On my last post, I mentioned how scared I was to get my new cat scan results. It was the first one since I've started chemo. I've had 4 treatments so far and have 16 to go. Well, when I saw the doctor a couple of days ago, he said that no new cancer has developed, and the cancer that I already have (mets to liver and abdomen from colon cancer) has shrunk a lot!!! I'm so happy that the treatment is working! I think this will help me have a better outlook.

Sarah

That is great...congratulations!! :bouncing:

Have you been doing any big dietary changes too, or you think its all the chemotherapy doing the work?

Glad to hear you are doing well.....

The only real dietary changes I've made are having more fiber, to help out with constipation and diahrea, and Vitamin E and soy products to help out with hot flashes (my ovaries were removed). So I guess it must be the chemo helping out. As awful as it is to go through, at least I know it's for a reason. I pray that it keeps working. Thanks for your reply. I hope you are doing well.

great news sarah, glad to read about it.

great news, may the lord keep on blessing you and putting his blessings upon you.

god bless

Thank you! That is very kind of you. I've never been a religious person before, but I definitely have been praying since this whole thing started. I actually made up my own prayer, which I try to remember to say every night. Who knows what works, but I'm trying everything! My status now is that I've had 6 rounds of chemo. It still takes me a week to recover after each one. I have about 5 more months to go. Some friends of mine organized a fundraiser golf tournament in my behalf, a few days ago. They said it had a great turnout. It felt really awkward to have that done for me, but my husband and friends talked me into it. It's amazing how much support and kindness that comes your way in a time like this.
I have kind of an embarrasing question for any of you going through chemo. I have been experiencing near fainting spells when I try to go to the bathroom for the first few days after chemo. I haven't actually passed out, but I start to sweat a lot and then my head starts to fall and it's very scary. When I'm at that point, I can't call my husband for help. So after this round of chemo, I asked him to be near me when I go to the bathroom, but that's embarrasing. It happens even if I'm not really pushing that hard. Does anyone else experience this? I've gotten to the point that I get really nervous when I feel the urge to go.

Sarah

Sarah

Thank you! That is very kind of you. I've never been a religious person before, but I definitely have been praying since this whole thing started. I actually made up my own prayer, which I try to remember to say every night. Who knows what works, but I'm trying everything! My status now is that I've had 6 rounds of chemo. It still takes me a week to recover after each one. I have about 5 more months to go. Some friends of mine organized a fundraiser golf tournament in my behalf, a few days ago. They said it had a great turnout. It felt really awkward to have that done for me, but my husband and friends talked me into it. It's amazing how much support and kindness that comes your way in a time like this.
I have kind of an embarrasing question for any of you going through chemo. I have been experiencing near fainting spells when I try to go to the bathroom for the first few days after chemo. I haven't actually passed out, but I start to sweat a lot and then my head starts to fall and it's very scary. When I'm at that point, I can't call my husband for help. So after this round of chemo, I asked him to be near me when I go to the bathroom, but that's embarrasing. It happens even if I'm not really pushing that hard. Does anyone else experience this? I've gotten to the point that I get really nervous when I feel the urge to go.

Sarah

Sarah

Hi sarah
This could be due to your bloodworks not being right. Possibly anaemia. Mention it to your docs and they will put you right.
Feeling faint in the bathroom is also quite common amongst women who suffer from menorrhagia/endometriosis. If I go through a spell like this I balance a wet flannel on the back of my neck and sip an ice cold beaker of water then have a lie down to recover.

Hope the above helps
ktee

I agree with ktee but would add that it could also be low blood pressure or dehydration though they would likely also give you faintness upon standing up quickly as well.

I think you're right about it being low blood pressure and dehydration. I just wish there is something I can do about it. I do get fluids on Sat. when we unhook the pump and I naturally have low blood pressure to begin with. Ktee I'll mention the things that you said to the doc this week.

Thank you for your advice. :)

Best wishes for you future visits. I hope you have continued progress in your battle.

glad to hear things are going good. I'm curious as to how bad the cancer that had mast. to your liver was? I am going through the same with my mother. She had 2 tumors removed from her colon and both had went through the colon wall and into her liver. They said she had 20 or so spots of cancer now on her liver. They removed 12 inches of her colon and got all that cancer but didnt do anything to her liver. Any help or advice you could give me would be greatly appreciated. P.S. She hasnt started cemo yet. Any thoughts on that as well?

I don't really know exactly how many tumors are in my liver. I know that they have shrunk again after another cat scan. The doc says that my blood counts are ok. Like your mom, they aren't going to operate to take out the tumors from my liver or my abdomen. They say that getting out the original tumor is done, but it's too risky to operate anymore after that. Plus, they say it doesn't make sense to because once the tumor cells have spread they can be anywhere in your body. They just don't know because tests can't see microscopic cells that may be floating around. That's where chemo comes in. To be truthful, chemo is really awful but it affects people differently. I get it every other week. Then it takes me a week to recover. Did they say what chemo she would be getting? I get Avastin with 5 FU. I think that's pretty much the typical treatment for colon cancer. What I've been told is that I'll have to be on chemo for the rest of my life. However, there will be times when I can take a break and hopefully the breaks will last for awhile, but they just don't know. Right now, the plan is to take a break after I've had 8 months of chemo. I wish your mom the best of luck. Just try to be as positive as you can around her. I will pray that she will be ok.

Sarah

Sarah,
Have you heard about something called resveratrol in grapes? They think its the reason so many wine drinkers have far les heart disease and cancer. From what i've read there is some evidence that used with chemo it helps starve cancer cells and makes the chemo more effective. It's worth looking it up. God bless you and everyone who is going through this! You are all in my prayers.