What Week Of Chemo/Radiation Do The Symptoms Start Getting Worse?

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Deep
Posts: 38
Joined: Thu Nov 01, 2018 6:10 pm

What Week Of Chemo/Radiation Do The Symptoms Start Getting Worse?

Postby Deep » Fri Jan 11, 2019 12:34 pm

Can anyone please tell me your experiences with Capecitabine and radiation treatment for rectal cancer. I am ending week 1 1/2 right now (Started last Thursday) and can say that I have yet to experience any side effects. I have 5 total weeks of treatment or 25 total radiation sessions. I do smoke and consume marijuana as I live in a recreational state and have read up on this helping alleviate some of the side effects such as poor appetite or nausea.
11/29/18 Diagnosed T3N1 Rectal Cancer (Age 39, Male, no family history)
01/02/19--02/7/19--- 25 rounds radiation/chemo (Capecitabine 2000 mg)
04/15/19 Surgery, temp ileostomy (Tumor Staged T2)
7/8/19-10/15/19 Chemo (8 Rounds) Folfox
11/12/19- Scan NED

CF_69
Posts: 109
Joined: Sat Dec 22, 2018 9:44 pm

Re: What Week Of Chemo/Radiation Do The Symptoms Start Getting Worse?

Postby CF_69 » Fri Jan 11, 2019 2:37 pm

I’m in the same boat.

Done 20 sessions now and have 5 more to go.

I’ve had some gas and more frequent bowel movements but no pain, or pooping glass like I’ve read. My tumor is quite high though, at the sigmoid/rectosigmoid junction, maybe that has something to do with that.

I worked out regularly until this week where I probably could have gone a few times, but opted not to.

I’ll try to finish strong next week.

The radiologist told me today that next week and the one after are when i’ll really feel it as the dose accumulates.

No nausea, no loss of appetite at all, and I don’t use cannabis.

From what I’ve read, I’d say I got off pretty easy on side effects so far, knocking furiously on wood.
47 at diagnosis
Rectosigmoid junction
Adenocarcinoma
2.8 x 1.8 x 3.5 cm
G2
T3N0M0
CEA:
December 2018 - 1.9
September 2019 - 2.5
March 2020 - 2.3
September 2020 - 2.5
Xeloda / radiation x 25
Laparoscopic LAR April 2019
0 of 12 nodes
Stage 2A
4 cycles of adjuvant Xeloda
MRI on liver for 2mm hypodensity not suspicious.
Clear CT - September 2019
Clear CT - October 2020

User avatar
susie0915
Posts: 945
Joined: Wed Aug 02, 2017 8:17 am
Facebook Username: Susan DeGrazia Hostetter
Location: Michigan

Re: What Week Of Chemo/Radiation Do The Symptoms Start Getting Worse?

Postby susie0915 » Fri Jan 11, 2019 3:18 pm

It will get worse, it is cumulative. I really didn't notice any issues until the last two weeks. The skin does become sore. My biggest issue was I felt like I was passing glass when I urinated. I had to use lidocaine to numb the area every time i went. I don't know if you're a man or woman. If you are male it may not affect you the same. I really didn't notice any side effects from the xeloda, but the radiation did show side effects the last two weeks, and for a couple weeks after I finished.
58 yrs old Dx @ 55
5/15 DX T3N0MO
6/15 5 wks chemo/rad
7/15 sigmoidoscopy/only scar tissue left
8/15 PET scan NED
9/15 LAR
0/24 nodes
10/15 blockage. surgery,early ileo rev, c-diff inf :(
12/15 6 rds of xelox
5/16 CT lung scarring/inflammation
9/16 clear colonoscopy
4/17 C 4mm lung nod
10/17 pel/abd CT NED
11/17 CEA<.5
1/18 CT/Lung no change in 4mm nodule
5/18 CEA<.5, CT pel/abd/lung NED
11/18 CEA .6
5/19 CT NED, CEA <.5
10/19 Clear colonscopy
11/19 CEA <.5

Deep
Posts: 38
Joined: Thu Nov 01, 2018 6:10 pm

Re: What Week Of Chemo/Radiation Do The Symptoms Start Getting Worse?

