CancerCompass message board discussion started by snooksiam on 7/15/2007 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,14377,0.htm Sun, 23 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT Sun, 23 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ I posted yesterday, but thought perhaps I'd try again, hoping for a broader response today, or in the near future. My husband was diagnosed with rectal cancer nearly 2 years ago, but didn't seek an oncologist's help until 5 weeks ago.  He felt he was in the hands of "The Great Physician," and chose to believe that He would heal him.  When the CAT scan was performed it revealed that the cancer was encapsulated in the 2 tumors, so God did have him in the palm of His hand.My husband, Jim ( at 69 )  is a very young, positive minded man.  The John Wayne type, which is why I fell in love with him - A total opposite of my first husband, praise God!!  I am soon to be 60 and have had severe Fibromyalgia for the past 10 years.  It appears that God has made me well enough in just the past 6 months to be able to care for my husband.I was frightened of the symptoms that appeared after Jim's first chemo, and I am not looking forward to the second one.  I do hope to become more informed, butI have trouble with my short term memory, so it is difficult to remember things at times.  But so far, so good.  What I am wondering is this:  Do you, with each chemo treatment, become progressively more fatigued and exhausted?  Or is it basically the same as the one before?  Can we expect a repeat of the first chemo experience?  His symptoms consisted of total exhaustion - mouth sores and his eyes felt like there were cobwebs over them.  Then he had the runs until we got a perscription.  They told us that he would feel cold, and not to give him anything cold to eat while on chemo.  Does this mean just when he is being dripped, or for the duration of all the chemo treatments?Plans for radiation are in the works, but I honestly do not see how in the world I would be able to get him there for at least the first 9 days after chemo.  He's just too out of it.Hope someone who has a bit of energy will reply to my plea for help.  The more informed I become, the better I will feel.  I've been depressed and lonely, but know I'll get through it.  Just lost my only son to an accidental overdose two and a half years ago, so I do know we can always endure more than we think we can.My love, support & blessings to all of you here, Snooksiam snooksiam Sun, 15 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT I happened to read that you have posted twice to get some answers.  I also saw that there were no answer replies.  I wish I could help you directly but I have kidney cancer and it's a totally different cancer that rectal.  What I can do for you is: #1 ...here's the website link to the Cancer Compass rectal cancer message board.  http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/cancers/rectal-ca I'd imagine that you can find out your answers.#2 ... as an unfortunate 'member' of this cancer family, I'd be happy to help you find answers if you are unable to.  I'm 55 years old and I definitely can relate to your comment about memory loss, especially when it concerns all this new info about cancer. What I have done is buy a notebook and then either write down information that's important to my cancer or.....when I'm feeling to lazy to do that......I just copy and paste the info and send to my email address, then I print it out, and tape or glue it into my notebook.  I have a medical background (10 years Navy 'medic') so I understand a lot about the body and the terminology used for all this. If you get confused or concerned about something like that, please feel free to email me at sweb02@hotmail.com   You are NOT alone in all this and will all the good message boards, chat rooms and people willing to help......please never try to go through this alone. If you find yourself in a day where you just need to talk to someone.....just email me.  I'm here and I'm willing.  For now......give yourself a big hug, cuz you deserve it, just for getting the courage to start to understand all about your husband's health.  Give him a big hug too.....just cuz hugs heal in small but important way's.  Take care.Sandy Edumakator01 Sun, 15 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT Hi snooksiam,I just read your reply under my message.  I'm actually behind your husband, I just found out I have rectal cancer on July 3rd.  I met with the surgeon this past Friday and he said 4 wks of chemo, 6 wks of radiation and 4 wks of chemo again (I think he said another 4 wks but now I'm not sure...that memory thing but I think it's memory overload).  So you can actually be of help to me.  His symptoms sound HORRIBLE!  Something for me to look forward to:(  What chemo drugs is he on.  Does he have to have a colostomy bag when done?  I have to have one permanently because the cancer is to close to the anus.  I can tell you from experience with my mother in law that she had the hardest chemo time the first time as far as sickness and exhaustion but hers was breast cancer and all drugs and treatments are different.  I hope for his sake and mine that it gets better.  My biggest fear is the exhaustion and diarrhea, it takes me an hour and 15 minutes to get to the city and that's a LONG time when tired and having the diarrhea.  Did he get it immediately (please tell me no)?  I understand about the depression, I'm feeling it to but I'm tired to put on a brave front because I have a 16 year old daughter who is extremely close to me and she's having a hard time.  I'm glad to see your a christian I am too.  I don't know how someone could go through this without God in their lives.Take care, Terry Snowmom60 Sun, 15 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT Hi, I was wondering how the second chemo treatment went?  I hope he's feeling better than with the first round.Terry Snowmom60 Wed, 18 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT  On 7/18/2007 Snowmom60 wrote:Hi, I was wondering how the second chemo treatment went?  I hope he's feeling better than with the first round.Terry From what I can recall from the chemo treatments, I had chemo and radiation at the same time.  I would first do chemo then I would go to radiation treatment.  And yes, I would feel very tired after chemo.  I would usually sleep during treatment.  I spoke to my Chemo doc about the way I was feeling.  He lowered my dosage.(I didn't think I would be able to finish).  After my surgery in April of 06 (I now sport a colostomy bag) I had more chemo (just in case).  It will get better.  And do speak with the Doc.  they will give meds to help along the way with all symthons that your going through.   Take Care Hugs and God Bless  Sweet Blessings Sat, 21 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT Thanks sweet blessings!  I'm going to have the colostomy bag permanently also.  I'll then be getting 6 mos. of folfox.  What stage were you?  After your surgery were you the stage that they thought before it?  How are you doing now?  Did you by any chance ask them how they check the remaining colon for polyps/cancer after you have the bag?  I'm thinking and annual CT or MRI.Thanks Terry and God Bless you too! Snowmom60 Wed, 25 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT  On 7/25/2007 Snowmom60 wrote:Thanks sweet blessings!  I'm going to have the colostomy bag permanently also.  I'll then be getting 6 mos. of folfox.  What stage were you?  After your surgery were you the stage that they thought before it?  How are you doing now?  Did you by any chance ask them how they check the remaining colon for polyps/cancer after you have the bag?  I'm thinking and annual CT or MRI.Thanks Terry and God Bless you too!Hello Snowman:) was glad to hear from and and the many questions.  Which I really don't mind answering.  I hope I could be of help to you and any others that read along their journeys. When will you have your surgery?  Make sure they mark you correctly where you will have your bag at.  I know of some men that have trouble wearing jeans or other nice clothing because of where their bag is.  I also know of woman that have the same issues.  So make sure they mark you and you are comfortable where the bag will be.  I understand that it's different for men and woman and they mark where they do for different reasons.  Just make sure you understand why they mark you where they are going to.I was told that my staging really didn't matter because it had spread to they lympnodes, so I had to have every thing cleaned out.  Since the surgery, I have had my first colonoscopy.  They put me in a twight sleep and checked me through the stoma.  You don't feel a thing.  One still has to do the cleansing just like you would the "normal" way.  Every 6 months for the next 3 yrs.  I have to get a CT scan done.  then after that every yr. for the following 2 yrs.As for how am doing now am doing okay the costomy is doing fine.  I did have some problems that developed later but that is another chapter.  If you would like I will share some other time.  I have taken up plenty of space. Take Care and God Bless.  Sweet Blessings Wed, 25 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT Hi sweet blessings.  I started reading your reply and didn't finish because I was laughting.  It's snowMOM not man:)  LOL  I'll just forget the man advice!:) Terry Snowmom60 Wed, 25 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT O.K. I read it all now.  Your pants should be below the stoma right?  I thought they might go through the stoma for the colonoscopy but I wasn't sure.  Are you a woman?  Did they do a hysterectomy if you are a woman?  Have you gone to the "ostomyland" site?  If not check it out it's quite helpful.  After I've healed enough I'm going to irrigate, it seems a lot nicer.  ON the bright side, look at how much T.P. we'll save on!Take care and thanks for everything.  Terry Snowmom60 Wed, 25 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT  On 7/25/2007 Sweet Blessings wrote: On 7/25/2007 Snowmom60 wrote:Thanks sweet blessings!  I'm going to have the colostomy bag permanently also.  I'll then be getting 6 mos. of folfox.  What stage were you?  After your surgery were you the stage that they thought before it?  How are you doing now?  Did you by any chance ask them how they check the remaining colon for polyps/cancer after you have the bag?  I'm thinking and annual CT or MRI.Thanks Terry and God Bless you too!Hello Snowman:) was glad to hear from and and the many questions.  Which I really don't mind answering.  I hope I could be of help to you and any others that read along their journeys. When will you have your surgery?  Make sure they mark you correctly where you will have your bag at.  I know of some men that have trouble wearing jeans or other nice clothing because of where their bag is.  I also know of woman that have the same issues.  So make sure they mark you and you are comfortable where the bag will be.  I understand that it's different for men and woman and they mark where they do for different reasons.  Just make sure you understand why they mark you where they are going to.I was told that my staging really didn't matter because it had spread to they lympnodes, so I had to have every thing cleaned out.  Since the surgery, I have had my first colonoscopy.  They put me in a twight sleep and checked me through the stoma.  You don't feel a thing.  One still has to do the cleansing just like you would the "normal" way.  Every 6 months for the next 3 yrs.  I have to get a CT scan done.  then after that every yr. for the following 2 yrs.As for how am doing now am doing okay the costomy is doing fine.  I did have some problems that developed later but that is another chapter.  If you would like I will share some other time.  I have taken up plenty of space. Take Care and God Bless.  OMG, So Sorry,  I guess it's time for new glasses:{   Sweet Blessings Thu, 26 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT  On 7/25/2007 Snowmom60 wrote:O.K. I read it all now.  Your pants should be below the stoma right?  I thought they might go through the stoma for the colonoscopy but I wasn't sure.  Are you a woman?  Did they do a hysterectomy if you are a woman?  Have you gone to the "ostomyland" site?  If not check it out it's quite helpful.  After I've healed enough I'm going to irrigate, it seems a lot nicer.  ON the bright side, look at how much T.P. we'll save on!Take care and thanks for everything.  TerryYes, am a female and no I have not checked out ostomyland.  Is that .com?  I tried irrigation, it's not for everyone.  After my stoma, i developed a prolapse and then a hernia on top of that.  I have had so many issues with my stoma that I can't even forget that am a cancer survivor.  Have you checked out which product you will be using.  Have you checked out any ostomate groups? Take Care and GB   Sweet Blessings Thu, 26 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT Hi!Do I get to decide on the product I will use?  Where do I look to decide and what should I look for?  I'm so sorry you've had trouble with your stoma, I hope it gets better.  I sure hope I don't have troubles.God Bless!Terry Snowmom60 Sat, 28 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT