IIIp0 Posted February 10, 2004 Share Posted February 10, 2004 Hello everyone - Welp I've been sitting back now for a while taking this ride day by day until this past week when Bob and I both noticed his cough getting progressively worse again, AND new pain on the opposite side of his chest. This after five weeks of chemo. Tomorrow we get another CT can of his lungs to see what's progressing here: the cancer or the chemo. Please think of us tomorrow, or at least Friday. Hopefully the results won't be what we think it might be. I'm terrified that while he's been in minimum to medium pain at times, that if they change or "up" the dosage of chemo, he'll become much more under duress, and not eat; and so forth.... Have others had experience with this? Also, my husbands extremeties are freezing most times~ His fingers and toes like ice, really. Is that a subset of the chemo regimen to be expected??? His doctor just shrugs his shoulders..... ------------------------------------ Husband diag. 12/5 w/extensive Stage IV SCLC to lung secondary to liver w/mets to spine, femur, bone marrow Carbo/Taxol once a week for five weeks now. Good appetite No hair loss Some nausa, mild to medium pain in chest lately. Weakness on and off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gay Posted February 10, 2004 Share Posted February 10, 2004 I'll be sure to ask Dean's Hospice Nurse tomorrow (Tues) about what you are describing - Dean's always cold (here in San Diego area - has to have the heat on when it's 70o) - not just extremeties; but cold all over and maybe blame it on my 46 year old womanhood; I'm always hot or at least comfortable. It's the "battle of the thermostat" sometimes. About pain. Just this past few days, Dean is in more severe pain, chest is worse, upper body worse and legs are very painful (he may no longer able to drive soon - that weak - com'on scooter; any day now???). He just takes Tylenol or Ibuphrophren for now. He doesn't want pain meds that mess up his concentration etc. I'll keep you posted. Gay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karenl Posted February 10, 2004 Share Posted February 10, 2004 Will be thinking of you and hoping for good test results. Karen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ginnyde Posted February 10, 2004 Share Posted February 10, 2004 Add my prayers for good tests. Ginny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gay Posted February 11, 2004 Share Posted February 11, 2004 Hi! Hope all went well today. I asked the Hospice Nurse and she said body temp's vary. As to pain - there's a hormone produced by Dean's cancer that sends signals (in this case mainly to his legs and now has upper body weakness etc) to various parts of the body producing pain; not just the pain in his lung. If you know of any pain lessening med (which would allow him not to "space out" and still have the ability to drive; please let me/us know. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.C. Posted February 11, 2004 Share Posted February 11, 2004 IIIp0 and Bob, Just hope that yesterday went well and keeping good vibes and prayers going for the bests results for Friday visit. Hugs J.C. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IIIp0 Posted February 13, 2004 Author Share Posted February 13, 2004 Thanks everyone for your kind words of encouragement and possibilities to think about. Yes, tomorrow we get the results. I spoke with a lady friend where I work [who was a cancer nurse case manager at M.D. Anderson], who suggested that what Bob was experiencing with his cough is probably plural effusion and told me to make sure they are checking the "CEA" bloodtest [cardio-something] which measures the degree in which the plural effusion [fluid in the lungs around the heart?] is. It's a "marker" for cancer. Similar, I suspect, to PSA's that is used for prostrate cancer. Anyways, tomorrow is the day so we'll see. It stands to reason. Bob says he's been coughing up loose stuff when he coughs, but to cough is to have pain. Thanks for listening, for being there and letting me 'talk' through whateverthisis~ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IIIp0 Posted February 14, 2004 Author Share Posted February 14, 2004 Well Bob went in today for his 7th chemo treatment [each Friday], and while the CT scan was clear for enlarged or new mets, everything else is still about the same. So the good news is, the pain in his chest they suspect is from the coughing, whicih is from the chemo working in his chest to disengage the fluid in the lungs/chest cavity. The bad news is that there were no miracles worked today, his cancer is still there, with "minimal" shrinking. So I guess the bad news IS really good news [smile]. He is on the same treatment plan, no change. I guess that's what they mean by "no news is good news"?..... Just wanted to update ya'll from the last one~ Hugs to all - Beth =========================== Husband diagnosed 12/5 w/SCLC Stage IV to lungs mets to liver, spine, ribs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paddy Posted February 14, 2004 Share Posted February 14, 2004 So Glad Beth! Sometimes our fears just take over don't they. I know just how you feel, I just have to see my David falling asleep in the middle of the day, (which is the first symptom we noticed,) and the fear hits me again ach. I am sure your Husband will begin to feel so much better when the chemo sessions are finished. Lots of love, Paddy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MO_Sugar Posted February 14, 2004 Share Posted February 14, 2004 Prayers for continued good news on the way! God Bless, MO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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