Postby Deep » Fri Jan 11, 2019 5:35 pm

susie0915 wrote:It will get worse, it is cumulative. I really didn't notice any issues until the last two weeks. The skin does become sore. My biggest issue was I felt like I was passing glass when I urinated. I had to use lidocaine to numb the area every time i went. I don't know if you're a man or woman. If you are male it may not affect you the same. I really didn't notice any side effects from the xeloda, but the radiation did show side effects the last two weeks, and for a couple weeks after I finished.



Thanks for responding. I am male.
11/29/18 Diagnosed T3N1 Rectal Cancer (Age 39, Male, no family history)
01/02/19--02/7/19--- 25 rounds radiation/chemo (Capecitabine 2000 mg)
04/15/19 Surgery, temp ileostomy (Tumor Staged T2)
7/8/19-10/15/19 Chemo (8 Rounds) Folfox
11/12/19- Scan NED

Deep
Posts: 38
Joined: Thu Nov 01, 2018 6:10 pm

Re: What Week Of Chemo/Radiation Do The Symptoms Start Getting Worse?

Postby Deep » Fri Jan 11, 2019 5:43 pm

CF_69 wrote:I’m in the same boat.

Done 20 sessions now and have 5 more to go.

I’ve had some gas and more frequent bowel movements but no pain, or pooping glass like I’ve read. My tumor is quite high though, at the sigmoid/rectosigmoid junction, maybe that has something to do with that.

I worked out regularly until this week where I probably could have gone a few times, but opted not to.

I’ll try to finish strong next week.

The radiologist told me today that next week and the one after are when i’ll really feel it as the dose accumulates.

No nausea, no loss of appetite at all, and I don’t use cannabis.

From what I’ve read, I’d say I got off pretty easy on side effects so far, knocking furiously on wood.



Thanks for letting me know your experience so far. I am hoping for the same outcome as you at 20 treatments. My tumor is 9cm from the Anal verge. Not sure if that is high up or not.
11/29/18 Diagnosed T3N1 Rectal Cancer (Age 39, Male, no family history)
01/02/19--02/7/19--- 25 rounds radiation/chemo (Capecitabine 2000 mg)
04/15/19 Surgery, temp ileostomy (Tumor Staged T2)
7/8/19-10/15/19 Chemo (8 Rounds) Folfox
11/12/19- Scan NED

sinewaves
Posts: 16
Joined: Tue Dec 18, 2018 9:44 am

Re: What Week Of Chemo/Radiation Do The Symptoms Start Getting Worse?

Postby sinewaves » Fri Jan 11, 2019 8:56 pm

I'm right there with you - finished week 1 today. Knocking on wood it stays pretty side effect free.

Keep us updated!
DX @ 40, married, no children
11/2018 - Dx "MALIGNANT NEOPLASM of DISTAL RECTUM" (Stage 3a, T3N1M0)
1/7/ - 2/14/2019 - Radiation + Xeloda
4/26/2019 - APR surgery, removed rectum. Permanent colostomy.
5/10/2019 - Started Xelox through IV (didn't get port put in)
8/30/2019 - Ended Xelox after 4 rounds (out of scheduled 6)
1/2020 - Lung nodule found in CT, ruled met from previous malignancy, re DX stage 4
2/2020 - Nodule removed, recommended another 6 rounds of Xelox

prs
Posts: 201
Joined: Sat Dec 12, 2015 7:09 pm
Location: Central California

Re: What Week Of Chemo/Radiation Do The Symptoms Start Getting Worse?

Postby prs » Fri Jan 11, 2019 10:22 pm

In my experience the radiation is cumulative, for me the week after treatment ended was by far the worst. I don't know what having a red hot poker shoved up your ass feels like, but bowel movements during that week gave me a pretty good idea!! :)

My first reaction to the radiation was a bloom of external hemorrhoids They were not at all painful, but they did significantly increase the surface area for burns. The skin burns started to show up at about week three and got progressively worse, by the end of week four some of the burned areas started bleeding.

