The Big C! RIP Kim, see pg. 218

[Sannois]

@stryder

This is good news.
Are you going on FOLFOX? or Folfiri? DH’s experience was that he went in for a few hours for the transfusion, then went home for 46 hours with a pump.

The port is a relatively minor pain. It will look weird to you, but it’s a relatively small incision that tends to heal well.

If you aren’t obsessive/compulsive, drag out that tendency now and practice. If anyone wants to access your port for bloodwork or anything, make sure they do the full protocol. My DH decided he didn’t want the hassle, and after a while had bloodwork done through his arm so people didn’t have to access the port.

All the best…

Yes it is FOLFOX. And I am obbessive compulsive.
How do they put in the port. Please tell me it is not a put me under completely surgery?

[Sannois]

@shiloh

Well, I am very happy for you. It sounds like you got a good straightforward not messing around doc. The port is a minor annoyance but you will be glad they put it in. You can get your chemo done thru it, blood draws and pain meds.
When are they going to start chemo? Go plant tomatoes!!! yay

As soon as they put the port in so a week or so.

[Sannois]

You guys have given me such strength, I hope you know that. I never knew how much I needed this!!
You are all the best. :sadsmile: (((((Virtual group hug))))))

[Chall]

:):applause: Go Kim, go Kim. We’re all cheering you on.

[lilitiger2]

Yay! go plant tomatoes!!! Great that you like your doc!! DH said port was minor procedure and yes, you want them to do that. They did not for his second round and his veins were just shot.

so — > tomatoes, garden, lovely summer evenings with soft late light, chit chatting on the COTH page… BRING ON SUMMER!!! I bet Handsome and his friend were THRILLED to hear the news!!

[anon38350891]

@Sannois

Yes it is FOLFOX. And I am obbessive compulsive.
How do they put in the port. Please tell me it is not a put me under completely surgery?

Here’s an instructional video of port placement, designed for physicians in training. It’s done with a local anaesthetic here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmVGLbSrJU4

The comments are interesting.

Much love and good wishes to you Sannois!

[Mango20]

I’m glad your appointment went well, it gave you some good news, and you got a no-nonsense doctor who seems to match your personality! Hopefully your XH is still happy about you moving back in now that he knows you’ll be around for more than 6 weeks!

I need to get tomatoes planted, too, but so far all I have is one tiny yellow pear plant, and a week-long forecast for rain.

[Bluey]

Looks like you have it all well under control, a great doctor on your side also now.

Now on to those tomato plants, they will keep you busy if they have a good summer.
Nothing like a just plucked ripe tomato for your salads.

[CanadianTrotter]

I know a woman that had breast cancer that did the port treatment, she said it wasn’t as bad as she thought it would be and nothing compared to the horror stories for those with lung cancer. She felt tired a lot and took a bunch of mini power naps, she said some foods became tasteless for her but many were still quite tasty and she was still able to drive to go places and go shopping by herself.

My son’s ex had a chemo port several times and she managed to leave home, find an apartment and attend university while she had treatment. It certainly isn’t a walk in the park but it’s manageable.

I’m so happy you have a plan in place and can hear the newfound confidence in your posts!

When you’re done planting those tomatoes you can come help me plant my deck full of nursery plants waiting to be planted.

[Louise]

Woot! Watching your garden grow, here you come! I’m glad everything went well. My cousin had a port. It’s no big deal and makes things much easier in the long run.

[Where_sMyWhite]

Kim, get that garden and tomatoes planted! (Isn’t still early for 'maters?)

Sounds like very encouraging news. I like the sounds of the cancer center in the hospital. Sounds like a great place with good support and, more importantly, a place you are comfortable with.

Was a bit worried when we hadn’t heard by early evening but this report so makes up for that!

:encouragement:

[jetsmom]

My brokers wife was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer about 6 months ago. She gets chemo every other week. Her hair has thinned, but she still has it. Said the chemo makes her tired, and she finds drinking or eating hot or cold foods hard. Says it feels like its burning. So room temp foods work best for her. But she isnt nauseous and still comes into work a couple hrs a day during chemo week and for a full day on off weeks.
She said her dr told her to eliminate sugar since it feeds tumors, and try to eliminate red meat.
I’m praying that the chemo has few side effects for you.

[stryder]

@Sannois

Yes it is FOLFOX. And I am obbessive compulsive.
How do they put in the port. Please tell me it is not a put me under completely surgery?

Just a local. They put in DH’s port, then we headed over to the cancer center for appointments: nutrition, pharmacist, “chemo training”. Then, IIRC, he started chemo the next day. DH had a power port, inserted below his collar bone. It’s about quarter-sized. Once the skin healed over it he could shower without any concerns.

Anyone accessing the port puts you at risk for infection. The cancer center staff is right on top of it because they do it all the time. Other people, not so much. There were a couple times DH needed blood drawn at a regular doctor’s office, and when asked if he wanted it drawn from the port or his arm, we just looked at each other and said, “arm, please.” You know the type. Not quite on top of their game.

