CHEMOTHERAPY URGENT DECISION

Hi Jo,

This is such a difficult time for you and your Dad and I am afraid there are no easy answers. It does sound as if your Dad knows his own mind and therefore as others have suggested if he is up for chemo then cycle by cycle he can try it. The medics will withdraw it if his body is struggling with it. Knowing that you support whatever decision he takes will be crucial. I know from my own experience that having my children behind my decisions makes it all manageable. You are having to manage impossible alternatives and whichever route you take you are moving to the point where the options disappear. I don't say this lightly but because the reality of treatment for those of us with spread is that at some point, the treatments run out! If you sense that your Dad is ready to say enough is enough on the treatment front then your role is even greater to support him through the rest of his life, to enable him to get as much from it as he can. You may not be there yet but look to this site for support at whatever stage you reach.

Don,t forget you have support here from a variety of individuals whose common experience is this Cancer. We are all thinking of you and hope that if chemo is the choice it affords some relief. He sounds a real fighter.

Hi Jo,

Just to re-iterate what others have posted. If your Dad goes for chemo, it will be closely supervised and it is possible to delay cycles if he reacts badly or there are other complications.  People react differently to chemo, my partner felt it was one of the easier treatments to cope with so there is no hard and fast rule. Get plenty of support for yourself at what must be a very difficult time. We are always here for you on the forum.

Fiona.

Just wanted to wish you and your Dad all the luck in the world, he's certainly someone who deserves it for all the strength and determination he has shown.

Best Wishes,

Steve

this is a big decision that your Dad has made, it is obvious from your posts that you love him very much indeed.

The first chemo session will also be one where a great deal of information is given to your Dad about managing any side effects and seeking any help should he need it. If the hospital will let you and providing your Mum is not still poorly it would be great if one of you could go and sit with him. Firstly to provide a hand to hold and some loving support and secondly to take some notes and try to absorb as much information as you can. Dad will be given a chemo record book make sure you understand what that is all about. Feel free to ask anything you need to on here too.

It is quite normal in your Dad's situation for the starting dose to be reduced, in some cases it is kept at the lower level throughout and in others only increased if he is tolerating it well and showing good benefits. It is a balance to try and ensure the best quality of life.

There are a few things that can help alleviate the possible side effects.

freezing some pineapple cubes and then sucking on them during chemo has helped many men avoid the taste issues and mouth soreness that can develop. using a mild antibacterial mouthwash every day can also help with that.

Others have said using a moisturising hand and foot cream and a nail cuticle nourisher helps protect nail beds and keep skin free from dryness that can cause cracking and soreness.

The steroids that are part of the chemo shold help with appetite but anaemia can become a bit of an issue, normally this is not due to a lack of iron intake it is just that the body cannot absorb it and so taking iron supplements or eating lots of spinach and high iron content foods may not help. Sometimes blood transfusions are necessary usually just a few units of blood will often help significantly.If this is needed a cross match test will be done first and then the blood infused over a few hours (about 90 mins -2 hours per unit)if it is deemed necessary it is usually done a few days before a cycle of chemo just to provide that extra lift in blood cell counts. they do provide a big lift in well being which can last for several weeks.

I wish your Dad all the very best and of course to you and your Mum too

xx

Mo

I hope your Dad does get to start his chemo, I hope this message will help you a little and maybe give you some hope. My Husband was really suffering badly before he had chemo he could hardly walk his legs were so weak and he was in constant pain from the mets in his spine. He was badly anaemic and was taken off all other treatments for the start of his chemo, he was given 2 units of blood 2 days before his first 70% normal dose of docetaxel chemo. He took steroids for a few days either side of his chemo and at the first session he also had a high dose antiobiotic infusion. We were in the chemo suite at our hospital for about 5 hours altogether and had a very thorough briefing from his lovely chemo nurse.

Prior to chemo Mick had been given MST (morphine tablets) but they made him sick so he was given several different pain meds with varying results until the Macmillan pain management nurse decided he should have Fentanyl patches. These worked brilliantly.

We saw a real iprovement after the first 2 cycles of chemo Mick began to walk without his sticks and even managed to drive our car for the first time in ages.

His PSA was erratic some times it went up others it came down but it never came down below his start point of 545 the main thng is that he felt the best he had since diagnosis and that continued through almost 6 months of chemo (7 cycles with a 5 week break for Xmas and the New Year after cycle 4) We had some difficulties controlling his blood sugar levels (he was a diabetic as well) but they were quickly and very successfully resolved.

During that 6 months we had several long weekends away and met up with our crazy Newark gang a couple of times socially as well. We had visitors all the time, Mick was sometimes a bit tired but generally well and happy.

What you are doing to support him is wonderful you are a fabulous loving daughter just like Mick's

keep posting and let us know how you are all getting along

xxx

Mo

Hi All,

Pre-assessment tomorrow for chemotherapy.  Dad has been out and about today to the barbers, the shops and the bank, there has been no stopping him.  However, he has noticed that the left hand side of his stomach is more swollen that the right, it feels harder on the left, but it is not sore and there is no pain. Hopefully this can be sorted whatever it turns out to be.  We will mention at the lymphedema clinic in the morning and then to pre-assessment in the afternoon.

Jo x

Thank you so much Soren

Jo x