My tumor was very low, actually attached to the sphincter muscles, so it's likely a greater concentration of radiation had to be directed thru the anal area than if the tumor was higher up. Hope this helps.
Peter, age 65 at dx
DX 4 cm x 4 cm very low rectal adenocarcinoma into the sphincters 01/15
Stage III T3 N1 M0 with two suspicious lymph nodes
26 sessions IMRT radiation with 1,000 mg Xeloda twice per day 03/15 to 04/15
Complete clincal response to the chemoradiation...the tumor shrank completely away 06/15 :D
No surgery...Habr-Gama watch and wait protocol instead
Xelox chemotherapy 07/15-12/15
MRI and rectal exam every three months starting 07/15
MRI and rectal exam every six months starting 07/17
NED

CF_69
Posts: 109
Joined: Sat Dec 22, 2018 9:44 pm

Re: What Week Of Chemo/Radiation Do The Symptoms Start Getting Worse?

Postby CF_69 » Fri Jan 11, 2019 10:34 pm

I have been taking preventative measures like the baking soda / salt water mouth rinse, putting moisturizer on my hands and feet at night, and not wiping with paper when I do have a BM.

Straight into the shower.

I’m pretty much eating whatever I want. A few things have upset my system but nothing too severe. Not trusting a fart type stuff.

I quit drinking beer and coffee when I found out, and that’s been about 2.5 months now.

I drank a lot of both before.

I do miss the coffee but have been drinking green tea in its place.
47 at diagnosis
Rectosigmoid junction
Adenocarcinoma
2.8 x 1.8 x 3.5 cm
G2
T3N0M0
CEA:
December 2018 - 1.9
September 2019 - 2.5
March 2020 - 2.3
September 2020 - 2.5
Xeloda / radiation x 25
Laparoscopic LAR April 2019
0 of 12 nodes
Stage 2A
4 cycles of adjuvant Xeloda
MRI on liver for 2mm hypodensity not suspicious.
Clear CT - September 2019
Clear CT - October 2020

Big Jay
Posts: 35
Joined: Fri Jun 17, 2016 5:41 pm
Location: Baltimore, MD

Re: What Week Of Chemo/Radiation Do The Symptoms Start Getting Worse?

Postby Big Jay » Sat Jan 12, 2019 9:08 am

I wouldn't complain about the lack of side effects. As others have posted the effects are cumulative. The first few weeks they're blasting the general area with radiation but then they start narrowing the beam to concentrate on the tumor itself. I think that's when the fun starts.

Personally, I didn't have too many problems with the Xeloda except for some vague stomach cramps. The radiation just left me feeling drained of energy towards the end of each week. The weekend after my last treatment the cumulative radiation effects really kicked in. Lots of diarrhea and painful razor poops. Saturday was the worst, Sunday was better, and thing's weren't too bad by Monday.
DX at 45yo 6/9/16, 2.4cm tumor, 9cm from Anal Verge, 6/27/16
Clinical staging IIIC, CEA 3.1 7/1/16
30x Chemorad 8/5/16 - 9/16/16
CT/MRI/Scope => CCR 11/1/16... Rolling the dice on Watch & Wait
Snake Eyes: Tiny regrowth at scar 11/1/17
LAR 1/17/18: Path = 3mm tumor, 0/12 nodes Med Onc doesn't recommend chemo.
Reversal 4/17/18

CF_69
Posts: 109
Joined: Sat Dec 22, 2018 9:44 pm

Re: What Week Of Chemo/Radiation Do The Symptoms Start Getting Worse?

Postby CF_69 » Thu Jan 17, 2019 5:04 pm

My last week I’ve had noticeable fatigue and more bowel activities like mucous farts, more frequent BM’s and definitely softer stools. I wouldn’t describe it as passing glass, more like grit.

Really looking forward to the end of my final treatment tomorrow.

Scared of the surgery ahead but happy to be making progress.
47 at diagnosis
Rectosigmoid junction
Adenocarcinoma
2.8 x 1.8 x 3.5 cm
G2
T3N0M0
CEA:
December 2018 - 1.9
September 2019 - 2.5
March 2020 - 2.3
September 2020 - 2.5
Xeloda / radiation x 25
Laparoscopic LAR April 2019
0 of 12 nodes
Stage 2A
4 cycles of adjuvant Xeloda
MRI on liver for 2mm hypodensity not suspicious.
Clear CT - September 2019
Clear CT - October 2020

justin case
Posts: 4269
Joined: Sun Sep 04, 2011 8:26 am
Location: Katy, Texas

Re: What Week Of Chemo/Radiation Do The Symptoms Start Getting Worse?

