Eyes

Hi..i am into my 5th week of chemo{5fu}and radiation..port and pump 24/7..minimal side effects..burning sensation during urination..and tender anus..two days ago i started having burning sensation in both eyes.. not unbearable..but constant..also in the AM i have a little runny nose..has anyone expierenced this?..

Thanks for any information

Hi,

My nose ran nonstop the entire 6 months I had chemo (5FU, Leucovorin, Oxaliplatin, & Avastin).  My eyes did bother me also.  I have always worn contact lenses, but had to stop and wear my glasses instead.  I just started wearing the contacts again (about half the time, since I'm now also used to wearing glasses).  My eyes sometimes would be irritated and dry, then sometimes be extra teary.  The 5FU can also sometimes cause mouth sores and also sometimes peeling and sensitivity on palms of hands and bottom of feet.  I'd go through cycles of having these different symptoms each time, then they'd go away.  I had my chemo over three days, once every two weeks.  Not everyone gets the same symptoms & it might depend upon how much you're getting, but since I experienced the runny nose and eyes issue, I imagine they're pretty normal. 

Just remember, as annoying as it is, you can bear anything temporarily- just remember why you're getting the chemo!

Take care & blessings to you-

Lisa

Re runny nose - my husband's nose ran constantly, while he was eating, talking, all the time during his chemo and even after.  Also, his vision changed.  He always had good vision, but he became more nearsighted during his illness. He was on and off chemo for three years.  The runny nose was one of the most embarrassing and bothersome problems he experienced.  Hope this helps.

Diane

Hey!  Hope everything is going as well as can be expected.  I have had two six month periods of 5FU, Avastin, pump, etc. every two weeks.  Since the beginning my eyes have watered heavily and as a result the running nose was always present.  I'm now on 5FU pills and the watering continues......I hate it when I wake up at night and my eyes are stuck shut!  The side effects go away once treatment has ceased (I had a six month break last year....great!)  Its a pain, but the potential results are well worth it.....like an earlier responder said....you can tolerate about anything to effect a positive result.

 My last PET scan was clear so its well worth the side effects....doing the pills to keep it gone.

 Hang in there and remember that all you brother and sister cancer patients are pulling for you!