chemo

Not as poisonous as I thought!

mistletoe.org.uk/homewp/index.php/medicine/cancer-therapy/

But I agree with rosequartz, don't take anything without consulting your consultant first - besides, the majority of the research seems to have been done on patients who were given an injection of mistletoe extract and I can't see that being available on the NHS!

Mistletoe was what they gave pete bog just before sacrificing him!

Aka PETE Marsh and Lindow man

At least he was well preserved albeit not through taking mistletoe!

Here's a little quote for you ethel Chemo is the drugs that make me ill that I take to stop the illness that isn't making me ill from making me ill in the future. Certainly rings a bell in DH's case!

Shouldn't that be 'the illness that is making me ill...'?

Well, the illness may not necessarily make you feel ill if it is discovered before it has a chance to do so. The treatment could make you feel ill in the short-term but will treat the illness and make you better in the long-term.
A bit more long-winded than deeda's quote!

I am getting a bit scared now, Im on second batch of chemo, apart from feeling a bit sick I have nerve problems in my fingers but they halved my dose and its a little better. I asked if there was anyway to tell if the chemo was working and the tumour is shrinking and the doc said no, I cant have a scan until the end of sessions (4-6) he said and now Im wondering if the stuff is working. apparently you can tell from the blood tests but the doc said he couldn't find the results. I realise he would nt keep me on the stuff if its not working but I thought he might be keeping something from me. anyone else had this experience.

Hello ethelbags, I was wondering how you were getting on, good to hear from you!
I would imagine that it's difficult to tell the effects on the tumour after only one course and it's the cumulative effect of the drugs that impact on the cancer.
I definitely wouldn't think he was hiding anything from you, just that perhaps the impact after one course may appear disappointing to the patient.
I'm purely guessing here and am sure other GNs can be more helpful.
, still keeping everything crossed for you x

Good to hear from you and glad that the side effects have not been too onerous. I would guess that the doc is aware that you need all the sessions and wants to let it take effect before scanning again.

I have asked macmillan for advice but they were just a helpline and they gave me a nurses phone number. I don't need practical help would they just give advice over the phone.?

Isn't it possible that the nurse has more expert information than the person you spoke to on the helpline?

I think it is usual for a helpline to pass you on to the person who has the appropriate skills and knowledge to help you with your query. I have had this happen when using the Parkinsons helpline. It is definitely worth your while ringing the nurse on the mumber you have been given. Good luck with this.

My BIL has completed 6 doses over 3 months and is having a scan and blood tests today to see if he needs more treatment . He didn't get results of blood tests till he had 3 treatments

Oh gosh yes, don't take any supplements or herbs while you are on chemo unless your oncologist has approved. There is even a theory that too much vitamin c can counteract the effects of chemo. Save all that stuff (if you really like taking it) until after the treatment is complete and your blood count recovered.
My cousin had bowel cancer when she was about 80 and recovered. In her mid 80s she had lymphoma (cancer of the immune system) and recovered. She is now 91 and in good health. Hope the rest of the treatment goes well.

He will not know anything until you have finished the course and had the next scan.

But if you are afraid that he might be keeping something from you, then for goodness sake ask him! He is not God, and above questioning, just a doctor! If you don't see him in person (they do delegate a lot of stuff to others), then ask one of the doctors or nurses at your next appointment. They can look at your notes and reassure you that it is "so far, so good".

I agree - and do phone the nurse, ethel, they are very helpful and will know what the usual procedure is regarding scans and blood tests, it's early days yet.

I'm glad you're coping well!

Don't get into a panic now ethel blood results can be up and down and you really need to finish the whole cycle to get an accurate view of what's happening. Do try and forge a good relationship with your doctor, it makes all the differenceto how you feel about the treatment.

My experience of MacMillan is that you get through to a help line, chat to them and then they put you onto a nurse. I rang about my son. He has had blood tests throughout the chemo and thankfully they were all clear.

My cousin who had bowel cancer actually had visits from a MacMillan nurse but that was years ago so things may have changed.

I don't actually need 'nursing' so I don't want anyone to come to the house but advice would be nice.
I also find that when anyone seeks advice from an organisation they are given lots of follow up phone calls and I wouldn't like that I would find it intrusive. If there were a macmillen adviser in the hospital I would use that service but I don't need a trained nurse (yet and hopefully never).

There used to be a MacMillan adviser at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle.

My son never needed a nurse calling in (he is recovering from bowel cancer)
but had contact numbers for people at Oncology.

I don't know all the details - but the good news is he has had blood tests and they have all been clear and his cancer was at quite an advanced stage. He will have more blood tests to keep checking but it's looking very promising.

He went to all his chemo and radiation appointments on his own except for the first treatment. I was amazed by that but he said he was fine and wanted to go it alone. He is a youngish chap being 44.

Falconbird what a worry this must have been. I'm thrilled to hear that your son's blood tests are clear and his future looks promising.

To him and all others fighting this battle

It is good news about your son falconbird - I hope he continues to do well and is soon back to full health.

Ditto the above .