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Saw the oncologist and it is incurable but I just finished the first two week xeloda run and I move better, less tired, shoulder pain gone and the pain on the right side which is the classic sign of liver cancer(didn't know at the time) almost gone.
Had a portacatheter put in the other day.
Side effects: constipation, back pain and some insomnia.
Get the right care team including palliative care and you have a chance. The oncologist is willing to discuss adapting the xeloda. The palliative care doc is very helpful.
Really looking forward to my week vacation from xeloda to see if the side effects subside.
Anyone out there going through the same thing, let's talk.View Thread
The pain is mild. But since it has been going on for almost 2 weeks, I am slowly getting a little worried about it.
I feel like the pain is just right under the skin. I think the area is called "subcutaneous fat". I can actually squeeze the fat tissue where the pain comes from with my thumb and index finger. When I squeeze it, I feel like something is swollen there. It feels like a swollen tube shape tissue that extends from near the belly button to the side of the abdomin.
I was not really worried about it before because the pain is quite away from the internal organs. But the pain has been going on for two weeks. So I start thinking more about it now.
Could it possibly be any form of cancer?View Thread
Since my surgery my life has changed, always needing to be concerned where a restroom is, wonder if I am going to have pain or rawness from food?View Thread
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My dr. wants to do a re-section of my colon. Do to my health, I don'
know if I want to go thru it all. My Wife is also sick and will have a problem taking care of me.
Any Suggestions?View Thread
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UOAA United Ostomy Associations of America.
If you are having trouble that needs fixing today ( appliance won't stay in place, bad burns, etc) Visiting Nurses can send out someone who is well versed and she will often have the solution to your problem with her. They have helped me a couple of times when my problem trapped me in the house.
Hang in there and good luck.View Thread
One of the other medical issues he has is an inoperable colon polyp. He has had it for many years. It is too large to remove without doing a resection of the intestine which we determined that he would not survive if attempted. If we had opted for the surgery and he did survive it, his cognitive skills would not permit him to do the necessary rehab following surgery, so we remain between a rock and a hard place.
With the large polyp he has had loose stools and sometimes explosive diarrhea for the past many years. He often will not have any bowel movement for 3-4 days and then have the diarrhea.
We are not crazy about the hospice agency we are working with. They come in an make rash decisions to do this or that without really knowing his patterns. Some of those recommendations have made his bowel symptoms worse such as putting him on laxatives during the days he is constipated which causes more diarrhea when he finally does have his stools. Then they suggest immodium which makes the stool free days worse and longer as well. It seems like we are in a vicious cycle. We are posting this to see if someone might have a suggestion. Again, it feels to us that hospice doesn't really care about figuring out something else that will help comfort my FIL in all this. Literally, we stood at his bedside for three hours in one stretch as we attempted putting a new diaper on him.. The stool just kept coming. We'd get him cleaned up with clean bedding, disposable pads, barrier cream and diaper all in place to have more stool seeping out in mass. For the last 36 hours this has been the norm, in bowel coming continually for these many hours. He appears fine, however. He doesn't appear to feel sickly as one would expect after a diarrhea bout when one has the flu, for example. Based on past experience he will go stool free for the next 3 days.
If anyone has any suggestions we would greatly appreciate it.View Thread
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has and one had this problem50% (1)
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LindaView Thread
My question is: after surgery, how long has it taken for patients to heal to be able to go back to work? How long does it take to get used to having an ileostomy?
I know there might not be any definite answers but I would love to hear of everyone's experiences.
I am really desperate to know, as I am on disability and he is the bread winner and we need him to be able to work. He had a pretty easy job with no strenuous work, he just drives a boat.
Thanks for all of your help. I guess I am just scared at the outcome of surgery.
Thanks all!View Thread
Sorry bout spelling...was never my strong point!!! lol
Ty LauraView Thread
Breath Test May Detect Colon Cancer
Pulmonologist, Peter Mazzone, MD, says the breath functions in the body in much the same way that the exhause system functions in a car, and what comes out gives a sense of how things are working inside. Similar research is under way to develop tests for lung, breast, prostate, and other cancers.
After reading the article come back to share your thoughts about this new testing. Do you think it will reduce the need for a screening colonoscopy?
ElizabethView Thread
It has been over 2 months since I had my reversal and over 7 months since my LAR (removing a portion of the rectum) surgery was done but I still continue to have thin pencil like or even flat ribbon like stools.
My CEA and physical exams have been coming out normal.
I am really worried and was wondering if someone could offer their opinions on this.
JackView Thread
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