lisa
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Everyone’s experiences seem to be different. I have been on Gemzar and Xeloda cycles (2 weeks on, one week off) since December 2007. It does make me tired. Once, I had a fever 2 days after infusion. It has shrunk the tumor – in fact from 12/07 to 02/08 it shrunk enough to try surgery, although the surgery was unsuccessful.
I’m having another CT Scan in July to see if the tumor has shrunk anymore.
Sometimes I feel bad and get cranky. Then I feel bad that I got cranky. I pulled a muscle in my stomach area, which is still healing from the surgery, and I was not the nicest person to be around yesterday because of the pain.
It’s hard, you want to be nice and smiley and stay strong. And sometimes you are. But we need to give ourselves persmission to be cranky sometimes, and our caregivers need to understand that, too.
BTW – God bless our caregivers! You are suffering just as we are.
The saying goes that “cancer is a word, not a sentence.”
I did not have the Whipple procedure. The tumor had shrunk so much that the surgeon believed that he could get it all out. It was very disappointing to wake up and find out that they could not remove it.
So the fight continues. Surrender is not an option!
Welcome to the website, Ellen. This is the best place on the web to get the support and information you need.
I had a lot of pain at first too, because I was unable to digest my food because of the blockage in my bile ducts. The stents really helped, although I was in and out of the hosptial due to infections. My stents were plastic. I don’t know much about the metal ones.
I am glad that you too have faith. It is times like these when the rubber meets the road and our faith is tested. We all need something or Some One bigger than ourselves to draw strength from. I don’t have a husband, but I do have wonderful parents and children that help me get through the day.As Jeff said, this cancer reacts so differently. I am also undergoing gemcitabin along with xeloda. I had exploratory surgery with the hope of resection, but that was nixed when the surgeon discovered that the tumor was involved in the IVC. So no resection and no liver transplant was possible, even though I don’t have metastasis yet. I hope that Butch’s outcome will be different. It’s good that you found a surgeon willing to take him on. Best wishes – I hope they get all the cancer out.
(Metastasis is hard to pronounce and spell. Can we just call it “metanasties”?)
Jeff – sorry to hear the bad news. I know you will keep on fighting. You are an inspiration to all of us. You will be in my prayers.
Hi Diane,
My treatment is going well – started with 6 weeks of radiation in October along with ongoing chemo. The tumor shrunk 50% by January, so I had exploratory surgery in March. Unfortunately, after they opened me up, they discovered that the tumor was unresectable due to location and that it was wrapped in and around the inferior vena cava.So it’s back to chemo (Gemzar and Xeloda combo). So far I’ve stayed relatively healthy, but a lot of that is due to my age (45) and that I’ve got no other health problems.
Besides cancer, I’m perfectly healthy.
Best wishes,
LisaHi Diane,
I’m in the Seattle area, too. May I ask which hospital and doctor is treating Brad? I’m at Skagit Valley Hospital, which is with the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. My doctors are Dr. Philip Gold (in Seattle) and Dr. Bob Raish (in Mount Vernon)
My best to you and Brad,
LisaNone of us can forsee God’s plans for us. We are each given our own cross to bear. Dealing with that cross can refine us as gold, or break us. I am too weak to carry that cross alone, so I give that cross over to Jesus and praise him still in the circumstances of my life. I allow him to use this disease to refine my character and make me holy. I allow him to use me as an example to others in my suffering and in my faith. I know that the prayers of others has helped me and kept me steadfast. I know that God is more real to me than ever before. I don’t think that I would have ever come to this place without having cancer. Maybe, but this disease has accelerated my spiritual journey. Facing death has a way of refining your thinking and making you see what is really important in life.
