Hi Rach, Have the doctors spoken to you and set any expectations here? What have they told you?   -s ... View more

Hi Albundy21, Great article there. I've had numb hands and feet since I finished chemo. I suspect that after 12 months, it's not going to resolve and is permanent nerve damage. Oh well 🙂 -s ... View more

Phil, I love the way you describe it as insects crawling under your feet. That is a brilliant way of describing it. I remember the first time it happened to me, I had to look under my feet as I could have sworn there were earwig insects crawling under my feet.   In my experience I found that each cycle a little worse than the previous. Just be prepared.   -s   ... View more

Hi Rach44,   Welcome to the community.  I'm sorry to hear of your illness. It's never an easy message to receive or information to digest. Do you have family or friends who you can take with you to medical appointments or assist you?   Am I correct in understanding that you intend on completing 6 of 18 rounds of chemo? Can I ask why? I am not passing judgement here.   If you are trying alternative therapies, I would be letting your oncologist know. They can then let you know if they think these therapies/medicines are not going to be compatible with your other therapies you are receiving.  I was only diagnosed with stage 2 bowel cancer, but in the past I was involved in an auto-vehicle accident that incapactitated me for 8 months.  I made a claim for Total Temporary Disability (TTD) insurance.  I received help in completing the paper work from a hospital social worker. The paper work can take a while to be processed, so I would recommend getting on to that sooner rather than later.   As for Chemo Brain, yes, there certainly is such a thing! You are not imaging this. It's general abscent mindeness, but just a bit worse.  To work around this, you might need to get a bit better at note taking! When you go to meetings or or a doctor tells you something, writing down in a journal. This will be a good strategy that will assist you.   Finally, a stage 4 diagnosis doesn't necessarily mean you are going to die soon. Talk to your doctor/oncologist about the prognosis, but it's not uncommon for life expectancy to be for many years. Obviously that depends on the specific circumstances. Keep hope alive. *hug*   -s ... View more

Hi Phil,   The name I've chosen is a little mundane. It's the initials of my name. My name is Sean, and I have chosen to obscure my real name for the sake of privacy in the context of the broader internet.   Hot milk on ceral is a great idea. That reminds me of my travels to India.  What are the psyllium hosts for? I haven't heard of using these before.   As for tips on getting through this; Set a routine of walking (or running) as much as you can fit in to a daily routine. This will help with nausea, appetite, neuropathy and just generally boost your mood.  I know this can be difficult after surgery. I started walking 4 km a day, a couple of weeks after my colectomy. I was sore and slow. I also found that it helped with anxiety. I found that my taste buds were altered by surgery. Things that I liked before I didn't like any more. Things I didn't like before, I really love now. Strange yes? Try different foods that you might not have liked before and see if you like them now. That might help. I don't know if you are intending on working while you complete your chemo. When I first started chemo, I was going straight back to work after I had chemo (with my 5FU in the bag). Three months in and the fatigue hit big time. I wasn't able to head back to work that day. I would go home and sleep for the rest of the day. The nausea can be pretty tough. If you are feeling nauseas, tell your doctors. The doctor changed my anti-nausea tablets to something stronger. That made such a difference. If you are not coping or struggling with some aspect of your treatment, tell your doctor. They can make changes or alter doses of drugs. It's really very important that you communicate with your doctor. -s         ... View more

Hi Alive, I hate to break it to you, but kids don't leave know until they're 30.  Sorry, you'll have ot make that another 20 years. *hugs*   -s ... View more

Hi Biancalj1, My father had bowel cancer. Towards the end, he said some pretty nasty things to us. Things better left unrepeated. When he passed away I was away at the time, but I swear I felt him pass through my soul and say good bye. An hour later my Mum called to tell me.   Afterwards when I reflected upon some of the things he had said, I wondered if he knew the end was near and was pushing people away, in the hopes of trying to hurt people less when he passed away. -s   ... View more

Hey mate, My Dad also taught me to play chess. Never let me win either! I still really enjoy playing. My eldest son (9yo) now likes chess and has been part of the chess club at his school since he was in year 1. Funny how these things have such an influence on the future. -s   ... View more

Hi Trish,   I'm sorry to hear what this has happened to you. Where abouts are you based and what cancer do you have? It would be nice to hear some more about you, if you'd like to share.    Hopefully there are some support groups based close by, because some time just talking about it can help. There is also the cancer council support services. https://www.cancercouncil.com.au/26782/coping-with-cancer/cancer-connect-peer-support/cancer-council-connect-ive-had-cancer-too/?pp=110533   -s ... View more

Hi Phil, Not sure about the pinkish red under the nails. But the tingling fingers? Yes, I had that, especially if it was cold. You could try wearing gloves when you're outside and/or if it is cold. See if that makes a difference for you. I used to also get the tingling feeling in the soles of my feet from the cold coming through my shoes.   I hope you were warned about the neuropathy. 12 months after completing my 12 cycles, and I still don't have full feeling back in my hands and feet.    All good otherwise?   -s ... View more