Re: Stomach Cramps, Blockage, Obstructions

[Guest guest]

Hi, . Sorry to hear about your father. If you go to this website:

http://www.oncology.com/plwc/MainConstructor/1,1744,_04-003-00_12-001042,00.asp

scroll down to the section called ASCO PATIENT RESOURCES, then click on the

link called " Find an Oncologist. " I filled in two blanks " Toronto " and " Canada "

and there are several doctors at Princess Margaret Hospital. Hope this helps.

Don't worry, your English is marvelous. Praying for everyone here.

~Deb from Kansas

robcio40 wrote:

Hi there from Toronto. This is my first post on this great forum,

and I am looking to get some advice and information from people

going through the same hell like me..

My Dad who is 66, was diagnosed with colon cancer in March 2005. He

took 5 weeks of radiation with chemo in the same time before his

colon surgery. I do not know what the chemo was, but he had a pump

with if for 5 weeks. He went through surgery on May 30, tumor (size

of orange) was removed, 2 lymph nodes were affected. He ended with

temporary colonoscopy bag. After surgery his doctor recommended

chemo. He took 5 injections of 5FU for 5 days, 2 weeks break and

again. 5 cycles. After 4th cycle he started to feel some stomach

discomfort and pain in a lower left part of abdomen. After checking

with his doctor this was blamed on chemo side effects. The same

happened after 5th cycle, this time doctor ordered CT Scan. The news

was bad. Cancer has spread to his abdomen area and lungs even though

he was on 5FU chemo. It was discovered that his pain is due to

obstruction in abdomen area,( small intestine gets tangled, twisted

and temporarily blocked causing pain.) This happens every 2-3 days.

He was given 4 to 12 months (this was 2 weeks ago)with possible

total blockage if 2nd line of chemo does not work, He started CPT-11

last Friday (Nov 11), no side effect at all in first 48 hours, but

in the last couple of days he is having cramps in his abdomen area.

They are coming in waves. Before the pain was coming more less from

one spot, now its all over his abdomen. He is also taking stool

softener to prevent blockages I believe it is Domperidone. I could

not reach our Doctor today ( Dr. Hedley from Princess Margaret Hosp)

to ask if this is maybe due to chemo side effects, or maybe

something more worrisome. Dr said, that my dad should see some

improvement in about week if CPT-11 works (less obstruction due to

tumor shrinkage) which is in 2 days. We scare to death , as so far

there is no improvement. If there is no response to CPT-11 there is

not too much he can try he said. My dad is on strict diet, nothing

solid, everything blended, baby food etc, he is passing some stuff

to his waste bag, but pain is still there. Are these cramps he is

having possible delayed side effects? Dr said the he will take

another CT Scan to see if CPT-11 works in 9 weeks. Is it normal? We

are also exploring non conventional treatments. Has anyone heard

about ATP treatment, auto-Sanguis Stair Case Dilution therapy,

Wharton's jelly or Stabilized Oxygen?? Would some suggest another GI

oncologist in Toronto area for a second opinion? Any input will be

greatly appreciated. Many thanks. ...sorry for my English

---------------------------------

Yahoo! FareChase - Search multiple travel sites in one click.

[Guest guest]

Hello, sorry you need to be here but welcome all the same.

I had a colon resection to remove my tumor then the 28 days of

radiation/xeloda (pill 5-FU). I developed a small bowel obstruction

about 3-4 months after the radiation ceased. The cramps are painful.

I had surgery to remove the obstruction. It turned out that I had an

adhesion after my colon resection where the small bowel stuck to the

area my colon was reconnected. Well, that small bowel got 28 days of

radiation and started dieing and scarring. My obstruction was from

the radiation.

I lost about 25 lbs over a 3 month period because of it. I would be

fine for about 5 days then something would get stuck behind the

narrowing of the tube and the cramps would start. I'd have a couple

of days when I had no appetite at all and lots of cramping followed

by diarrhea. Then, I'd get a bit of appetite back and start eating

again.

I was told to avoid fiber and eat more starches (pastas, etc..). It

was difficult to figure out what I could eat and what not to eat.

Fiber can be bulky and can possibly block the narrow opening. I

didn't seem to be able to stop the blockage no matter what I ate.

I'd still get the cramping sooner or later. Those cramps hurt a

lot. (didn't I already say that?)

Again, I chose surgery. I wasn't getting any better and after 3

months, the doctor figured that it wouldn't work itself out. He

turned out to be right.

In your Dad's case, I don't know what to say. It could be a tumor

that's causing the blockage. It could be an adhesion from the

initial surgery. It could be radiation damage. I have read from

others on the forum that some chemo seems to cause abdominal pain.

It's really hard to say what's going on.

I feel like I haven't helped much but at least I know what the cramps

are like. I'll be praying for you and your Dad.

Miracles happen!

Cliff H.

>

> Hi there from Toronto. This is my first post on this great forum,

> and I am looking to get some advice and information from people

> going through the same hell like me..

