Hi, I’m a new member

Hi Onlygirl and welcome to this friendly, supportive ‘club’. I have only been posting on here about a month but everyone is so nice and responnds truthfully and honestly with their experiences.

I hope you and your family get the guidance and advice you need fron the doctors,

Katie

Onlygirl,
Yes, you will find lots of support on this site. I had 28 radiation treatments and kept going to work throughout. I did experience more tiredness after the second week, but I only needed a little more sleep. The radiation oncologist prepared me for the probable side-effect of diarrhea, but instead, I experienced constipation. It responded to treatment and I am now in remission with my next CT scan scheduled in August. Yes, I am only 54, so that is not a good indicator of how your Dad would respond. However, my Mom is 88 and also has CC. She has chosen NOT to pursue chemo OR radiation OR surgery. Her oncologist didn’t think she would survive a year, but she’s still going almost 2 years later. I don’t have a lot of details on my Mom, because she lives with my sister about 3 hours away, and travel for either of us is not as easy as it used to be. Where do you live and where does your dad go for care?
God bless you all!
Louise

Onlygirl,
It sound like your dad is doing great and that your doctors are being aggressive. Good news all around.

Best of luck.

Kris

Your Dad is “Superdad” for recovering as well as he has from the resection, at his age. Congratulations. You can be guaranteed for good thoughts coming his way. Collectively, I believe, the members on this board can move a mountain. (O.K. I might be bias.)
I am looking forward to hearing from you after your Dad’s conversation with the radiologist.
Marion

Hi,

I had 33 radiation treatments (with Xeloda at the same time) and I’m totally convinced that’s the reason I’m doing so well 2 1/2 years later. The treatment was for an inoperable recurrence on the IVC (blood vessel) and it blasted the tumors so well they have barely grown since then. So, I’m very glad I did it!

The treatments themselves weren’t too bad at all. After about a week, I started having heartburn, but Mylanta took care of that pretty well. And teh fatigue built up– after about the third week, I really needed 9 hours of sleep every night plus an afternoon nap. But it really only took about 1-2 weeks after treatment ended to start getting my energy back.

Everyone’s experience is different, but that was what it was like for me. Obviously I’m much younger than your dad, but in general, a lot of people find that radiation is quite tolerable.

Hope this helps. My best wishes to you and your dad.

Kristin

Onlygirl;
Just wondering how your Dad is doing? Any decisions about radiation? How is he feeling? Hope he is feeling well. God Bless,
Jamie

So sorry you had to find us but welcome and glad you did. My husband had radiation last summer and he was fine until the very end of the treatments and then he got so tired I thought he was hibernating. But, after about 3 weeks his strength came back and he is fine. Like Marion said it depends on the kind and dosage. I think that because of your father’s age with this, I too would get a second opinion and I would ask them exactly what they feel you should expect.
This CC is crazy and all we have learned through the years is that we really know nothing as each person has different reactions to what they are going through. I always go with my gut feeling. Right now I am thinking if he can wait 3 months maybe he doesn’t need it. Did the doctor say they got all the cancer or are they suspicious there could be more? You will learn very quickly that you become the fiercest advocate possible and ask away until you are satisfied! Please keep us posted.