Postby justin case » Fri Jan 18, 2019 1:07 pm

Final treatment as in before the 3 bumps ? The last 3 treatments target the tumor directly, while the previous have circled the area involved. Once the tumor breaks up, it can feel unlike anything you might have experienced .
7/11 diagnosed Stage 2 colon and rectal cancer
chemo/rad
lar/temp ilio
Reversal & port removal
21 round of chemo Folfox 9tx, 5fu 12 tx
Last treatment July 2012

CF_69
Posts: 109
Joined: Sat Dec 22, 2018 9:44 pm

Re: What Week Of Chemo/Radiation Do The Symptoms Start Getting Worse?

Postby CF_69 » Fri Jan 18, 2019 1:48 pm

I’m not sure about that. I asked the therapist if these were any stronger and she said no.

I did #25 this morning and am finished this stage.

Meet with surgeon in about 2 weeks time.
47 at diagnosis
Rectosigmoid junction
Adenocarcinoma
2.8 x 1.8 x 3.5 cm
G2
T3N0M0
CEA:
December 2018 - 1.9
September 2019 - 2.5
March 2020 - 2.3
September 2020 - 2.5
Xeloda / radiation x 25
Laparoscopic LAR April 2019
0 of 12 nodes
Stage 2A
4 cycles of adjuvant Xeloda
MRI on liver for 2mm hypodensity not suspicious.
Clear CT - September 2019
Clear CT - October 2020

justin case
Posts: 4269
Joined: Sun Sep 04, 2011 8:26 am
Location: Katy, Texas

Re: What Week Of Chemo/Radiation Do The Symptoms Start Getting Worse?

Postby justin case » Fri Jan 18, 2019 2:49 pm

You are lucky, I was told 25, and then was told 3 more and you're done . I had low rectum rad . I also had a tumor in my sigmoid, that caused me to do FOLFOX, during radiation .
Michael
7/11 diagnosed Stage 2 colon and rectal cancer
chemo/rad
lar/temp ilio
Reversal & port removal
21 round of chemo Folfox 9tx, 5fu 12 tx
Last treatment July 2012

Pyro
Posts: 305
Joined: Mon Oct 12, 2015 7:40 pm
Location: Tucson, AZ

Re: What Week Of Chemo/Radiation Do The Symptoms Start Getting Worse?

Postby Pyro » Sun Jan 20, 2019 4:24 pm

Anus itching is all I got, extremely low tumor.
Aug 2015- Stage 4 CC with liver Mets(38/m)
Sep 2015- Avastin/Folfox/Iron
Dec 2015-Not liver surgery candidate
Jan 2016- Erbitux/Folfiri, 2nd opinion at MDA in TX
Feb 2016 -MDA liver surgery
Mar 2016 -30% of left lobe rem, PVE
May 2016 - 70% of liver rem
Jun 2016-Rad
Jan 2017-perm colost @MDA
Jul 2017-Erb/FOLFURI
Nov 2017 -Lung & Liver ablations@MDA
Jan 2018 -Xeloda & Avastin mx
Jul 2018-Avast/FOLFURI
Sep 2018-Rad
Mar 2019 - Keytruda fail
Jun 2019 - FOLFURI
Aug 2019 - No more, quality time!

CF_69
Posts: 109
Joined: Sat Dec 22, 2018 9:44 pm

Re: What Week Of Chemo/Radiation Do The Symptoms Start Getting Worse?

Postby CF_69 » Wed Jan 23, 2019 10:56 pm

Well I’m definitely feeling some pain around the anus and it feels like I’m shitting rocks. Last treatment was last Friday, so about 5-6 days ago now.

Hope it passes soon.
47 at diagnosis
Rectosigmoid junction
Adenocarcinoma
2.8 x 1.8 x 3.5 cm
G2
T3N0M0
CEA:
December 2018 - 1.9
September 2019 - 2.5
March 2020 - 2.3
September 2020 - 2.5
Xeloda / radiation x 25
Laparoscopic LAR April 2019
0 of 12 nodes
Stage 2A
4 cycles of adjuvant Xeloda
MRI on liver for 2mm hypodensity not suspicious.
Clear CT - September 2019
Clear CT - October 2020


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