>

> My Dad who is 66, was diagnosed with colon cancer in March 2005. He

> took 5 weeks of radiation with chemo in the same time before his

> colon surgery. I do not know what the chemo was, but he had a pump

> with if for 5 weeks. He went through surgery on May 30, tumor (size

> of orange) was removed, 2 lymph nodes were affected. He ended with

> temporary colonoscopy bag. After surgery his doctor recommended

> chemo. He took 5 injections of 5FU for 5 days, 2 weeks break and

> again. 5 cycles. After 4th cycle he started to feel some stomach

> discomfort and pain in a lower left part of abdomen. After checking

> with his doctor this was blamed on chemo side effects. The same

> happened after 5th cycle, this time doctor ordered CT Scan. The

news

> was bad. Cancer has spread to his abdomen area and lungs even

though

> he was on 5FU chemo. It was discovered that his pain is due to

> obstruction in abdomen area,( small intestine gets tangled, twisted

> and temporarily blocked causing pain.) This happens every 2-3 days.

> He was given 4 to 12 months (this was 2 weeks ago)with possible

> total blockage if 2nd line of chemo does not work, He started CPT-

11

> last Friday (Nov 11), no side effect at all in first 48 hours, but

> in the last couple of days he is having cramps in his abdomen area.

> They are coming in waves. Before the pain was coming more less from

> one spot, now its all over his abdomen. He is also taking stool

> softener to prevent blockages I believe it is Domperidone. I could

> not reach our Doctor today ( Dr. Hedley from Princess Margaret

Hosp)

> to ask if this is maybe due to chemo side effects, or maybe

> something more worrisome. Dr said, that my dad should see some

> improvement in about week if CPT-11 works (less obstruction due to

> tumor shrinkage) which is in 2 days. We scare to death , as so far

> there is no improvement. If there is no response to CPT-11 there is

> not too much he can try he said. My dad is on strict diet, nothing

> solid, everything blended, baby food etc, he is passing some stuff

> to his waste bag, but pain is still there. Are these cramps he is

> having possible delayed side effects? Dr said the he will take

> another CT Scan to see if CPT-11 works in 9 weeks. Is it normal? We

> are also exploring non conventional treatments. Has anyone heard

> about ATP treatment, auto-Sanguis Stair Case Dilution therapy,

> Wharton's jelly or Stabilized Oxygen?? Would some suggest another

GI

> oncologist in Toronto area for a second opinion? Any input will be

> greatly appreciated. Many thanks. ...sorry for my English

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I havn't read the other responces so this may be a

duplication, sorry.

I am very sorry for your dad's problems. I had a

colon resection 8 years ago and now I am stage 4 with

lung metasteses.

About 2 years after the surgery I started having a

similar pain to your dad's. I would go into the

emergency room and they would give me a bunch of tests

but could never find the problem. The first time I

was in the hospital for a week. The next time they

kept me a few days, but then what they found out was

that if they gave me enough drugs to relax the

intestine the problem would go away. It came back

ever couple of months, though, and I have been to the

emergency room 13 times for it. Now they just give me

a dose of Morphine right away and I go home happy. My

doctor gave me a box of liquid morphine to try the

next time it happens but I have not used that yet.

They think it's because I'm constipated, but often

times there is no sign of constipation prior to the

pains. I think they are stress related and that my

brain is causing my gut to tighten and the causes more

stress, so it's a increasing cycle.

The avastin that I am on now for chemotherapy, along

with oxaliplatin and xeloda are shrinking the lung

nodules. I am on my 5th cycle and we hope it will

work by 8 cycles. Those drugs are very expensive so

your doctor may not want to use them, but they are the

only hope I have right now. My wife thinks I'm worth

it even if the insurance company doesn't think so.

Good luck to your Dad.

Len

--- robcio40 wrote:

---------------------------------

Hi there from Toronto. This is my first post on this

great forum,

and I am looking to get some advice and information

from people

going through the same hell like me..

My Dad who is 66, was diagnosed with colon cancer in

March 2005. He

took 5 weeks of radiation with chemo in the same time

before his

colon surgery. I do not know what the chemo was, but

he had a pump

with if for 5 weeks. He went through surgery on May

30, tumor (size

of orange) was removed, 2 lymph nodes were affected.

He ended with

temporary colonoscopy bag. After surgery his doctor

recommended

chemo. He took 5 injections of 5FU for 5 days, 2 weeks

break and

again. 5 cycles. After 4th cycle he started to feel

some stomach

discomfort and pain in a lower left part of abdomen.

After checking

with his doctor this was blamed on chemo side effects.

The same

happened after 5th cycle, this time doctor ordered CT

Scan. The news

was bad. Cancer has spread to his abdomen area and

lungs even though

he was on 5FU chemo. It was discovered that his pain

is due to

obstruction in abdomen area,( small intestine gets

tangled, twisted

and temporarily blocked causing pain.) This happens

every 2-3 days.

He was given 4 to 12 months (this was 2 weeks ago)with

possible

total blockage if 2nd line of chemo does not work, He

started CPT-11

last Friday (Nov 11), no side effect at all in first

48 hours, but

in the last couple of days he is having cramps in his

abdomen area.

