Sorry I wasn't able to post yesterday, but we were at the clinic for the biggest part of the day. First of all the dr was running about an hour late and then we spent quite a bit of time with him, then about 1 1/2 hours in the chemo room so that dh could get his mediport and pump flushed. I was able to come in to work for about an hour

Well the results weren't great, but not as bad as it could have been. The liver is not showing anything at this time. We are so thankful for that. But, he has 3 new tumors, 1 in the right lung and two in the left lung. They are all very small and he started back on Xeloda yesterday. The dr wants him to have 2 weeks of Xeloda, 1 week off and see him, then 2 more weeks on, 1 week off, ct and chest xray and then we see him again. He said at that time we would need to make a big decision. He says that surgery will be very difficult and very serious because of the position of the tumors. There is a possiblity of laser surgery or even ablation. But, he wants to wait and see if the Xeloda starts to shrink them.

It was hard to hear that it has moved to another organ and dh was very depressed. He went to bed about 9 last night and I fell apart. I cried for over 3 hours and finally calmed down. I am ready to help him through this newest battle and this morning he was calmer and ready to begin fighting again. Unfortunately, there were two places saved for us on the rollercoaster ride.:rolleyes: But, we all just do what we have to.

I hope everyone else is hanging in there. My thoughts are prayers are with each of you.:) dee

I am so sorry to hear the news, dee! It is probably good that you had a good cry and then regained some strength to fight this battle. Let us hope and pray that the chemo shrinks the tumors...it may well do so...and then you can decide how to proceed. This really is a rollercoaster, isn't it?

Love and prayers,

With them being so small I am so hoping that the chemo will shrink them. DH called me at lunch and sounded more upbeat. When he gets out there on his dozer he seems to get a better perspective on things. I think it is because it is normal and he can't stand to be shut up in the house. He said he is ready to fight again.

Rollercoaster seems to be a really good word for what we all go through. Up and down all the time. And you know, I have always hated rollercoasters:dizzy: .

I really do appreciate your prayers and concern. It is so good not to be alone in all of this. Take care.:) dee

Hi Dee -

Here comes a BIG cyber hug your way. I am so sorry to hear that your husband has to go back on chemo. I did the Xeloda, and it is somewhat easier to tolerate then the folfox infusions. Please make sure he drinks a lot of water, and that he takes the pills w/food. I ended up taking the pills at bedtime w/a snack...this allowed me to sleep through the nausea. Also, I had a lot of pain in my feet and found bag balm to be the best to help w/that.

I am so sorry, but I am very hopeful that the Xeloda will do the trick and he can avoid the surgery.

Keep us posted. Keep crying when you need to - it helps to let it out.

We are here for you and we are praying for you.

Take care,
Cats

Dee,

I am extremely saddened to hear of your latest mis-adventure with this horrible disease. It breaks my heart to know that you are having to deal with this again. This may not help, but my own family will be experiencing this with yours as my beloved brother in law will be under the knife the 6th for his removal of a cancerous lymph node and exploratory surgery to see if it has spread. The doctors have ruled out laproscopic abilities from previous scar tissue so it will be a long haul. And after he heals, we will have either chemotherapy or radiation again. I pray that you are able to hold up through this next battle and that your husband does well. Please know you are in my thoughts and that you are not alone as next week our newest battle begins as well. May someone find a way to cure this disease soon.

Deepest regards and best wishes,
Angelia

Hi Cats, how are things going? I really hope you are feeling well. Thanks for the hug, I needed it, and the prayers.

DH was on Xeloda for a short time Dec. 05. Unfortunately the other oncologist started him out with the highest dosage, plus the highest dosage of CPT11 and he ended up in the hospital at Christmas. This oncologist is starting out with a low dosage and will increase it. I will stop at the feed store this afternoon before going home and pick up some bag balm. I don't think we have any left at home, I think we used all of it last summer when one of our cows had a problem with her bag. Thanks for reminding me, I had forgotten about the dry feet and hands. With the tumors being so small I am very hopeful that the Xeloda will take care of them and he won't have to have surgery again. He said last night he was just going to be one big scar and I told him he was still handsome to me;) As for the crying, after he went to bed last night I cried again and then again in the car coming to work this morning. But, I feel a lot calmer right now. We were so hopeful that it was just going to be contained to his liver. Thank goodness it is ok right now. Plus, it had been over a year since he has had systimatic chemo because they were just treating his liver. So, if these tumors will go away he may be able to do chemo for a while and go off it for a while. These are some of the things I will ask the oncologist when we go back in 3 weeks. I couldn't think of anything when he told us about the lung mets. I guess I just went into shock.

Take really good care of yourself and let us know how you are feeling.

Hi Angelia,

Thank you so much for the prayers. They do help and it also helps knowing we are not alone even tho I wouldn't wish this on anyone. I will say extra prayers for your brother in law that the cancer has not spread and he will have a speedy recovery from this surgery. The scar tissue is awful, when my dh had his second liver resection they had to cut through a ton of scar tissue. It doesn't seem like anything is ever easy with this journey we are all on, does it? Please let us know how things go. It is wonderful to have this board to come to and know that someone will understand what you are going through. :) dee