Discussion
Hi all. My father has been told (3 months after a part bowel removal for Cancer) that during the op, they removed 10 Lymph Nodes. After analysis, 1 of these was infected. So he's been recommended Chemotherapy.
We've been to see the consultant this morning, and he's said a weekly dose of Fluorouracil is what he would recommend for a total of 6 months!
After asking him the stats, he said the chance of survival after 5 years for those who don't choose to undertake Chemo is 60%, and 65-70% for those that do!
Now, if I'm reading this right, the 6 months of Chemo (and all the side effects/etc) only increase the chance of survival in 5 years by 5-10%, is it worth it?
My experience of Chemo is limited, but I understand it's not a nice process? The side effects are catagorised as common/uncommon/etc, but no-one explains the stats (i.e. 1 in 20 people lose hair, etc, etc)
Anyone got any experiences/thoughts/etc?
Thanks in advance!
We've been to see the consultant this morning, and he's said a weekly dose of Fluorouracil is what he would recommend for a total of 6 months!
After asking him the stats, he said the chance of survival after 5 years for those who don't choose to undertake Chemo is 60%, and 65-70% for those that do!
Now, if I'm reading this right, the 6 months of Chemo (and all the side effects/etc) only increase the chance of survival in 5 years by 5-10%, is it worth it?
My experience of Chemo is limited, but I understand it's not a nice process? The side effects are catagorised as common/uncommon/etc, but no-one explains the stats (i.e. 1 in 20 people lose hair, etc, etc)
Anyone got any experiences/thoughts/etc?
Thanks in advance!
Edited by dewaltman on Tuesday 5th October 15:03
Sorry to hear about your dad. Chemo isn't nice at all but I think I'd do it if it increased the chances by just 1%. The odds are not just about a roll of the dice. If he changes his lifestyle, he could improve his chances of being in the 70% survivors. Is he ready to die? If not, then take every opportunity to avoid death, I say.
To expand on the lifestyle thing, things like eating lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, drinking lots of water, avoiding (or cutting down) on dairy and sugar, regularly exercising to keep trim (fat cells adjust the body chemistry to promote the growth of cancer AFAIK), not eating red meat, getting 8 hours' sleep a night, avoiding stress, not smoking or drinking alcoholic drinks... it can help.
To expand on the lifestyle thing, things like eating lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, drinking lots of water, avoiding (or cutting down) on dairy and sugar, regularly exercising to keep trim (fat cells adjust the body chemistry to promote the growth of cancer AFAIK), not eating red meat, getting 8 hours' sleep a night, avoiding stress, not smoking or drinking alcoholic drinks... it can help.
Edited by ShadownINja on Tuesday 5th October 13:13
I had FEC T for breast cancer last year - the F of the FEC is fluorouracil, so it was part of my cocktail. It's not fun, no, but if it were me I'd grab with both hands anything which was going to improve my life expectancy, especially if it's just going to last 6 months or so. I had 15 out of 20 lymph nodes affected so it was more clear cut for me numerically, in that my prognosis was pretty poor without chemo, and anything that improved it even if only slightly I was going to do.
Chemo is a Scare word, a but like Cancer itself, but lots of people do it and come thru it - not heard of any who've enjoyed it, some suffer from side effects more than others, which is probably why the stats are vague. You do have to look after yourself when having chemo, that I would say - your chances of infection are higher, and you watch your temperature with an eagle eye, but it is doable.
You may get more quantity of opinion by checking out the MacMillan forums - there is one for bowel cancer I believe.
Chemo is a Scare word, a but like Cancer itself, but lots of people do it and come thru it - not heard of any who've enjoyed it, some suffer from side effects more than others, which is probably why the stats are vague. You do have to look after yourself when having chemo, that I would say - your chances of infection are higher, and you watch your temperature with an eagle eye, but it is doable.
You may get more quantity of opinion by checking out the MacMillan forums - there is one for bowel cancer I believe.
Sorry to hear about your father. A few years ago I was diagnosed with advanced cancer, (not bowel). I was on Chemo for 5 months but it was not as bad as it used to be. The anti sick tablets worked well. The steroids did give me very odd dreams at night and I could not stop eating so put on weight.
I hope all goes well for father.
I hope all goes well for father.
Sorry to hear that. I hope your Dad does well whichever option he chooses.
From my personal experience of chemotherapy, it was pretty rough but nowhere near as bad as I expected from the initial 'research' I did by looking at posts on cancer forums etc. There's a HUGE list of side effects but I have to say I only got a few of them. I do have age on my side though as I'm only 24. Some of the older people in hospital were finding it really tough but at the same time some of them were generally ok.
