Radiotherapy for Pain Relief?

Darwin · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 10:03 am Post subject: Radiotherapy for Pain Relief?

Hello Everyone

My ex husband has bowel cancer with mets to liver and lungs. He had a resection of the bowel in 2006 but we are told it has returned now to the primary site in the bowel and there is a mass of tumour growing up the channel between his spine (at the tailbone) and his rectum and this is what has been causing the pain when he stands. Tomorrow he is being admitted to hospital to have radiotherapy directly targeting this mass and also for the spots on his liver via injections. They say this will in some way de-bulk the tumour mass and stop it pressing on his nerves thus removing the pain. It is not for a cure but to stop the extreme pain. He will also have more lower dosage of chemo but just the FOL part of the Folfirri chemo cocktail as they say that neither the firri or the fox additions are any good anymore. My questions are....
What side effects will he have from the radiotherapy?
While this will hopefully help with the pain will it extend his life if it is just targetting the specific tumour s and not the tumour seedlings whish have probably spread via his blood passing through his liver?
Has anyone had this treatment and if so does it actually help with pain?
If so will the pain come back or does this shrink the tumour and it doesn't regrow in the same place? If it grows how long does this treatment give you relief for?
The Oncologist said the spheres that carry the radiotherapy were developed here in Perth and the world's number one guy will be working with my ex. The Oncologist said for this specific area this guy is the best to quote him "you will have the best treatment even better than you would get from the Mayo Clinic". I am pleased that my ex is finally getting some good medical treatment but would treally like to know what to expect so I can support him.

His new Oncologist, Andrew Dean, has a website for cancer information. Jim I don't know if you want me to mention the site so please let me know if it's OK and I will post it on this thread.

Any information would be most welcome. I pray the pain abates as at present he is taking so many different medication that they literally fill a small suitcase and it still doesn't fix the pain.
Thanks in advance
D
_________________
Ex husband's diagnosis was January 2006, stage IV bowel cancer with met to liver and lungs. Current chemo treatment 5FU + Avastin 24/7 pump plus radiation to pelvic area and planning radiation spheres injected directly into the liver tumours.

DulcimerGal · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 7:27 pm Post subject: Re: Radiotherapy for Pain Relief?

Hey Dorothy - just putting this back to the top for you!

This treatment sounds cutting edge - I sure hope we hear from someone who has tried it - I'm also wondering if we even have it here in the US.
Some of us may need it one day.....

SO glad John is getting help though, I hope you are holding up OK too...

Cheers
Dulcimergal
_________________
Rectal Cancer diagnosed Valentines Day 2008
Finished 6 weeks of radiation and chemo 4/23/08
Surgery to remove tumor - June 18th
6 months Chemo to follow

brainman

Dorothy, not another problem Sad

. I am so sorry that John is going through all of this... and you too.

Radiation is often used to de-bulk a tumor in order to control pain. The side effects are usually minimal involving damage to the surrounding organs. Since they are using a seeding method to apply the radiation, this collateral damage should be greatly minimized. Although I have never had this treatment, I do know from others that it does help with the pain although sometimes it does not totally take away the pain.

Unfortunately, the cancer can regrow in the same place. Sorry that I cannot answer your question about how long it takes to regrow. That really depends on how much of the tumor is killed and how aggressive the remaining cells are.

Usually, this procedure is not intended to cure. Cancer cells outside of the radiation zone, will continue to grow and spread.

Dorothy, I wish I had better news for you. I cannot help but cry with you as I type this reply Crying or Very sad

You and John are always in my thoughts and prayers.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

Darwin

Thanks everyone.

Jim I know there are now another set of challenges but John and I feel better here in Perth where we hopefully get better treatment. He is in a private hospital coming home tomorrow and being re admitted on Sunday evening for radio injections to the liver. If something isn''t approached professionally I complain and it is amazing how the squeaking wheel gets the attention. It is amazing how good I have become at complaining with a smile:)) and yet total persistance Smile

Even in private expensive hospitals when what you ARE ASKING FOR IS VERY BASIC NURSING!!!!
I feel more empowered to be an effective advocate for John here and he feels more confident that they are trying to address his illness.

