Please tell me if this is normal(Cancer)?

Question

My mum has recently had Chemotheraphy and radiotheraphy for bowel cancer. She finished the treatment approx 2 weeks ago now. They told her at the hospital that she may feel worse once the treatment has stopped before she feels better. My mum is in her late 70's and wasn't very fit before this as she has Artheristis (sorry cant spell it) in her legs. My mum is spending lots of time sleeping inbed, she gets up some days for about an hour max about twice during the day. On other days she only gets up to use the toilet.
My dad is losing his patience and doesn't know what to do. He keeps telling me this cant be normal behaviour. Has anyone been through what my mums going through now?
How long did it take for you to feel better?
Is my mums behaviour normal?

Please, any help will be appreciated

Answer 1

Your mother's symptoms are largley due to the destruction of red blood cells which is normal for chemotherapy/radiation treatments. Red blood cells are responsible for carrying oxygen around in the body, and the less red blood cells a person has, the less oxygen that person has availible for daily activities. The good news is that--now that the chemo and radiation treatments have stopped--the cells can gradually re-populate. She will get better in time, but it will TAKE time: Blood cells don't instantly repopulate. Her bone marrow needs a chance to recover first before those cells can be manufactured. If her fatigue is really serrious, she might profit from asking her doctor about Neaupogen (not sure if that's spelled right), which is a shot that stimulates bone marrow production and will speed up this process. Your mother's fatigue is entirely normal for her situation... and, indeed, to be both expected and appreciated--she's been through a lot!

Don't be a stranger to her doctor's office: make a phone call with your concerns firmly in mind. You can often talk to a registered nurse (this call's free of charge in nearly all cases), who can address them and give you some practical, day-to-day, advice.

I wish your mother (as well as your entire family) good luck! I know this isn't easy by any means, but things will eventually get better. Please remember that her advanced age and level of physical fitness will (one more time: WILL) indicate that the recovery process will take longer than what most might experience, but if she's allowed the time, she'll be doing much better before long.

Answer 2

Well sorry to hear about your Mom my Mom also had cancer but she breast cancer one of my Best friends also had cancer and my Grand paw and Uncle died of cancer now My Mom finished all of her treatments about a year ago she is 60 years old and had not really had anything serious before that and was very healthy right after the treatments she was very ill she didn't hardly move around for about a month it made her very weak she was usually always cleaning and went to the gym like 3 times a week it was very hard to see her like that and it made her upset because she was used to taking care of her self the treatments are like poison and it takes a very long time to regain your strength. It has been a little over a year now and my Mom is close to normal but I don't think she ever will be quite the same but she is alive and fought it and won be proud of your Mom and just encourage her to keep on that it will get better try to help her as much as you guys can the less stress she is under the better and faster she will heal good luck

Answer 3

How is your mom doing now? I know how scary it can be when someone you love has cancer or any kind of disease. I know of a product that can help your mom with arthritis, future cancer prevention, strenghten her inmune system, and overall give her more energy. It's called OPC-3. It is a powerful antioxidant product that contains pine bark extract, grape seed extract, and red wine extract. It is 50 times more powerful than vitamin E and 20 times more powerful than vitamin C. People in France and other parts of Europe have been consuming this product for hundreds of years. It's all natural and has no side effects. My parents are in their 60's. Before OPC-3, they had all kinds of ailments such as arthritis, cholesterol, high blood pressure, etc, etc. After only 1 month of using it, they started noticing their overall health started to improve. Now it's over a year and they are doing superb. I exhort you to try this product. Your mother will be so grateful. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. The website is: www.marketamerica.com/americhoice (americhoice)

Answer 4

Yes, that's normal...Chemo takes a LOT out of you....and yes, it does make you feel worse before you feel better....the after effects can last 2-3 or 4 weeks or more.

Your dad needs a smack in the head--his beloved wife is fighting colon cancer, the #2 killer in the USA (my country) and he's losing patience? Arrrrrgh!

Answer 5

This is normal. My sister went through chemo, and she slept alot then too. She was in over all good health (other than the breast cancer) and it took alot out of her.

Answer 6

leg problem or not your father does not need a smack in the head the person need it that wrote that i take care of my mom who has breast cancer and has had chemo her oncology dr told me that she needs to stay active even after radiation which is what my husband took for his cancer she needs to do exercise even if she does it in the bed dont let her lay there and die ask her dr if she needs to move around i think he will tell you she needs to move around to keep the blood flowing

Answer 7

its normal and she may not get better at her age. happened to my grandparent too