colon cancer questions

[mike1]

Hello I am new to this site. I am taking care of my wife's Mother along with my wife and she has Colon Cancer. She went into hospital in June 2009 with a blocked bowel and they performed a CAT scan and an ileostomy. The CAT scan revealed a mass and it has spread to several areas within the lung and liver. The plan was to initiate chemotherapy against the mass on a two week frequency but she became ill and developed pneumonia. After that cleared up, they gave a few treatments but then vomiting and diaharea ensued. She has lost about 60 pounds since June. She is continuing to receive treatments (last one on October 5) but the diaharea won't stop. First we were told to give her immodium and then this week, we were told that she had been on it for too long. She never had any pain except for nausea and after she was sick, she always felt better. This week, she has started to have cramps starting at the centre of the stomach and as of today, the cramps are in the lower right hand side of the stomach. The diaharea continues and I can't replenish the fluids fast enough. This is a horrible horrible experience for anyone to endure and I feel so bad for her and for anyone who has to suffer like this. If anyone has any personal experience or advice, please reply. We will even consider alternative (non Med) solutions at this point.

[Grateful]

Hi Mike,

I went into hospital with horrible abdominal pain and found that my bowel had perforated from diverticulitis. Whe they scheduled the surgery, they found a mass and I was diagnosed with Colon Cancer. That was in March 2006. The diareha was/is horrible. In December 2006, I finished up 6 months of chemo after the surgery. Again in February 2009, they found another mass in one of my follow ups. I had another surgery, rec'd a colonostomy and am currently undergoing another 6 months of chemo. The Diareha and fatigue are my major complaints (other than the colonostomy which I HATE). I am sorry your wife is going through this. I will tell you that my husband's support and strength is one of the major reasons that I have not totally malfunctioned. It is hard for him. I also have a 10 year old son and a 13 year old daughter. It is hard on all them but we are keeping positive and moving forward towards the day I finish chemo and get my reversal. My niece is getting married next June on a Cruise and we are just looking forward to being done with my treatment by then and have a good time as a family again.

Good Luck and try to just take it one day at a time.

[star]

Hi so sorry to read your news, it really is so tough what you have to go through. Who told you that your wife had been on Immodium to long? my wife used to be on it quite a bit and never told that.. What is your wifes diet llike? Have you checked out google for diet and dirreah?

My prayers are with you and please keep going and know you are on the same journey of millions and we are here to help, support and encourage each other... God Bless You all...

[topazil]

From the ACS site:
Diarrhea

Diarrhea is the passage of loose or watery stools 3 or more times a day with or without discomfort. It happens when the water in the intestine is not being absorbed back into the body for some reason. Sometimes, diarrhea can be caused by an overflow of intestinal liquids around stool that is lodged in the intestine (impaction). Other causes can include chemotherapy; radiation therapy to the abdomen; medicines; infections; surgery; anxiety; supplemental feedings that contain large amounts of vitamins, minerals, sugar, and electrolytes; and tumor growth. Diarrhea caused by chemotherapy or radiation therapy may last for up to 3 weeks after treatment ends.

What the patient can do

Try a clear liquid diet (one that includes water, weak tea, apple juice, peach nectar, clear broth, popsicles, and gelatin with no solids added) as soon as diarrhea starts or when you feel that it's going to start. Avoid acidic drinks, such as tomato juice, citrus juices, and fizzy soft drinks.
Eat frequent small meals. Do not eat foods that are very hot or spicy.
Avoid greasy foods, bran, raw fruits and vegetables, and caffeine.
Avoid pastries, candies, rich desserts, jellies, preserves, and nuts.
Do not drink alcohol or use tobacco.
Avoid milk or milk products if they seem to make diarrhea worse.
Be sure your diet includes foods that are high in potassium (such as bananas, potatoes, apricots, and sports drinks such as Gatorade or Powerade). Potassium is an important mineral that you may lose if you have diarrhea.
Monitor the amount and frequency of bowel movements.
Clean your anal area with a mild soap after each bowel movement, rinse well with warm water, and pat dry. Or use baby wipes to clean yourself after each bowel movement.
Apply a water-repellent ointment, such as A&D Ointment or petroleum jelly, to the anal area.
Sitting in a tub of warm water or a sitz bath may help reduce discomfort.
Take medicine for diarrhea as prescribed by your doctor.
When the diarrhea starts to improve, try eating small amounts of foods that are easy to digest such as rice, bananas, applesauce, yogurt, mashed potatoes, low-fat cottage cheese, and dry toast. If the diarrhea keeps getting better after a day or 2, start small regular meals.
What caregivers can do

See that the patient drinks about 3 quarts of fluids each day.
Keep a record of bowel movements to help decide when the doctor should be called.
Check with the doctor before using any over-the-counter diarrhea medicine. Many of these contain compounds that are like aspirin, which can worsen bleeding problems. Talk to the doctor about using a prescription medicine.
Check the anal area for red, scaly, broken skin. If present, see the section on skin sores.
Protect the bed and chairs from being soiled by putting pads with plastic backing under the buttocks where the patient will lie down or sit.
Call the doctor if the patient:

Has 6 or more loose bowel movements a day with no improvement in 2 days
Has blood in or around anal area or in stool (See the section on blood in stool.)
Loses 5 pounds or more after the diarrhea starts
Has new abdominal pain or cramps for 2 days or more
Does not urinate for 12 hours or more
Does not drink liquids for 48 hours or more
Has a fever of 100.5° F or higher when taken by mouth
Gets a puffy or swollen belly
Has been constipated for several days and then begins to have small amounts of diarrhea or oozing of liquid stool, which could suggest an impaction (severe constipation)

You are all in my thoughts and prayers and even having endured the bit of diarrhea after each treatment I can well understand the helplessness you feel. ((((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))))))

[mike1]

Sorry for the earlier confusion but it is my wife's Mother that is suffering from the cancer. She is 77 years old. THe cramps moved from the lower right hand part of her stomach to the lower left hand side. She is scheduled for more chemo on Oct 19 so we will be awaiting the results of an assessment at that time. I tried to take her in to see the Doctor but she is refusing to go. She is very weak and she was going about every two hours. I am giving her gastrolyte (powder that is mixed with water) but I don't think that she is drinking enough. We also have diapers on hand and lots of pads and plastic protection. We are just worried that she might get dehydrated over the weekend and then the Doctor will be unavailable. We are trying the BRAT type diet as well. Nothing is going in the bag just from the rectum which seems unusual. She was taking immodium (on one Doctor's orders) but we were told to stop it on Wednesday by another Doctor? The whole process is very confusing and we are not sure if we are getting all of the information or if there are no clear known solutions at this time.

[mike1]

Well it was worse than we thought and we tried to convince her to go to see a Doctor but she refused. Tonight she had a really bad spell after getting up to go to the bathroom (yet again). She had been really pink and flushed but then she went ash white and had trouble breathing. She wanted an ambulance so we called one and took her into Emergency. Now she is awaiting test results and I have come home to catch a few hours of sleep. My poor wife is so stressed out and she feels so helpless.

[star]

HI Mike,
Know we are praying for you all, and keep going, dig deep hope for the best and be positive and will pray for Gods peace and strenght and energy for you and your wife, and healing for wifes mother..

It is tough and millions are on same journey but together we hold each other up and know we are all with you and thinking of you..

Keep us updated ....God Bless ....Rob and Barb

[mike1]

After a battery of tests, my Mother In Law was diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism and she has them in her leg as well. Both feet are really swollen and one leg is swollen up to the knee. They are giving her a blood thinner by injection. She has been hydrated with IV, given more blood and sodium and Potassium. The Diaharea continues after every meal and the Dr doesn't seem concerned since she has fluids to replenish. Plus her white count was a "1" and she is ultra susceptible to picking up an infection. More chemo was scheduled for today but that is on hold. Thankfully she has no pain and the stomach cramps are subsiding. I just wish that we had the pain meds etc available in advance so that she could remain comfortable. Plus she is developing a sore from wearing the diapers. The ileostomy is not working at all. After seeing this first hand, my thoughts and prayers go out to all who suffer from this. The lack of privacy and dignity are some of the worst effects.

This is her third round of cancer (breast in the late 70s , colon in 2006 that was reportedly treated successfully and this tumour on the outside of the colon that is wrapped around the intestine with evidence of lung and liver (secondary). She is in denial of the severity and we are trying to discuss what she wants (extent of the treatments) and how far that they should go with everything. She is sometimes not really herself and then at other times, she seems alright. She really hates being in hospital and she just wants to come home again. We just many more answers, a care plan and lots of home care support. This whole ordeal has really shaken my faith but I want to believe that God will watch out and spare her any pain plus that he will give us assistance and strength to keep ourselves well and sane for her.

[sheila]

I know the feeling of helplessness-my moms been battling this for 4 years now-colostomy and 5 surgerys chemo radiation rtc... this time round she was operated on two weeks ago today-she is still battling super water diahrea.-they are giving her gatorade iv for electrolyte balance and started her back on immodium-they are only trying to eliminate dairy products to see if they can control the BMS. Im glad she got to the hospital-hopefully in time to rehydrate and all I can say for your wife is be as supportive and strong as you can for your mom. and you..support your wife-she needs you. you sound like a really caring son in law.
I pray that things work out for the best. my moms 75 its hard seeing them need us. but we can do it-they were there for us all those previous years. what a role reversal wake-up call! keep us posted and know others care about and share the same problems.

[PrairiePrincess]

One of the things a support group counsellor went through with us during our father's final illness was that our parents are living much, much longer and in generally poorer health than THEIR parents did. All 4 of my grandparents were dead by age 77, two by age 65. So our parents have no roadmap for a prolonged old age, particularly when that time is complicated by illness and incapacity.

