CancerCompass message board discussion started by redsunset6 on 5/3/2008 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,23713,0.htm Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ Hi All, have been reading for a while and just plucked up the courage to post.  Dad aged 70 was diagnosed 19th Feb with a scope (showed up a large tumour) saw the pics.  Felt very well prior, only symptom was usual food sticking.  Has had 2 rounds of chemo of cisplatin and 5FU over 5 days each, 3 weeks apart and it has knocked the stuffing out of him completely. No idea of staging, but ultra-sound and scan revealed no spread in early March.  Live on a Scottish Isle and local hosp thought it had spread to stomach muscle wall (according to radiologist), but main hosp on mainland (where chemo was given) disagreed and said scans (according to their radiologist) were clear there??? Scan was prior to chemo starting.Now awaiting word for further scan and surgery dates, so assume cancer must be stage 1 to 3??  He finished his last chemo on the 21st of April.My question to you all is how long does the extreme fatique last re this type of chemo?  Other side effects have been hair thinning (he was gutted re that as he still had a good crop!!) mouth sore (now healed well), but the fatique has been bad.  He has to go to bed after breakfast, lunch etc and has no energy whatsoever and right now can't see him being fit for surgery. Also need to mention he had an MI at the age of 60, but recovered well and is on meds for that. Weight loss through chemo has only been about 8lbs so far but he can now eat chicken, beef anything so tumour must have shrunk.Have read every message on this board several times and been in tears with many of them.God BlessMoira. p.s. Dad has a very positive faith and only been a christain for 4 yrs and strongly believes it's all in Gods hands whatever will be.   redsunset6 Sat, 03 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT Sorry to hear of this. I myself have been recently diagnosed and have yet to have any treatment. I wish I could give you some info, but I have all the same questions you have. I will keep you and your dad in my thoughts, and trust everything will work out fine. Sorry I could not help out, but I am sure someone here will be able to. Evelyn   Ever4015 Sat, 03 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 5/3/2008 Ever4015 wrote:Sorry to hear of this. I myself have been recently diagnosed and have yet to have any treatment. I wish I could give you some info, but I have all the same questions you have. I will keep you and your dad in my thoughts, and trust everything will work out fine. Sorry I could not help out, but I am sure someone here will be able to. Evelyn  I had the surgery first then the chemo and radiation.  My doctor said he could do it either way, but I was , and am, a small woman with not much weight to loose, so we chose the surgery first so that my body would heal faster.  I had surgery in April of 04 then started chemo and rad in July.  The surgery knocked my socks off and by July I was beginning to feel somewhat human.  It was then time to start the other proceedures.  With the chemo and rad, taken at the same time, I was in the bed most of the time.  I had to force myself to get up, sometimes my husband would say get up we are going for a ride in the car, or get up lets go sit on the patio, or sometimes we would go get a milkshake or ice cream.  Slowly, slowly I began to feel human again, I don't think I will ever be back to the way I was before as far as strength is concerned, but I can do anythig I want to day. Keep up the good attitude and best of luck.  Never, never give upYou and your loved one is in my prayers. Gerri Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT Thank you for your reply. Much appreciated. Dad has been lucky in the sense that surgery is an option at this stage.  Next scan will not be until admission date for surgery (thought they would have done one before to check things were still as previous scan?) I guess things are done differently here, and much as ppl complain re the uk NHS, we have been very well treated up to now. 10 days wait from seeing dr to scope, 10 days to assesment, and 10 days for chemo to start.No idea re staging, but assume as scans and ultra-sound were clear then it must be 1-3.  Hope so.Didn't realise chemo wrecked so much havoc on a person. That was a bit of a shock, to see someone who was perfectly fit and well go to an invalid within a few days.  My question re how long chemo fatique lasts seems so trivial when I read some of the posts on this board though.  Dad is very positive and knows the doctors will do their best for him and is leaving it all in the Lords hands.  God Bless to all who are in a similar position and have so many questions, some which are hard to answer.Will keep posting before and after surgery and let you all know how he gets on. redsunset6 Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT There are so many different forms of chemo, and EC chemo is very aggressive because the cancer is so aggressive. Every now and then someone says it isn't so bad, but I can honestly say it was totally debilitating for my husband during every round. There were days he could not make it to the shower, and was only 49 when diagnosed so he wasn't frail or elderly. I feel very fortunate he hasn't suffered some of the residual side effects like neuropathy which seem so common, and has had good results. There were days I wasn't sure his body could withstand the chemo, and times when our son came home from college when the shock and alarm to see how fast his Dad deteriorated was heartbreaking. But here we are...still going. 3 Crucial points: hydration (so hard to drink, but the body can't function without it, never mind the extra stress of getting rid of the chemo drugs.....staying on top of pain if there is any.....and staying ahead of the nausea and vomiting because if it get's ahead of you, it's a lost cause and a constant uphill battle. If your person seems very ill, make sure they are hydrated.....you would not believe the difference a bag of fluid can make. Good luck with it. Expect a few more gray hairs!   tongrenhealer Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT What a differnce a week in chemo can make!!  My dad has cut the grass, and attened his local prayer meeting tonight.  He has just appeared in my house (20 mins frm his own) to look for some change of a a twenty!!His op is now a wk monday the 19h.Ok, he still hasn't had to shave yet (no growth) but he is doing well.At least he has another week to regain his strength this coming wk. Feeling good so far (despite the hiccups) etcDad's major surgery is scheduled for the  21st (Ivor- lewis) please think and pray for us, it will be very much appreciated.I leave the Island on the 19th and will spend time with them both till the  2nd of June......and a wk beyond to help if all goes well.  God bless to all. redsunset6 Sat, 10 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT