FOLFOX Treatment Diary

[AussieAssCancer]

Big congrats on getting through all 12! Here's hoping you get your port out quickly! I asked my oncologist about mine and he said not for at least another 12mths

Good luck with the scans

GK

[DocSavage]

Aussie -

DId he say why? Mine said if the scan is clear its a go. At least I think that what I heard. Even though the port and I have been very close this last six months or so I can say everytime I brush it or see it i can help but get into a bit of a funk

[AussieAssCancer]

I'm with you mate. My (nearly) 3yo has an uncanny ability to bump it every time she hugs me/we have cuddles.

It wasn't my usual oncologist and he couldn't give me a specific reason other than he wants to make sure we get through the period when most recurrences are likely to occur.

I get the rationale behind it but it goes against what they've told me in terms of prognosis. I think he's just being overly cautious!

[DocSavage]

Aussie -

That sounds 'reasonable' - we have a friend (a very strong willed attorney) She just got finished with her chemo and went to her surgeon. She told him she wanted it out, He flipped through the chart and said 'well I don't see an order for that'. She said 'I want it out' so he took it out

-Andy

[DocSavage]

All-righty then...

My scan was clear - although the Dr said there were changes in my lungs and liver that are consistent with chemo and nothing to worry about. I think he didnt want me to freak when I read the report.

Today I had my Bard Power Port removed. It was done in the surgeons office under local. It took about 20 minutes. I was a bit nervous but the worst part was the lidocaine injections and that was just a few pin pricks before it got numb. The drape was over my eyes so I didn't even have anything to see. Although I could see him tugging on the suture material out of the corner of my eye. I could feel/hear a bit of snipping as he cut the sutures holding it in and a bit of tugging as he pulled the catheter out but that is it. He said the hole in the artery will seal up just like after a IV because it is a low pressure system and it is easier for the blood to stay in the vessel. The sutures are under the skin and dissolvable so I don't even have to go back.

I threw away the Bard wrist band in the trash at the surgeons office....

-Andy

[AussieAssCancer]

Great news to hear on all fronts. No doubt you feel like a new man with that blasted port out.

All the best for ongoing scans/bloods etc

[DocSavage]

Aussie -

I had to go read your blog - very 'entertaining' if we can say that about all this

One of the things I noted was your description of the neuropathy in the feet feeling like wet sox. I have been struggling with how to describe it to people, because for me it is not numbness like when your feet or hands fall asleep. That describes it exactly.

I am with you on enjoying cold things like ice cream and beer again. I found that the carbonation in room temp beer was unpleasant.

It was 'interesting' to discover after 8 weeks post chemo to really see how bad I had felt during. The fog is mostly gone, the background nausea, fatigue - the squirts... I think the mental energy required to go two weeks to two weeks kept me focused on the short term goals and mind sort of off how bad I felt. In some ways I think it was harder on my wife and friends because I had that focus and all they had was worry.

All the weight I lost is back and then some - I am now at max density for me. One of our friends, an OB/GYN was worried I was too thin and sent me twenty pints of ice cream. Since it was Dr's orders and I felt sure it was like antibiotics and you should take the full course I was a compliant patient. It was amazing that I would tell myself I will just have bit and then sit there and eat the whole pint.

-Andy

P.S. We are leaving for Hawaii next week

[AussieAssCancer]

Andy

Glad you had a chuckle mate. I found that having a laugh helped a lot during treatment and during the rougher times. Only in the weekend we were playing 'Cards against Humanity' and one of my friends played the 'cancer' card and I was the one who laughed the loudest and the longest.

I have been struggling with fatigue of late but I suspect that is more to do with the fact that we have been having 40+* (Celsius) days for the last few weeks, I am working long hours in preparation for taking time off to have my reversal and general anxiety about the surgery (well, the aftermath of it anyway).

I came close to 'retiring' one of my suits because I was so efficient at putting the weight I'd lost back and then some. The plan is to get my ass into gear, literally as well as anatomically after the reversal and get fit. Time will tell.

As for the Hawaii comment at the end, I hate you! If you've never been and need some tips, send me a DM or email me geoffakidd@gmail.com and I'll happily share what I've learnt over my trips. If nothing else I expect you to head to Dukes and have a Mai Tai and Kona Longboard Lager for me.

Aloha brother