Chemo while bowel obstruction?

[AnneAnne]

Is this even a good idea? My Husband has been for 6 days with an obstruction that isnt settling ir resolving too quickly. The doc wants to do chemo and thinks he's strong enough een though he hasnt eaten/been drinking for 6 days. Thoughts and experience please? I was a little surprised to hear this, this morning.
Thanks

[AnneAnne]

I am really hoping someone has some thoughts here to share.......fingers crossed

[dianne052506]

Absolutely no clue, but I hope others will answer.
Things I'd want the doc to answer first:
any problem delaying the chemo for a day or two, just to see if anything happens?
If DH has chemo while obstructed and, absolutely worst case, then needs surgical intervention, is the treatment (i.e., Avastin) going to make surgery more dangerous?
I read back through some of your earlier posts. Is this the same blockage your husband has been dealing with all this time? Chemo is bad enough without having to be in pain. I would keep pushing the doctor and let him know how bad the pain is.
Also, in an earlier thread, you mentioned DH was on some heavy-duty pain meds. Opiates can cause constipation, so when this situation is resolved, the onc needs to be involved with some other time of Rx to manage pain that won't cause so much constipation that the bowel is blocked.
Hope you get some better answers from other people.
Best wishes,
Dianne

[Jachut]

I had several weeks break and a dose reduction each time - and I was strong and very fit.

[pukalania]

Hi Anne,
My husband had bowel obstruction when he started chemo last year. Colon wasn't fully obstructed but very close to it, to the point where the doctors were thinking of inserting a stent. Thankfully they didn't , once he started chemo and also chemo-radiation the tumor shrank...the chemo may bring diarrhea but that may make it easier on the obstruction ... managing the pain was a bit more challenging since his stomach felt more sensitive...but from the time we discovered there was an obstruction to the point of surgery for removal, there was a period of 7 months, where he was on chemo and chemo-radiation. He also ate pretty much everything except trying to have not too much leafy veggies.
Hope this helps and good luck!