What I personally hope for is that he has some period of time pain free for him to walk down to the beach and cast a fishing line, for us to take a few drives and have time to talk without him focusing on his pain.

This is such a learning experience for me. I realise at 55 that I don't even with a doctorate know enough if much at all about how our/my body works. We all should be made to do 4 years of biology!!! How can you take part in your own health issues never mind help someone else without this knowledge!!!! I don't need to be a doctor but goodness to have enough info to ask the "right" questions and challenges the 'right' things would be a godsend.

John's friend flew over from Adelaide so we have had two days altogether in the private hospital room with lots of laughter so things are much better than they were in Darwin.

Jim whatever is ahead we will face it with the knowledge that the unmet friends on this site are rooting for John and that everyday is a blessing. Thanks for your concern and caring
Love to you all
Dorothy
_________________
Ex husband's diagnosis was January 2006, stage IV bowel cancer with met to liver and lungs. Current chemo treatment 5FU + Avastin 24/7 pump plus radiation to pelvic area and planning radiation spheres injected directly into the liver tumours.

DulcimerGal · Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 5:18 pm Post subject: Re: Radiotherapy for Pain Relief?

Dorothy -

great to hear that John's friend is there too - laughter and some fun times together will be wonderful for all of you.

I do pray the injections to the liver will help him.
Hope it goes well.
All the folks reading these posts of yours will be anxious to know the outcomes -

Cheers
DulcimerGal
_________________
Rectal Cancer diagnosed Valentines Day 2008
Finished 6 weeks of radiation and chemo 4/23/08
Surgery to remove tumor - June 18th
6 months Chemo to follow

Johanflannery · New User Joined: 03 Jul 2008 Posts: 3

hello there my fellows i have yet on my personal research and experience found a acceptable recovery rate and pain relief (since this thing i am talking about is a mild sedative) DCA i highly would recomend you research i have seen impressive recoveries out of this medication might as well check it out
i have purchased it from
(EDITED AGAIN- BY ADMIN)

Darwin

Hello Everyone
Just an update as there won't be much to report for a few weeks. John was in hospital for a few days as I mentioned but that ended up being for scans so they could plan where to target the radiation to and to be put on a 24/7 dosage of chemo. He had his third weekly reservoir of the chemo replaced tomorrow. Next week he starts the radiation to his pelvic area. Everyday for five weeks with the weekends off to recover. They will give him short daily bursts and say this will be very uncomfortable as it is cummulative and this with the chemo will have rather unpleasant side effects but should greatly reduce if not remove the pain. I doubt I will have anything to report for the next 5-6 weeks but hope you all would be kind enough to remember John in your prayers. He has stopped being angry and seems more at peace and that is a great blessing in itself. The pain medication now is methadone and gabapentin rather than a huge array of different drugs so that is also easier to manage and his appetite has improved slightly.

I think of you all often.
_________________
Ex husband's diagnosis was January 2006, stage IV bowel cancer with met to liver and lungs. Current chemo treatment 5FU + Avastin 24/7 pump plus radiation to pelvic area and planning radiation spheres injected directly into the liver tumours.

brainman · Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 2:04 pm Post subject: Re: Radiotherapy for Pain Relief?

[quote]I doubt I will have anything to report for the next 5-6 weeks but hope you all would be kind enough to remember John in your prayers.[/quote]

D, you know you do not need to ask for my prayers for you and for John... you have them already. Hugs {{{Darwin}}}
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

ksplat · Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 5:13 am Post subject: Re: Radiotherapy for Pain Relief?

Dear Dorothy

It's great to hear that John is being more reasonable now. A change of Dr's & hospitals (& States) has been a real blessing!

I have heard of palliative radiation being used for mets to the spine. Although the cummulative effects may be very unpleasant I am confident in the long term John will be relieved of all that terrible pain he has been enduring for so long now.

You too sound much more comfortable & confident. I will continue my prayers for you both.

Take care my Dear,
Cheers, Angie.

PS What do you miss of the NT (without being too rude & indignant!)?
_________________
Brother has GBMIV
Diagnosed Feb 07
46 Yrs young!
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=19227

"Without Faith We Have Nothing"

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