Gransnet forums

Health

Chemo Tablets

(5 Posts)
Rusume Thu 23-Nov-23 13:00:20

I had bowel cancer eight years ago and had an op and then chemo. All was well until last year when I had metastatic brain tumours which were successfully removed. It has now travelled to my bones (which I’m told is very unusual and quite slow-growing), I have intermittent back pain and have been told I should have chemo. I naturally freaked out as I’ll never forget how awful it was last time but my oncologist has said it’s completely different these days and you can have tablets which are apparently gentler. Has anyone had experience of taking these tablets? How did you get on? I’d be very interested to know! Thanks.

Georgesgran Thu 23-Nov-23 13:09:22

From my DH’s experience the tablets are far gentler on the body than IV chemo. However, when subjects such as this arise, there’s always a very mixed bag of responses, ie everybody is different.

Lucyd Thu 23-Nov-23 13:22:48

My lovely Dad had bowel cancer and then secondary tumours in his liver. He had several rounds of chemo and it was always the tablets he had. He never had a moment of sickness when he was on them. He did take anti nausea medication and had to make sure he avoided sunlight. The treatment gave him 9 extra years and him lived life to the full.
Wishing you well.

OldFrill Thu 23-Nov-23 13:35:16

I had oral chemo many years ago. One definite advantage was not having the hassle of hospital attendance.
The side effects developed quite slowly but intensified as months went on. l lost my sense of taste, became exhausted and ultimately stopped a month early as side effects suggested the potential of nerve damage.
The side effects diminished/disappeared fairly quickly once l stopped taking them.
My advice would be to give it a try as you can just stop taking them, and/or your oncology team can suggest additional medications to counter the side effects.
I wish you all the very best.

Rusume Thu 23-Nov-23 17:32:50

Thanks everyone. Always interesting to hear others’ opinions!