Radiation / Chemo Treatment then a Stroke

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SteveNZ
Posts: 147
Joined: Tue Apr 24, 2018 4:21 pm
Location: New Zealnd

Radiation / Chemo Treatment then a Stroke

Postby SteveNZ » Tue May 01, 2018 10:29 pm

SCARY ....... :(
Almost two weeks of Chemo (Xeloda) plus daily Radiation. Then yesterday I hopped off the radiation table and had minor TIA-Stroke. WOW
They took me to A&E (ER to US folk) in the same hospital, to be seen immediately. I ended up overnight in Neurology with tests and scans to find I had a minor stroke. I am grateful that it was minor enough that I have now almost fully recovered, after losing about 25% use/control of the left side of my body for a few hours. I am now released from hospital (remaining an out-patient) knowing I am close by and with my lovely 'medical' wife in the cancer patient units.

It is interesting that about a week earlier in time I had this tinnitis plus hearing loss.
And I am epileptic so these things are on the cards.

Enough to say I was so shaken.
They have wisely taken me off chemo and are carefully still checking things through. I shall remain on well monitored radiation treatment (over the next few weeks) with ongoing heart tests while there. I am normally quite a fit chap and my vital signs (other than the cancer) are good.
*I am very happy with the medical service and team of well interacting specialists at the hospital. In fact grateful it happened there.
:shock: WOW FOLK ..... THIS IS SOME MEDICAL JOURNEY..... :shock:
Aged 56 - I feel really young...
Colo-Rectal Cancer T2 N1 M0
March 2018 - Diagnosis
April-May 2018 Radiation+Chemo then a TIA (Minor Stroke). - Stopped Chemo.
August 27th-November 2018 - Surgery and long, long recovery
*Decided to live to 100 as I will get a telegram from Her Majesty the Queen when 100yrs old. I so, so want one.
Am a Salvation Army chap so I complete 'knee drill' (prayer) to the Commander in Chief often. For myself personally this helps me through.

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CRguy
Posts: 10473
Joined: Sun Feb 10, 2008 6:00 pm

Re: Radiation / Chemo Treatment then a Stroke

Postby CRguy » Wed May 02, 2018 1:16 am

SteveNZ
Please STOP !!!!!.... you have had enough fun so just STOP
:shock: :shock: :shock:

Seriously bro'
that is some scary shit
and we are ALL hugely grateful you are doing cool on the other side !!!!

TIA's = NOT fun
BUTT yes ... a warning and a caution to you and your team moving forward

" Every Journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single step."-Lao Tzu

" Sometimes we just need to take EACH step slowly and carefully ...
and then take the next step " -CRguy


In Harmony with you on the JOURNEY bro'
CRguy
Caregiver x 4
Stage IV A rectal cancer/lung met
17 Year survivor
my life is an ongoing totally randomized UNcontrolled experiment with N=1 !
Review of my Journey so far

SteveNZ
Posts: 147
Joined: Tue Apr 24, 2018 4:21 pm
Location: New Zealnd

Re: Radiation / Chemo Treatment then a Stroke

Postby SteveNZ » Wed May 02, 2018 2:08 am

CRguy wrote:SteveNZ
In Harmony with you on the JOURNEY bro'
CRguy


Thanks.
I really appreciate the encouragement................
Aged 56 - I feel really young...
Colo-Rectal Cancer T2 N1 M0
March 2018 - Diagnosis
April-May 2018 Radiation+Chemo then a TIA (Minor Stroke). - Stopped Chemo.
August 27th-November 2018 - Surgery and long, long recovery
*Decided to live to 100 as I will get a telegram from Her Majesty the Queen when 100yrs old. I so, so want one.
Am a Salvation Army chap so I complete 'knee drill' (prayer) to the Commander in Chief often. For myself personally this helps me through.

Caat55
Posts: 694
Joined: Sat Dec 23, 2017 6:01 pm

Re: Radiation / Chemo Treatment then a Stroke

Postby Caat55 » Wed May 02, 2018 10:58 pm

You've been dealt quite a hard of cards lately. Did they give you an indication of what might have cause the TIA, a clot from what?

Do whatever it takes to get well, and take care!!!
Susan
Do at 55 y.o. Female
Dx 9/26/17 RC Stage 3
Completed 33 rad. tx, xeolda 12/8/17
MRI and PET 1/18 sign. regression
Surgery 1/31/18 Ileostomy, clean margins, no lymph node involved
Port 3/1/2018
Oxaliplatin and Xeloda start 3/22/18
Last Oxaliplatin 7/5/18, 5 rounds
CT NED 9/2018
PET NED 12/18
Clear Colonoscopy 2/19, 5/20

SteveNZ
Posts: 147
Joined: Tue Apr 24, 2018 4:21 pm
Location: New Zealnd

Re: Radiation / Chemo Treatment then a Stroke

Postby SteveNZ » Wed May 02, 2018 11:43 pm

Caat55 wrote:You've been dealt quite a hard of cards lately. Did they give you an indication of what might have cause the TIA, a clot from what?

