Vomitting Husband/Avastin/Stg IV multiple liver mets - feeling helpless

My situation was pretty much the same.  If had gone from 180 to 110 lbs and was retreating and not getting meds, not eating, etc I will assure you that my wife would have contacted the docs ASAP.  She would not have left me alone.  I have been through this twice and I know it is very difficult, but you have to force yourself and be strong, both caregivers and patients.  My wife would have picked me up. put me in the car and driven me to the Docs!!

Greetings to all ~

I want to assure all of you who have responded so faithfully with so many different suggestions and options that I have been in constant contact with the Doctor/nurses.  I appreciate your concern very much.  I have spoken to so many professionals in the field regarding all my concerns and the variety of opinions vary as much as the variety of my questions.

What I have gathered from all of you is that these symptoms are not unusual, and that they can be treated, which is a great relief.  I get so frightened but then when we do have an opportunity to talk, he makes complete (most always) sense in the decisions he has made...like forgoing certain meds.  He has never been one to put pills in his mouth and very much hates having to.  This is not to say that I will not be discussing this with the doctor tomorrow.  In fact, I will be mentioning everything suggested here just to cover all bases. 

Last week, when I talked with the Doc, he was going to schedule an Esophogial exam of some sort as well as a Gastro Something?  to make certain there is nothing going on in that part of him.

My husband is a tender, sweet guy who couldn't hurt a thing - a muscian and photographer - people all over simply enjoy him.  He can't eat if he is upset ..as well, food for him is a necessity to maintain life ..he isn't joyous over food like I am.  He does start another round (#3 of 4) of chemo tomorrow. 

I surely do not understand why he gets the hickups so bad or the belching so severe either.  It seemed when he would excert himself, like just in talking, it would bring them on more severely or bring them on if he wasn't having them at all.  I understand now why he did not want to have any conversation at all.  I read on one of the reputable sites regarding cancer fatigue that if you sleep almost 24/7 that it is possible for the doctor to prescribe something so that he can have awake time.  Is anyone familiar with what that might be?  I also wonder if the sleeping is his body needing that rest to heal itself?  Does anyone have a thought regarding this?

He does have a desire to eat and is doing more on his own of regular food, but not enough in my opinion.  Today he had several glasses of whole milk and a bowl of cherrios, and that is progress, I am happy to report.

He also has a few bouts with incontinence and I see others have had that as well.  I am so sorry about this for all of you as it must be very disconcerting. 

I look forward to hearing your thoughts, they are very helpful to us.  Are there any further suggestions you might have for us that we should inquire about at our oncology visit tomorrow?

God Bless

Mardilove 

 

 

 

 

Hi - I am so glad you are going to see the doc soon and that he is eating something.  Sounds like he waking up!! GOOD.  Hang in there dear lady and be strong.  He is very, very fortunate to have you during these times.  My wife has helped me so much  - I don't know what I would do with out her.  Music and photography are very, very big in my liife too.  We are going camping as soon as possible and I can't wait to get my equipment out.

Hi ,

My father is facing the same problem of vomitting and nausea.He was dignosed with Gastric cancer Stage III in Dec 2007.He is underhgone under 3 surgeries and 1.5 caemo.Now,doctor has assured that everthing is cured and there is no need to take caemo henceforth and only regular check-up is required.
However,now he is feeling quite depressed and under fear that there might be relapse.
He is not able to eat/drink. He is having trouble in drinking water but not other drinks like juice,coconut water etc.He has lost his weight a lot and feeling tired.
We are from India.Our normal food includes rice,vegetables,chappati,fruits,milk etc.
Could you please suggest any options that may be suitable to my father?

Sorry, I cannot help you with the last post...I am not that familiar here.  Please forgive me.  Perhaps someone else can please direct her to where she can find the info she needs please?

 

Dear Everybody~

Saw the doc, doing ct scan for hubby, no chemo today, wish us luck and prayers please!

Off to meet him at ct place. 

God Bless All ~

Mardilove

Hi all...

I have to be careful as to what I share from now on as our family may be viewing this correspondence.  I have not shared with the family yet many aspects of what is happening with my husband.  I would hate to have them find out here and not directly from my loving voice.  I am sure you understand.  Any response given the touch of sensitivity would be greatly appreciated.

Between the Infusion Therapy area and the hospital, my poor husband was unable to have his CT scan yesterday.  He is scheduled today at 1:30 and hopefully we will find out today what that scan shows.

The doc prescribed a coupound of bendadryl, and anti-naussea drug and the steroid someone else spoke about here that starts with a "d".  So far, two applications down for him and he is much better.  Especially after having so many units of saline yesterday for dehydration.

 Your prayers and positive thoughts are most welcome for my sweet husband if you are in a place to give them.