FOLFOX affects people differently, but in general you’ll experience cold sensitivity and changes in taste. DH kept a pair of gloves in the kitchen so he could get orange juice, etc. out of the refrigerator. He said his favorite popcicle was like a jolt of electricity to his tongue. That happened fairly quickly, but faded between chemo treatments. You might get a small stash of meal replacement drinks: Ensure Plus, Boost, or similar. Highest nutritional value you can find: calories and protein, lowest sugar content. You may find that nothing tastes good with chemo, but again, that will fade as chemo flushes out between treatments. DH also found that mints helped mask the chemical taste in his mouth.

Try to drink as much as you can during and after the chemo to help your body flush it out. And don’t fight the urge to nap.

Nausea can be a problem. DH had three different drugs he could take. You’ll want to be aggressive about staying on top of this. DH’s instructions were to take one, and if that didn’t help after 20 minutes, take a different one.

We found that CBD mints and drops helped with nausea. CBD is the non-psychoactive compound found in marijuana.

FOLFOX is the gold standard for colon cancer. You can do this!

[stryder]

Oh! Something else: If you’ll receive the same protocol as DH, you’ll want to plan for the time you’re on chemo. He showered before we left for the clinic, because he couldn’t shower the 46 hours he was on the pump at home. You’ll be there a few hours the first day, so plan for something to pass the time. Sometimes DH listened to music, sometimes read, usually with ear buds to lessen the pump and clinic sounds. We’d often stop for a late lunch on the way home. The next day he did pretty much whatever he wanted, but also slept a fair amount. The pump is small and makes a slight whoosh sound every few minutes. It’s in a pouch.

46 hours after we left the clinic, we returned for disconnect. DH slept most of the way home and pretty much napped the rest of the day.

[cayuse]

Glad to hear the appointment went well. It sounds like the same protocol my BIL had. He did well on it with minimal side effects, mostly he was tired and had the hot and cold sensitivity thing. My husband took him to most of his treatments. He also had a pump and after a few treatmemts they taught my husband how to disconnect it for him so he didn’t have to spend another day traveling back to the hospital. DH is an EMT so he felt comfortable doing it and BIL’s medical team was OK with it.
Get going on those tomatoes! :yes:

[Sannois]

@jetsmom

My brokers wife was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer about 6 months ago. She gets chemo every other week. Her hair has thinned, but she still has it. Said the chemo makes her tired, and she finds drinking or eating hot or cold foods hard. Says it feels like its burning. So room temp foods work best for her. But she isnt nauseous and still comes into work a couple hrs a day during chemo week and for a full day on off weeks.
She said her dr told her to eliminate sugar since it feeds tumors, and try to eliminate red meat.
I’m praying that the chemo has few side effects for you.

Pretty much what the nurses told me. Mostly fatigue, and the temp thing, and foods taste funny.
I have read the sugar thing too. and I have given up red meat, have not had any since MArch 30th.
Sort of like locking the barn door after the horse got out I think.

[Sannois]

@stryder

Oh! Something else: If you’ll receive the same protocol as DH, you’ll want to plan for the time you’re on chemo. He showered before we left for the clinic, because he couldn’t shower the 46 hours he was on the pump at home. You’ll be there a few hours the first day, so plan for something to pass the time. Sometimes DH listened to music, sometimes read, usually with ear buds to lessen the pump and clinic sounds. We’d often stop for a late lunch on the way home. The next day he did pretty much whatever he wanted, but also slept a fair amount. The pump is small and makes a slight whoosh sound every few minutes. It’s in a pouch.

46 hours after we left the clinic, we returned for disconnect. DH slept most of the way home and pretty much napped the rest of the day.

Sounds about what I heard yesterday,
I cannot imagine what 12 treatments of this is going to cost.
I did a search, but it is a general estimate nation wide.
Got in a pretty big fight with the EX today because I was telling him about the statistics of patients that get good results from this treatment. He kept saying they mean nothing Really? Oh man, shades of why we are divorced.
Said I never ever listen to him, and when I try to tell him anything, he gets angry and starts raising his voice, he claims it is because I just dismiss anything he says, Uhh gee that is how I feel.
Whatever. He them proclaimed that he will not get into a discussion about anything regarding my treatment, or decisions. he will give me an opinion if I ask. Sheesh… Not worth talking about.

[Sannois]

OKAY now I am really curious, They scheduled me for the port implant Monday Morning So please tell me why they said no food or drink after midnight? Why the hell would they need to put me out.
I am not okay with that. And Stryder said they just did a local for her husband. You know… Rrrrrrrr:mad:

[Joanne]

Maybe they will be giving you propofol. Instant out, instant on.

[stryder]

@Sannois

OKAY now I am really curious, They scheduled me for the port implant Monday Morning So please tell me why they said no food or drink after midnight? Why the hell would they need to put me out.
I am not okay with that. And Stryder said they just did a local for her husband. You know… Rrrrrrrr:mad:

Doctors always want to have all their options available to them. Kinda like you sign the form for a tonsillectomy, and it includes almost everything from just taking out your tonsils to a wide open head-to-toe incision that includes removing every other organ.

Well, no. But they do want to be safe just in case something happens and they need to do something more aggressive. Lots of things make people throw up, and if you’ve not eaten anything, there’s less risk to you.