husband just had 1 8hr session post op chemo 8 weeks after 2 stage oesoph/gastrectomy - had to stop treatment as he felt so ill. Any advice

[bmwhatchback]

[Hidden]

Chemotherapy can make you feel absolutely awful. This is not fair, because some people react very well to it. It seems to be very different for individuals. It probably has to do with what medication they use as well. I also wonder sometimes whether the changes in the system created by the surgery might have an effect as well.

If his illness is caused by the chemotherapy medication, he will probably start to feel better as it drains out of his system. I think the oncologists are experienced at dealing with adverse reactions, so they might then think about changing the treatment regime / medication; or ultimately stopping it all together.

It will all depend on the scans and history as to how much post-op chemo is required and appropriate. This may not sound very helpful when you feel that the treatment is causing more pain and trouble than the cancer ever did, but some chemo does seem to continue until the patient simply cannot bear any more. There are plenty of cases where the chemo regime has been finished prematurely and has not seemed to affect the eventual outcome. I think that patients are generally advised to try and get through the whole treatment cycle if they can, but it can be horrendously debilitating, and I think you will just have to ask the doctors for their advice. They want him to have the best chance of long term recovery even though it feels like the chemo is half killing him, so it might be worth asking whether there may be alternative treatments / medication that might not have the same adverse side-effects?

We do send our very best wishes to you.

[bmwhatchback in reply to Hidden]

Many thanks - had no trouble with the pre op chemo just post op so could be as you say the changes to the system after surgery - many thanks Lynj

[Hidden]

Same happened to me and others I know.It was that bad had to stop within a week.I know people who stopped like myself and still here and well and to be frank had a higher stage than 2 so thats good.The oncologist will sort it and advise

[bmwhatchback]

good to know that others have been through they same experience - perhaps thats the wrong thing to say, but I am sure you understand!!

[margie1]

i too was ill after the first post op chemo, i had to go back to the cancer unit to have injections for severe sickness etc completely different reaction to the pre op chemo.but i spoke to the Oncologist who prescribed pre treatment medication that i took 1hour before the start of the 8hour regime and he also reduced one of the drugs by 10% (the red one given in a syringe, sorry ive forgotten what its called) which did help a lot i still had some of the effects like sickness cold hands and feet etc but i persevered and got through all the cycles finishing the treatment at xmas 2012 i can understand why some people stop the chemo but i am pleased that i managed to carry on

i wish you all the best

[Spikey]

I got through my pre-op chemo more or less OK - some nausea, fatigue and peripheral neuropathy, but nothing that I couldn't cope with. After my surgery, the pathology report showed some lymph node involvement, therefore, like your husband, they started me on a further course of chemo about 8 weeks post-op. Three days after my first cycle, I was rushed into hospital with acute nausea, severe pains in my chest and legs and a dangerously low blood count. I was kept in isoation for 5 days and my oncologist immediately stopped any further chemo. That was 6 years ago and, thankfully, I'm still here.

There is almost no evidence that post-operative chemotheraphy improves survival chances - it is an "act of faith" on the part of many oncologists - and the majority of patients who start post-op chemo do not complete the full three cycles. As Griff says, your oncologist will advise, but do not worry if he simply stops the chemo.

Good luck,

G

[bmwhatchback]

Many thanks to everyone who has offered their experiences to my query - Lynj

[jay2908]

I only managed one of the chemo drugs post op. I was feeling far too sick to managed all three drugs. You can ask the doctors about the following:

1. Syringe driver with anti sickness drugs. I had nosinand, PPI and domperidone in a 24 hrs injection.

2. Any other anti sickness medication, such as anti anxiety or cyclazine.

Like I mentioned, I didn't finish my post op chemo, it is extremely difficult.

Regards,

Jay