Hi all,I need some quick advice. My Mother who is 73 going on 21 has colon cancer. In Sept 2003 she was admitted to hospital with a burst colon due 2 a huge tumor. She had it removed with her transverse section of large bowel. 12days post op she developed a dvt(clot) below the left knee,she was admit to hosp for 11 days & put on warfrin for 9mths. 15 days post op she did 6mths of 5fu with warfrin.
This did not work as she got a secondary in her Liver she had 3/4's of her liver removed Feb 04.
Then a bld test showed her CEA raised so they started the search for the re occurance after 3-4mths they came back and told us she has 30-40 small tumors in each of her lungs.And given in the region of 6mths to live.Amazingly She had no pain or symptoms at that stage. And was out hill walking,painting and enjoying life to the full.
Avastin is not approved in Ireland & there is a clinical trial taking place so my Mother was the first woman in Ireland to be given AVASTIN OXALIPLATIN AND XEOLDA. She goes in one day has Avastin & Oxaliplatin and then goes home & takes xeolda for two weeks,gets one week off & starts over.
My mother developed severe diarrhea with bleeding.She was put on anti diarrhea tabs with no let up but kept on the treatment. She received two cycles and then developed 3 bld clots in her left leg one below the knee,one above the knee and one in her groin. She came off all treatment and was admitted to hospital, we were told that the clot in her groin could break away and go to her lungs and kill her instantly.she stayed in for 12 days.She was given lovnox(claxane) injections which she now gives to herself.But was not put on Warfarin (i think because of the increased chance of bleeding while on Avastin)They talked about putting in an umbrella shaped thing to catch the clot but while on Avastin u cannot have any operations due to increased chance of bleeding and wound healing problems.So we were stuck between a rock and a hard place. My Mothers life was ticking away while stuck in hospital so she was has been let out of hospital. the clots were not scaned again so I am so scared that the clot in her groin will travel to her lungs.Has anybody had a groin clot that can tell me how long it takes to go and is lovenox enough?
My Mother is due for more Avastin Oxaliplatin and xeolda on Wednesday but is still bleeding from her back passage and does not want to continue any treatment as she says she has no quality of life.
Has anybody experience of this?what where u or they given to stop the diarrhea and bleeding?she had the other side effects of cold hands and feet and sore feet and tiredness.
I need help to encourage her to go back on the treatment,I cannot bear to think of her stopping and giving up. At the same time I will respect her wishes and stand by her but any info or advise would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Sinead.