New User Joined: 20 May 2008 Posts: 7

Today is fine,I think it's side effect and now is gone.Thank's God.

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