Hi PhilPepper, Yes, chemo sucks. The sooner you get it over and done with, the better. Just be angry with the cancer. Channel that anger in to your recovery and getting through the chemo. -s ... View more

Hi Taffy10, I'm sorry to hear about your Dad and the effect that it had on you. My father also passed away from cancer around the same time. When my Father passed away I was left emotionally exhausted. I didn't have any emotional energy left to spend on a 3rd party. Perhaps you just didn't have the energy left to also spend on your fiancé? Maybe he also had needs, but after you Father, you just didn't feel as though you had anything else left to give? -sch   ... View more

Hi Tarai, How did you go? -s ... View more

Hi Nik198, I am sorry to hear this. As you say, it's a journey. It's happened and we're all along for the ride. What was the prognosis about the tissue that was removed? -sch ... View more

Hi debbru, Sorry, I have absolutely no idea. Best to discuss that with your doctor. -sch ... View more

Hi StayPositive, I know this response is a bit late. But if you are concerned about some aspect of your recovery so soon after surgery, I would just visit emergency.  Let them make the determination on whether you need further treatment. Think of it this way. Going to the hostpital sooner rather than later may save everyone time and money later on. -sch ... View more

Hi Albundy21, Bowel cancer is a shitty thing to happen. The side effects are pretty damn annoying, but here is a fact for you. The chemo drug side effects don't effect everybody in the same way. That list of side effects you read is a possible list. I can tell you now, you won't have them all.   OK. Oxaliplatin sucks. Having cancer sucks worse. My own experience with oxaplatin was that when I started chemo, there were 0 side effects. After round 2, I had numb lips and a sore throat. Round 3, cold water felt like razor blades sliding down. Tip, just drink warm water. The oxaliplatin is going to make you feel nauseus. Take anti-nausia tablets. You may have a number of side effects or you may have none. For each side effect you experience, try strategies to work around. Discuss them with your doctor, especially neurapathy. Best of luck, sch ... View more

Hi Albundy21,   I had a port-a-cath installed (is installed the right term?). I never had a chemo via a pic line. From my perspective and limited experience, the port-a-cath was hassle free. A local anaesthetic while it's installed (and a bit of discomfort when the anaesthetic wears off), but that was about it. Hardley even feel anything when being connected up to the chemo. I had chemo every 2 weeks for 6 months (FOLFOX). If I ever need chemo again, I'll have a port-a-cath installed again. No stress.   -sch ... View more

Hi PhilPepper, Sounds like we had similar experiences. After I had the colectomy I was really very sore. I tried to stay as active as I could post surgery. I just tried to do as much walking as I was able to (which depended on the day). Some days I just had to walk very very slowly. My chemo didn't start until I had recovered from the surgery. My cancer was stage 2a, and the chemo was just incase it had spread anywhere. Best of luck. sch PS. Cats rule ... View more

Hi Tracy2, I'm sorry to hear about your father being ill. This must be very difficult. I can't imagine that too many people would want to speculate on what might be wrong with your Dad, simply because of the high possibility that they would be wrong. The only people that can give you any real inside into your father's health are the medical professionals.   Have you discussed with your father about going to see the doctor with him, to discuss options open to investigation?   -s   ... View more