This sets up a new dynamic, one that worked out in Frank, my father's retirement. I honestly think he assumed that the end of his life would look a lot like his parents' did...they were managing a household, traveling, driving, in short doing all the things they did in their 50's. But Frank lived past this stage, into a life where those things were hard to impossible for him.

Frank was really angry about needing support, but refused to engage the kind of help that would have allowed him to stay at home in comfort and safety. He kept saying "only old geezers need that", although he never seemed to get as old as these old geezers he was talking about. He had a dread of going into a nursing home, although by refusing to put supports in place, he was actually making the nursing home more likely, not less.

The upshot was that the more we tried to open up the topic of how to make changes so he was warm, well fed, comfortable, and safe, the more angry he got. He refused to move closer to the large city all his children live in, so we had begun spending a lot of time traveling to visit and do the things he could no longer do...he could accept our doing house and yard maintenance.

Our worries increased as he stopped taking good care of himself...he had severe mobility problems so cleaning, shopping and cooking were tough. He was living on coffee and cookies. He refused to give up his license, although he was a severely hazardous driver. He couldn't easily negotiate the tub so hygiene fell off...but he refused to remodel the bathroom to make it more usable. And we hardly ever saw him...everyone had young families making spending every weekend at his place visiting and helping out hugely difficult.

Finally, Frank had a heart attack and died after a week in hospital at age 87.

Looking back, we should have been more aware that as Frank lived into an age and stage for which he had no roadmap, that a team approach was called for. He was no longer the lone wolf, the capable dude taking care of himself and others, he was the center of Team Frank. And Team Frank needed him close by, particularly as medical emergencies became more frequent, and where help could be given or hired for him.

This is a mental shift I see a lot of our elders having real difficulty making. Their parents did not live to need this kind of support and new role in life, but they are. They often respond with anger and this makes putting together a win/win scenario really hard.

When my remaining elders get to this stage, I will talk openly about what a hard transition it is from independent adulthood to a life and situation where you are getting support from others so you can continue to live where and how you want to. And I will ask more clearly for a team approach that works for everyone.

[mike1]

Update:
My Mother In Law remains in hospital on large doses of blood thinners and the diaharea continues. After she eats, everything comes out. The bag is empty. She started taking Immodium again on the Doctor's orders and we will see if it slows things down. She has stomach cramping, leg cramps in her calfs and she is finding it harder to sit up and get up from the bed to the bathroom (she currently requires assistance). The legs are still really swollen. It's hard to see and we just sit and talk and we bring her treats if she is interested. Plus we have to gown and glove since the hospital is worried about us spreading an infection from her overactive stool. She really wants to come home and we are going to sit down with her and with the medical team to devise a plan that is safe and with additional support. I just fear that she will become bedridden and then that could make her susceptible to pneumonia or sores etc.
After reading many of the posts on this site, it is evident that the side effects of the chemo, the cancer and the imbalance withing the digestive system are all common. There doesn't seem to be a magical pill or treatment to keep someone comfortable. I just don't know how much more deterioration that her body will allow.
Our thoughts and prayers continue for everyone on this bad road trip of life and survival. She has so many friends and neighbours that are asking for her and praying for her and for us that we really don't feel alone.

[REB]

Mike, I pray all of you can find peace.

[mike1]

Hi again. I have been so busy that I have not been able to reply. My Mother in law is "stable" now and she has not experienced the same disastrous side effects for the last two treatments as noted in the past. The Doctor is pleased with her present condition and treatments will be every three weeks. Her condition is somewhat complicated by multiple problems in the bowel and abdomen. We will have to deal with the vomiting and diaharea as it occurs and there is no easy solution right now.
She came home to our house about two weeks ago and we have been trying to keep her well fed, warm and comfortable. It has been difficulty as homecare almost vanished until we appealed their assessment and we also have four children living at home. Now we are rejoicing at baby steps of progress such as having an appetite, walking about, talking on the telephone, sleeping all night and maintaining the bag. The treatments are not a cure but they will keep the present growth at bay and give her some quality of life. We can't even think about next steps because there are too many unknowns. Next week we will have IV equipment brought in and she will be prepared for hydration as a preventative after chemotherapy. Our goal is to keep her in our home with the applicable equipment as long as we can. We just need to see through to Christmas and celebrating that she is home and that she is much happier than staying in the hospital.

Our thoughts and prayers extend to everyone that is ill and their familes. We are praying that this time of year will bring everyone together for fellowship and sharing and not just as a gift exchange and family obligation.

[sheila]

Mike1-good to hear things are going a bit smoother-recovery is always quicker at home if the family is close-mom stays with me and my husband and two furkids when she needs aftercare etc-we are progressing too-mom is off the Tpn and is going back and forth mostly here untill two days ago she learned to flush her own picc lines and has been slowly getting things done at home that has been on her mind-she still is on very unstable grounds-sooo I know the feeling when they strt getting a bit of independence back! wonderfull news! thoughts and prayers to you and yours. AND BLESS YOU FOR WELCOMING HER INTO YOUR HOME.