My Cancer Diary
Discussion
bludger said:
As someone who is currently undergoing treatment for prostate cancer I understand something of what you are going through and sympathize very much.
Thanks for sharing this and, as they say in polite circles: nil desperandum.
Ditto, just going through Prostate Cancer treatment myselfThanks for sharing this and, as they say in polite circles: nil desperandum.
Longsocks said:
Thanks for all the kind words and encouragement.
They say that cancer affects everybody directly or indirectly at some point in their life.
It's a beautiful sunny day here today and I don't have to think about cancer or hospitals for the next 11 days. After lunch we will go for a walk in the countryside before meeting up with some chums. There will be banter and laughter. Life is good.
Have they determined whether you are a candidate for pembrolizumab. They say that cancer affects everybody directly or indirectly at some point in their life.
It's a beautiful sunny day here today and I don't have to think about cancer or hospitals for the next 11 days. After lunch we will go for a walk in the countryside before meeting up with some chums. There will be banter and laughter. Life is good.
13/11/2018
Chemo session number 9. My session was postponed by a day, I saw a different oncologist and finally got to discuss my MRI scan results. The verdict on the colon was that it was more likely that I had developed a polyp close to the tumour, rather than the tumour growing, although I suspect that they would need to do another biopsy to be absolutely sure. Also confirmed was the presence of 1 small (2mm) lesion on each of two vertebrae. I think the adjustment to the chemo meds was designed to address this.
Chemo session number 9. My session was postponed by a day, I saw a different oncologist and finally got to discuss my MRI scan results. The verdict on the colon was that it was more likely that I had developed a polyp close to the tumour, rather than the tumour growing, although I suspect that they would need to do another biopsy to be absolutely sure. Also confirmed was the presence of 1 small (2mm) lesion on each of two vertebrae. I think the adjustment to the chemo meds was designed to address this.
Thanks to all the recent posters for contributing and for your kind thoughts.
For those of you undergoing treatment, I wish you all the very best.
Bevacizumab
Calcium Folinate
Oxaliplatin
Sessions 7-12
Irinotecan
Calcium Folinate
Fluorouracil
None of these names means a great deal to me, and I have to defer to the expertise of the specialists but from a quick google it seems that they are focussing mainly on the colon. Having said that, I think that some or all of these may be used to attack other tumours too. I will try to get more information from the oncologist next time.
For those of you undergoing treatment, I wish you all the very best.
m4tti said:
Have they determined whether you are a candidate for pembrolizumab.
This has not been specifically mentioned. Sessions 1-6 comprisedBevacizumab
Calcium Folinate
Oxaliplatin
Sessions 7-12
Irinotecan
Calcium Folinate
Fluorouracil
None of these names means a great deal to me, and I have to defer to the expertise of the specialists but from a quick google it seems that they are focussing mainly on the colon. Having said that, I think that some or all of these may be used to attack other tumours too. I will try to get more information from the oncologist next time.
26/11/2018
Chemo postponed again for a week due to low white cell count. It seems to be a fine juggling act to try and attack the tumours without destroying too many white cells. I will have another blood analysis on 3rd December after which they plan to give me a reduced dosage of chemo.
I am still having daily injections of blood thinner, this will continue into the New Year.
I also had another good talk with the oncologist who confirmed that the regime I am on is designed as a whole body treatment, rather than concentrating on the colon. He also told me that colon cancer would have been transmitted to my liver in my bloodstream rather than my lymphatic system.
Chemo postponed again for a week due to low white cell count. It seems to be a fine juggling act to try and attack the tumours without destroying too many white cells. I will have another blood analysis on 3rd December after which they plan to give me a reduced dosage of chemo.
I am still having daily injections of blood thinner, this will continue into the New Year.
I also had another good talk with the oncologist who confirmed that the regime I am on is designed as a whole body treatment, rather than concentrating on the colon. He also told me that colon cancer would have been transmitted to my liver in my bloodstream rather than my lymphatic system.
JumboBeef said:
All the best OP.
I had bowel cancer this year, 2x ops and sepsis which nearly did me in. Now cancer free and I keep my fingers crossed you will be too one day soon.
Thank you, and congratulations. I don't relish the thought of bowel surgery but it is obviously a possibility in the future.I had bowel cancer this year, 2x ops and sepsis which nearly did me in. Now cancer free and I keep my fingers crossed you will be too one day soon.
I read the first couple of posts of this thread when the op originally posted, then I ran away. Just come across it again and it's very sobering reading. I've had some similar symptoms as the op for the last 7 months but ignored them hoping it'd pass. Finally got an appointment to see my GP tomorrow, but dreading it now.
mjb1 said:
I've had some similar symptoms as the op for the last 7 months but ignored them hoping it'd pass. Finally got an appointment to see my GP tomorrow, but dreading it now.
Best wishes to you, mjb1, I hope it turns out to be nothing.A plea to everyone: please don't ignore symptoms that persist, however minor they may seem to be. Men tend to do this but it's not a sign of weakness to get yourself checked out.
Longsocks said:
Best wishes to you, mjb1, I hope it turns out to be nothing.
A plea to everyone: please don't ignore symptoms that persist, however minor they may seem to be. Men tend to do this but it's not a sign of weakness to get yourself checked out.
Thanks Longsocks, and to you too. A plea to everyone: please don't ignore symptoms that persist, however minor they may seem to be. Men tend to do this but it's not a sign of weakness to get yourself checked out.
GP didn't seem the least bit concerned, said he thought it was probably down to stress (which is what I'd blamed it on myself). Although he does have a reputation for not taking people seriously. Anyway, he's requested some blood tests to check for absorption (iron and something else I think), so hopefully if there's something serious it'll be picked up then.
3/12/2018
27/12/2018
I haven't posted for a while since there has not been much to tell. I have now had chemo sessions 10 & 11, the latter postponed for 10 days at my request. Session 12 is scheduled for 14th Jan after which I will have another CAT scan.
I have had some minor back discomfort lately which I suspect is due to my body becoming accustomed to fentanyl. Otherwise I have been feeling pretty good.
To all of you who have been having health issues or have been receiving medical treatment this year I wish you all the very best for 2019. Stay strong, stay positive & take the best possible care of yourselves.
27/12/2018
I haven't posted for a while since there has not been much to tell. I have now had chemo sessions 10 & 11, the latter postponed for 10 days at my request. Session 12 is scheduled for 14th Jan after which I will have another CAT scan.
I have had some minor back discomfort lately which I suspect is due to my body becoming accustomed to fentanyl. Otherwise I have been feeling pretty good.
To all of you who have been having health issues or have been receiving medical treatment this year I wish you all the very best for 2019. Stay strong, stay positive & take the best possible care of yourselves.
No news is often good news, stay strong and hope all works out for you over the coming year 
Separately but somewhat related a friend of mine (my fiancé's Bridesmaid and fiancé of an usher) was diagnosed with the big C at 24 last month. She’s on her second bout of chemo now and fighting it but getting a little run down; unfortunately a stage four Vascular Sarcoma, main tumour the size of a pineapple pushing on liver and lungs reducing function and requiring weekly lung fluid drains. Was palliative but they’ve changed tack to see what they can do and is trying to push through, hope all works well for you and her!
Separately but somewhat related a friend of mine (my fiancé's Bridesmaid and fiancé of an usher) was diagnosed with the big C at 24 last month. She’s on her second bout of chemo now and fighting it but getting a little run down; unfortunately a stage four Vascular Sarcoma, main tumour the size of a pineapple pushing on liver and lungs reducing function and requiring weekly lung fluid drains. Was palliative but they’ve changed tack to see what they can do and is trying to push through, hope all works well for you and her!
14/01/2019
21/01/2019
Chemo session number 12 on the 14th was postponed again due to low white cell count but went ahead on the 21st.
CAT scan scheduled for 28/01/2019.
I had another discussion with the oncologist about my back pain, which has increased since the beginning of January. Following this he prescribed a course of anti-inflammatory tablets, higher-dose fentanyl patches (now 100µg/hr) and fentanyl lozenges (133µg dissolved slowly under the tongue) to be taken as a supplement in the event of high pain levels.
21/01/2019
Chemo session number 12 on the 14th was postponed again due to low white cell count but went ahead on the 21st.
CAT scan scheduled for 28/01/2019.
I had another discussion with the oncologist about my back pain, which has increased since the beginning of January. Following this he prescribed a course of anti-inflammatory tablets, higher-dose fentanyl patches (now 100µg/hr) and fentanyl lozenges (133µg dissolved slowly under the tongue) to be taken as a supplement in the event of high pain levels.
4/02/2019
The oncologist went over the scan results. Put simply, the colon tumour has enlarged slightly and the other tumours are unchanged. I was originally rather disappointed that there had been no apparent response to the 2 different chemo regimes that had been tried, but further discussion and a little time leads me to believe that progress has indeed been made; my cancer has effectively been held in check and, had I not received any treatment since June, it would likely have advanced very significantly.
The scheduled chemo session was postponed to allow time for the cancer committee to meet & discuss my case.
The oncologist went over the scan results. Put simply, the colon tumour has enlarged slightly and the other tumours are unchanged. I was originally rather disappointed that there had been no apparent response to the 2 different chemo regimes that had been tried, but further discussion and a little time leads me to believe that progress has indeed been made; my cancer has effectively been held in check and, had I not received any treatment since June, it would likely have advanced very significantly.
The scheduled chemo session was postponed to allow time for the cancer committee to meet & discuss my case.
11/02/2019
Chemo session number 13. The drug mix is adjusted including a higher dose of one of the meds. Sessions will now last 5-6 hours, a long time to be sitting in a chair but taking a good book and Mrs LS's iPad helps pass the time.
The anti-inflammatory tablets and increased dosage of fentanyl have been working well, reducing high pain levels that I often get shortly after getting out of bed in the morning.
After 5 more sessions I will have another CAT scan. It would be great to see some tumour shrinkage but if things continue to be held in check I will be happy enough.
Chemo session number 13. The drug mix is adjusted including a higher dose of one of the meds. Sessions will now last 5-6 hours, a long time to be sitting in a chair but taking a good book and Mrs LS's iPad helps pass the time.
The anti-inflammatory tablets and increased dosage of fentanyl have been working well, reducing high pain levels that I often get shortly after getting out of bed in the morning.
After 5 more sessions I will have another CAT scan. It would be great to see some tumour shrinkage but if things continue to be held in check I will be happy enough.
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