No they gave no indication. They completed an MRI that took ages (I have had them before being epileptic, but less time involved) so have had a good look around. To be honest I was scared they were also looking for evidence of cancer up there!?
Because of this event, in the near future I am to have 24 Halter monitor test plus echo cardiogram. And given aspirin plus atorvastatin. They advised it was standard practice to give a cholesterol drug for the first month even with no signs of a high level.

Thanks for your input.
Aged 56 - I feel really young...
Colo-Rectal Cancer T2 N1 M0
March 2018 - Diagnosis
April-May 2018 Radiation+Chemo then a TIA (Minor Stroke). - Stopped Chemo.
August 27th-November 2018 - Surgery and long, long recovery
*Decided to live to 100 as I will get a telegram from Her Majesty the Queen when 100yrs old. I so, so want one.
Am a Salvation Army chap so I complete 'knee drill' (prayer) to the Commander in Chief often. For myself personally this helps me through.

SteveNZ
Posts: 147
Joined: Tue Apr 24, 2018 4:21 pm
Location: New Zealnd

Re: Radiation / Chemo Treatment then a Stroke

Postby SteveNZ » Tue May 15, 2018 2:29 am

ANOTHER HOSPITAL VISIT :(
After a few days I was getting some real painful chest pains. Because of the TIA they placed me in hospital and checked out my heart and lungs (for other clots). There are no heart issues. Great......

My CRP (C-Reactive Proteins) levels are pretty high and I admit I am VERY sore in my lower torso.
"....Peeing dynamite and pooing barbed wire..."
They are pretty certain that the chest pains are linked to a chest condition (an oesaphagus seizing) that is pretty mean. Really really painful. So awful that they gave me morphine in tablet form to give me a decent sleep.

And due to the pain and being a bit too '..Macho..' they let me know I needed to take strong pain killers. I did not realize that '..cringing your way through pain...' causes so many additional problems that should be avoided.
SUMMARY- Take pain killers when needed it is one of the tools to healing. :D
Aged 56 - I feel really young...
Colo-Rectal Cancer T2 N1 M0
March 2018 - Diagnosis
April-May 2018 Radiation+Chemo then a TIA (Minor Stroke). - Stopped Chemo.
August 27th-November 2018 - Surgery and long, long recovery
*Decided to live to 100 as I will get a telegram from Her Majesty the Queen when 100yrs old. I so, so want one.
Am a Salvation Army chap so I complete 'knee drill' (prayer) to the Commander in Chief often. For myself personally this helps me through.

Soccermom2boys
Posts: 222
Joined: Tue Nov 10, 2015 10:29 pm

Re: Radiation / Chemo Treatment then a Stroke

Postby Soccermom2boys » Tue May 15, 2018 9:03 pm

I agree that painkillers are a necessity at times, just be mindful that they also can bring on constipation and with your radiation causing you so much pain, that is likely to exasperate it. Ask if there is something you can take for pain that will not affect your bowel movements too much. You have definitely had a rough time of it, yuck! If only this got you a free pass out of cancerland, so sorry!
8/3/15 Went in with a hemorrhoid, came out with a tumor
8/12/15 Biopsy from colonoscopy confirms RC (45 yrs old--zero family history!)
9/21 - 10/29/15 chemorad 28 tx (with Xeloda)
12/17/15 APR with perm colostomy
Pathology report stages me as IIIA (T2N1M0)--1/15 LN detects cancer
2/3/16 chemo port inserted
2/8-6/2/16 8 rounds of Folfox

SteveNZ
Posts: 147
Joined: Tue Apr 24, 2018 4:21 pm
Location: New Zealnd

Re: Radiation / Chemo Treatment then a Stroke

Postby SteveNZ » Wed May 16, 2018 2:24 am

Soccermom2boys wrote:I agree that painkillers are a necessity at times, just be mindful that they also can bring on constipation and with your radiation causing you so much pain, that is likely to exasperate it. Ask if there is something you can take for pain that will not affect your bowel movements too much. You have definitely had a rough time of it, yuck! If only this got you a free pass out of cancerland, so sorry!

Thank you for that advice.

They did warn me to take care as for myself the irradiated area is one with 'plenty of nerves'. But an aggressive radiation is likely to be very effective and there were no vital organs (Hmmm.... is sex vital???) that would be harmed. I trust the team as they consult one another well.
The hospital staff are very helpful with the best way (plus handing out required creams etc) to treat the nasty symptoms that I will have to go through.
Haha ... it is as though they know exactly what will happen and are somewhat pre-prepared, almost waiting, to help me out. And constipation is a major item they want to control.
Aged 56 - I feel really young...
Colo-Rectal Cancer T2 N1 M0
March 2018 - Diagnosis
April-May 2018 Radiation+Chemo then a TIA (Minor Stroke). - Stopped Chemo.
August 27th-November 2018 - Surgery and long, long recovery
*Decided to live to 100 as I will get a telegram from Her Majesty the Queen when 100yrs old. I so, so want one.
Am a Salvation Army chap so I complete 'knee drill' (prayer) to the Commander in Chief often. For myself personally this helps me through.


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