Mardilove

 

mardilove you are describing almost identically what happened to my mum on folfox avastin/oxali....the nausea....the staying in bed etc etc.  she developed a toxicity to 4fu so ask your docs to check hubby's blood plasma level as that is more accurate than using BSA to calculate the dose.   anyway, mum was finally hospitalised for two weeks due to drug toxicity.....her cancer had progressed on treatment and we were all devastated.  then she was started on erbitux and irinotecan and i swear she is a new woman....within one month she is going out for long walks, no diarrhoea or any other side effects apart from a rash on her nose.....we also started her on liquid zeolite which i think might be helping immensely....it can't be taken with heavy metal chemo like oxaliplatin.  she only tolerated 3 rounds of oxali and a further two of 5fu/avastin, but she has had four rounds of erbitux/irinotecan and is sailng through them.....there is light at the end of the tunnel so hang in there and don't give up xxx

If it doesn't have FDA approval, how do you get it?  If it has been used by less than 200 people over three years, what is the problem.. I have hado 3 times and would have given anything to have use of this.  How do you get on board on this?

 

On 5/6/2008 mardilove wrote:

Good Evening Colon Cancer World~

I am posting this evening because I am feeling so helpless.  I have read postings here since my husband was diagnosed in November on his 57th Birthday with Stv IV CC w/Liver Mets, as one oncologist said to me, "look at them, they're all over the place" ..regarding the number of tumors in is liver.

After 9 rounds of Folfox w/Oxi, he is is now on is second round of Folfox w/Oxi and Avastin.  At this very moment he is resting.  Two moments ago he was throwing up - the second time today.  This is new for him and me.  I feel helpless to sooth him, he just wants me to go away.  After 28 years of marriage, to find I cannot soothe him is devastating.   I can't get him to drink water or Gatoraide, very little anyway.  He lost 9 pounds between Avastin #1 and #2 treatments.  He isn't eating, hard to get him to get a whole Carnation Instant Breakfast down -Boost/Ensure too thick and sweet for him.

Has any one had similar experience as my Husband.  I would feel so much better if I knew this isn't abnormal.  I feel so helpless and I am at a complete loss, my heart is breaking for him.  

There are two who post here that have similar situations as my husband's and I have used both their posts here as a guide for my husband's treatment.  I would welcome your comments if that is okay and if you don't mind.

Cptmac and Miracle Mary

A Loving Wife who misses her Husband

Thank you

 

 

 

 

 

 

The vomitting and the weight loss can be  side effects of Avastin and Oxilaplatin.  But I made a conscientious decision  to do everything in my power  to help against the weight loss. You cannot control your cancer but you can work against the weight loss.  I forced myself to eat and to drink Boost and more Boost.  I had 11 treatments and my red blood count and white bood count were  so poor , that we had to stop the chemotherapy.  This was 2 years ago.  I have gained all my weight back, my hair has grown, but most of all my  cancer has also stopped growing. So hang in there . This is a new treatment and it is very helpful. 

Daisychain - thanks for the info.  I spoke with my Husband's Oncologist today and spoke to him about blood determination vs. BSA for toxicity.  He didn't seem to think that would make any difference in my husband's condition.  Husband had total of 9 folfox/oxi chemo's and then 2 with Avastin added.  After the second Avastin, he went down hill extremely fast.  Went from 126 to 119, two days later to 117 on tues of this week 109.  Sleep, sleep, sleep and can't eat, obviously.  Now, oncologist prescribed BDP (benedryl, some steriod name I can't remember and an anti naussea drug that starts with a P...sorry, can't remember) in form of suppository hoping this will increase his appetite. 

I am wondering how is it determined by the blood plasma level if the chemo is toxic?  Since my oncologist didn't seem to think this is the case, and that he didn't indicate he was willing to do this test..I don't know how i can convince him to do so...can you help in this area at all.  I would feel more confident if I could sound like I know what i am talking about when I talk to the Doctor again.  I would like to insist he perform this test.  Would appreciate any info to help me convince him to do so. 

Hubby had to have saline drip because he was so dehydrated.  I tried to get Hubby into emergency twice during the previous two week period as he has been so sick - pain in cecum (original cancer) , extreme hiccups and belching and acid reflux to the point of pain and so consistent he couldn't eat because something burning was coming up at the same time.

Doc is calling for hospice tomorrow.  Hubby diagnosed at 57 years old on his birthday this past November with stage iv extensive liver mets.  Doc says if hubby gets healthier and gains a bunch of weight, he will put him back on chemo starting with irinotecan regemine.  Either way, doc thinks I should let the kids know Dad might not be around more than another month...hubby is also very wobbily on his legs and has been injesting oxycodone every two to 4 hours for pain.  He went down hill so fast I can hardly believe it.  I am actually in a state of shock and haven't told hubby this news from the doc.  Initially, doc thought maybe hubby's cancer had moved to his brain, but that wasn't the case. 

Regards to your Mother and here's praying she will continue her good stride!

God Bless