Postby hiker » Fri Jan 11, 2019 12:03 pm
Hey Melissa,
I had 3 rounds of FOLFOX between my colon and liver resection surgeries and never experienced nausea. The worst side effects I had from the Oxi were all related to eating/drinking. I had the first bite thing where my jaw would basically lock up, the cold sensitivity when drinking anything, and the feeling of swallowing broken glass most of the time. The symptoms only lasted a few days and completely went away after finishing that cocktail. The worst side effect I had from the 5FU was fatigue...extreme fatigue (I had 14 rounds of 5FU). I would get hooked up on Wednesday and I would disconnect myself on Friday. By Saturday afternoon I was feeling it and it lasted a few days. I never let any of the chemo/surgeries slow me down though and I honestly believe that helped me to get back to almost 100% quickly. I worked through it all...in the office and around the house (mowing grass, mulching, working on cars, plumbing, etc.). I believe you said before your husband is a blue collar man so I would recommend if he can't actually go into work while on chemo that he does plenty around the house to keep up his strength.
As far as supporting him...you know him better than the rest of us. I really didn't want anything extra from my wife or anyone else around me. I just figured the extra attention would make me feel like I was really sick...obviously stage iv cancer is really sick...but I didn't want to feel that way. Heck, I didn't even want my wife to go with me to NYC for my chemo treatments (3 1/2 - 4 hrs travel), but every so often she would tell me she was going - so I didn't object. Talk to him and see what he wants from you.
hiker
Colonoscopy 2/17, 5cm tumor descending
Diagnosed stage iv, liver mets 3/17
Colon resection 3/17
Told surgery not an option, get my affairs in order
Meet w/MSK team 5/01/17
Folfox(3rds) 5/17-6/17
Liver resection/implant HAI pump 7/17
HAI pump chemo(5rds) 8/17-2/18
Folfiri+Vectibix(11rds) 8/17-2/18
Spot on chest CT 10/17
Lung biopsy (that was fun) 11/17
Nocardia bacterial infection w/spread to brain (this is serious) 11/17
IV antibiotics 12/17-2/18
Oral antibiotics 3/18-12/18
Clear of cancer since surgery