Chemo sucks, no question. If there is any consolation, at least it is better than not being able to get chemo! Glass half full ! That's what I tell myself some days too ! There are people out there who have no access to basic healthcare, let alone chemo. So I try to tell myself that chemo is a luxu...

Chemo has been more mentally and psychologically challenging for me than physically. I'm in my 5th cycle out of 6 at the moment..... and it's doing things to my head by the 3rd/4th. Fortunately I have been experiencing very little physical side effects or at least my onc has been managing it quite w...

Hi Zack, I haven't been on the forum too long but was diagnosed with rectal cancer about 8 months ago. You can see the details of my diagnosis in my signature. I just want to start off by saying this forum has been my saviour and many posters have been providing advice and pointers to ask all the ri...

Did my 5th Xelox cycle today out of 6 ! So just one more to go and I can officially be on the "real" wait and watch ! Onc reminded me many times along the way that a mop-up chemo main job is to wipe out micro spreads, however it can also suppress the tumour site temporarily providing a fal...

LOLZ @ MaggieNell !!! Amy G - A broken gallbladder sounds like it can hurt ! Have you experienced any pain ? Diarrhea is a pretty common side effect of chemo. My oncologist said to blame most side effect on the chemo if one is still undergoing treatment. It's pretty much difficult even for him to pi...

Great pic and thread PYRO !!! Its refreshing to discuss about enjoying life and fulfilling bucket list on this column !! Thank you for sharing.

I'm nowhere near your prognosis, but have also been thinking about my bucket list now and again.

Hi PRS - Yes, booster jabs were given to increase my platelet count before giving it a chance to drop. (not blood count, my mistake). This is so that I can keep on taking chemo as per scheduled. I have 2 more cycles left so here is to hoping the jabs are going to keep me on schedule ! I think not ev...

. . . I'm left with 2 more cycles and will be using a new arm for that, I'm hoping nothing too bad will happen !! Why would you use a new arm for these final two cycles? Knowing that chemo is hard on the veins, I carefully alternated left and right arms for each cycle. Gives them 6 weeks to recover...

How do you mean prepare for it to get worse before it's finished ? I'm left with 2 more cycles and will be using a new arm for that, I'm hoping nothing too bad will happen !! I haven't been particularly struck with fatigue as yet except for the first 3-4 days after infusion. But yes, it's definitel...

Jolene, my MRIs only take 45 minutes, I wonder why yours take 1.5 hours? For my last few infusions I had them switch arms half way thru the infusion. that might be something for you to consider. Yes, the treatment is bitch to get thru, and be prepared for it to get worse before it's finished. You j...

I'm into my 4th cycle of Oxy now.... CCR isn't without it's problems but I understand that in the grand scheme of things, it provided a ray of light of not having to undergo radical surgery and for that I'm grateful. Interim blood tests and MRI scans / rectal site check have been positive and doing ...

Just wanted to report this week marks the four year anniversary of my Complete Clinical Response and being offered the W&W program. :!: :D I had a follow up rectal exam back in April. As usual my surgeon had one of her residents in tow. I remarked to him that Dr McLemore had literally saved my ...

Hey everyone - I posted a topic about this a while back and had the same issue. So I will share my experience a little here hopefully it can help however it may. After completing 28 sessions of chemoradiation, like you guys my hip area started to ache and feels very tight (but not painful, I also ha...

Seen my doc - he had prescribed me some pro-biotics to start off !! Let's see how it goes !

Hi all Am about to start my 3rd Xelox cycle and have a question regarding infusion time ! In my 1st cycle , I was given a 2 hour IV oxy infusion and didn't felt much pain or tenderness on my arm during that 2 hours. I left the hospital feeling quite okay and the tenderness/pain was felt only when I ...