While having the treatment I was actually alright, it wasn't until a few days afterwards that it 'hit me' and I became tired and felt ill. The worst bit was the injections I had every week or so. They really hurt and made me feel pretty ill almost straight away. The main thing I found was fatigue. Losing your hair is a weird thing to deal with. It's not as bad for men but it still isn't nice to be pulling chunks of hair out in the shower. I also had a pretty nasty rash on my back which still hasn't cleared up fully (finished chemo about June).
I'd say the benefits probably outweigh the downsides but depending on the type of chemo there are lots of possible long term side effects that I don't think have been fully researched yet. Plus everybody is different - some people are lucky and don't have much trouble, some people get extremely ill. I'd suggest speaking to the McMillan nurses and oncologists about it - they're the people who know what they're talking about. They will have seen many many patients of all ages with different cancers and chemotherapy courses so should be able to give some good advice.
Best of luck.
From my personal experience of chemotherapy, it was pretty rough but nowhere near as bad as I expected from the initial 'research' I did by looking at posts on cancer forums etc. There's a HUGE list of side effects but I have to say I only got a few of them. I do have age on my side though as I'm only 24. Some of the older people in hospital were finding it really tough but at the same time some of them were generally ok.
While having the treatment I was actually alright, it wasn't until a few days afterwards that it 'hit me' and I became tired and felt ill. The worst bit was the injections I had every week or so. They really hurt and made me feel pretty ill almost straight away. The main thing I found was fatigue. Losing your hair is a weird thing to deal with. It's not as bad for men but it still isn't nice to be pulling chunks of hair out in the shower. I also had a pretty nasty rash on my back which still hasn't cleared up fully (finished chemo about June).
I'd say the benefits probably outweigh the downsides but depending on the type of chemo there are lots of possible long term side effects that I don't think have been fully researched yet. Plus everybody is different - some people are lucky and don't have much trouble, some people get extremely ill. I'd suggest speaking to the McMillan nurses and oncologists about it - they're the people who know what they're talking about. They will have seen many many patients of all ages with different cancers and chemotherapy courses so should be able to give some good advice.
Best of luck.
OP, sorry to hear about your father.
Talk to the Mac Nurses - very good advice. Also understand that everybody reacts differently to chemotherapy. Some experience very few side effects (Which are accumulative) and some have a dreadful time of it. Also understand how you go into chemo has a direct impact upon how your 'experience' of it. Go in with a positive frame of mind and as hard as this may sound, take it as an experience - not a good one, not a bad one, just an experience and a process to be gone through.
Deciding if you want to go through the chemo regime in the forst place is a decision that needs to be considered very carefully. I know the instinct is to jump at what ever is offered and though I am loathed to talk about 'quality of life', given my current not so wonderful interpretations of it, it is very much up to the individual to decide what that means to them. It's not about 'fighting' or 'giving up', it's about personal choices and values. Your father needs to take his time to think it through. Take what ever advice you can, from where ever you can. The more you listen, the more confusing and conflicting it might seem and the harder it will be to make the 'right' decision, but you will be surprised, what is right for your father come through very quickly.
There are no rights and wrongs with this. Just clinical evidence and logical choices that have to be weighed up and balanced against sometimes great emotional conflicts.
My very best wishes to all of you going through this.
Talk to the Mac Nurses - very good advice. Also understand that everybody reacts differently to chemotherapy. Some experience very few side effects (Which are accumulative) and some have a dreadful time of it. Also understand how you go into chemo has a direct impact upon how your 'experience' of it. Go in with a positive frame of mind and as hard as this may sound, take it as an experience - not a good one, not a bad one, just an experience and a process to be gone through.
Deciding if you want to go through the chemo regime in the forst place is a decision that needs to be considered very carefully. I know the instinct is to jump at what ever is offered and though I am loathed to talk about 'quality of life', given my current not so wonderful interpretations of it, it is very much up to the individual to decide what that means to them. It's not about 'fighting' or 'giving up', it's about personal choices and values. Your father needs to take his time to think it through. Take what ever advice you can, from where ever you can. The more you listen, the more confusing and conflicting it might seem and the harder it will be to make the 'right' decision, but you will be surprised, what is right for your father come through very quickly.
There are no rights and wrongs with this. Just clinical evidence and logical choices that have to be weighed up and balanced against sometimes great emotional conflicts.
My very best wishes to all of you going through this.
I have direct experience of chemo for this cancer. My regime was different with irinotecan but I cannot imagine not choosing to lengthen my odds.
I guess a lot depends on the OP's Dad's age. The nausea etc was manageable with drugs. My oncologist said zoforan transformed the experience.
I guess a lot depends on the OP's Dad's age. The nausea etc was manageable with drugs. My oncologist said zoforan transformed the experience.
Dad's 74 and normally fit and well. I think a lot of the issues boil down to the fact that this was all picked up on the screening process. He has no symptons whatsoever, and I think because of this, the whole procedure is hard to come to terms with for both him and all of the family.
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