They are coming in waves. Before the pain was coming

more less from

one spot, now its all over his abdomen. He is also

taking stool

softener to prevent blockages I believe it is

Domperidone. I could

not reach our Doctor today ( Dr. Hedley from Princess

Margaret Hosp)

to ask if this is maybe due to chemo side effects, or

maybe

something more worrisome. Dr said, that my dad should

see some

improvement in about week if CPT-11 works (less

obstruction due to

tumor shrinkage) which is in 2 days. We scare to death

, as so far

there is no improvement. If there is no response to

CPT-11 there is

not too much he can try he said. My dad is on strict

diet, nothing

solid, everything blended, baby food etc, he is

passing some stuff

to his waste bag, but pain is still there. Are these

cramps he is

having possible delayed side effects? Dr said the he

will take

another CT Scan to see if CPT-11 works in 9 weeks. Is

it normal? We

are also exploring non conventional treatments. Has

anyone heard

about ATP treatment, auto-Sanguis Stair Case Dilution

therapy,

Wharton's jelly or Stabilized Oxygen?? Would some

suggest another GI

oncologist in Toronto area for a second opinion? Any

input will be

greatly appreciated. Many thanks. ...sorry for

my English

For an an extensive collection of colon cancer related

links go to

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/colon_cancer_support/links

or

http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/suthercon/

yahoo.com/group/colon_cancer_support/links or

http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/suthercon/

[Guest guest]

Hi Ingrid,

Thank you for your responce. I will make sure he does that. He

wants to fight, but he is also stubborn. One day he will eat and

drink, next day he won't. We are trying to tell him he has to do it

for his benefit, he has to get stronger for Dec 2nd chemo, so he

will think about it and than sometime he would change his mind. It

is hard for us and for him , that's for sure.

All the best to you.

> > >

> > >

> > > ---------------------------------

> > > Hi there from Toronto. This is my first post on this

> > > great forum,

> > > and I am looking to get some advice and information

> > > from people

> > > going through the same hell like me..

> > >

> > > My Dad who is 66, was diagnosed with colon cancer in

> > > March 2005. He

> > > took 5 weeks of radiation with chemo in the same time

> > > before his

> > > colon surgery. I do not know what the chemo was, but

> > > he had a pump

> > > with if for 5 weeks. He went through surgery on May

> > > 30, tumor (size

> > > of orange) was removed, 2 lymph nodes were affected.

> > > He ended with

> > > temporary colonoscopy bag. After surgery his doctor

> > > recommended

> > > chemo. He took 5 injections of 5FU for 5 days, 2 weeks

> > > break and

> > > again. 5 cycles. After 4th cycle he started to feel

> > > some stomach

> > > discomfort and pain in a lower left part of abdomen.

> > > After checking

> > > with his doctor this was blamed on chemo side effects.

> > > The same

> > > happened after 5th cycle, this time doctor ordered CT

> > > Scan. The news

> > > was bad. Cancer has spread to his abdomen area and

> > > lungs even though

> > > he was on 5FU chemo. It was discovered that his pain

> > > is due to

> > > obstruction in abdomen area,( small intestine gets

> > > tangled, twisted

> > > and temporarily blocked causing pain.) This happens

> > > every 2-3 days.

> > > He was given 4 to 12 months (this was 2 weeks ago)with

> > > possible

> > > total blockage if 2nd line of chemo does not work, He

> > > started CPT-11

> > > last Friday (Nov 11), no side effect at all in first

> > > 48 hours, but

> > > in the last couple of days he is having cramps in his

> > > abdomen area.

> > > They are coming in waves. Before the pain was coming

> > > more less from

> > > one spot, now its all over his abdomen. He is also

> > > taking stool

> > > softener to prevent blockages I believe it is

> > > Domperidone. I could

> > > not reach our Doctor today ( Dr. Hedley from Princess

> > > Margaret Hosp)

> > > to ask if this is maybe due to chemo side effects, or

> > > maybe

> > > something more worrisome. Dr said, that my dad should

> > > see some

> > > improvement in about week if CPT-11 works (less

> > > obstruction due to

> > > tumor shrinkage) which is in 2 days. We scare to death

> > > , as so far

> > > there is no improvement. If there is no response to

> > > CPT-11 there is

> > > not too much he can try he said. My dad is on strict

> > > diet, nothing

> > > solid, everything blended, baby food etc, he is

> > > passing some stuff

> > > to his waste bag, but pain is still there. Are these

> > > cramps he is

> > > having possible delayed side effects? Dr said the he

> > > will take

> > > another CT Scan to see if CPT-11 works in 9 weeks. Is

> > > it normal? We

> > > are also exploring non conventional treatments. Has

> > > anyone heard

> > > about ATP treatment, auto-Sanguis Stair Case Dilution

> > > therapy,

> > > Wharton's jelly or Stabilized Oxygen?? Would some

> > > suggest another GI

> > > oncologist in Toronto area for a second opinion? Any

> > > input will be

> > > greatly appreciated. Many thanks. ...sorry for

> > > my English

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > For an an extensive collection of colon cancer related

> > > links go to

> > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/colon_cancer_support/links

> > > or

> > > http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/suthercon/

> > >

> > > yahoo.com/group/colon_cancer_support/links or

> > > http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/suthercon/

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >