Looking for reassurance

[Russell's Mom]

Dark Circles

Yep, we had them. Russell looked like uncle Fester from the munsters. About a month after his chemo he was at a concert finally feeling better and then got kicked out. They would not say, but to this day I believe it is because he looked like a particular group that shaves their heads and have a difficult time with race issues. Very very frustrating. Quite the opposite from his style, he will soon leave for Guatemala to work with Habitat for Humanity as a thank-you to all who helped and prayed. We are still working on getting his health back...surgical problems took him down to the bottom again. No problem....we are getting good at nutrition and re-finding the positive attitude. I believe that he gets stronger with every challange. Hang on! Take care, Russell's mom, Sharon

[mstlyn]

It is hard waiting all this time to do another PET/CT scan.

I know recovery is supposed to be slow after 3xBEP...it just seems my husband is feeling worse this week, not better. He is clearly still very worn out, as to be expected.

He still has terrible dark circles around his eyes. Which is quite troubling because they were the real first sign that the cancer had spread to his lymph nodes. It is also slightly unnerving because every picture you see of someone with advance cancer seems to have the dark circles around thier eyes.

My son has dark circles around his eyes too. He will be done with 4XEP tomorrow. I thought the dark circles was something to be expected after such intensive chemotherapy, though I can certainly understand your fear. I think that a lot of fears are to be expected, as normal. These are people we love with all that we are, and all we have. I say this, and as I do I know that I will be posting my share of worries in coming weeks and months.

And yes I know we have covered this before, but can someone please reassure me that had big dark circles AROUND, not just under, their eyes and it did take quite some time for them to go away? And now they are doing great and are cancer free.

Also his stomach issue seems to be getting worse. He said it isn't acid reflux or nausea and he doesn't know really how to explain it other then it just doesn't feel right.....never reassuring.

My son tells me the same thing at times. He says, he can't explain it but theres something "going on in there". Not nausea, not pain, but something isnt right. I get worried that cancer is growing in his abdomen; yet his markers were back to normal after his 3rd cycle. Who really knows what is going on. Maybe you would feel better if you call the doctor and ask him to examine your husband, at least do some blood work to ease your mind? I will probably be bugging my sons doctor for visits in between the appointments they make; at least for a little while.

And it doesn't help that he still seems a bit depressed and keeps talking like he is expecting that the cancer is not gone. Like he knows something that he isn't telling me.

Hopefully he will talk to someone that can help him. I'm sure those feelings and worries can be overwhelming sometimes. My son often asks me, "what if it doesn't go away" he thinks and stresses over everything he has been going through lately. Doc started him on Ativan this week and it helps a lot. I wish I could help, but all I can really do is let you know that my son is experiencing similar things, and that I understand.

And on top of that my 8 year old daughter found a book at the library last week about kids dealing with their parent dying. I can't even say how much it shook me. I asked her why she wanted a book like that and her response was just that she did.

Clearly everything could be all compleatly unrelated, but when you look at it all together and start thinking about it, it gets a bit overwhelming.

Just looking for all those positive thoughts!

Thanks for reading my rambles about my current cancer insecurities.

Becki[/QUOTE]

[mercyriver]

Thanks guys for the encouraging words.

That would be one thing women do well, is worry.

Plus looking at Renea's pictures, I see those same dark circles around my husbands eyes.

Then I think about all the missed tests and the delayed test and then the delayed treatment. You can see why I worry.

Last night he told me he feels worse after chemo then before....that I actually had to laugh at. I asked him if he really expected chemo would make him instantly feel better? That one was pretty ammusing. Although he is pretty down that he isn't feeling better faster. And he still doesn't understand the strange stomach feelings and the excess phlegm he is still getting in his throat. Plus he is still getting episodes of tachycardia.

Anyhow, thanks for all the support. Tomorrow is his PET/CT and then Tuesday we should know the results. The should set everything straight for sure!

Beck

[petep]

I remember about 3 months post chemo I developed hard lumps under my breasts and they became very tender....a sign when testicular cancer is there....but also a sign of your body's hormones getting back in balance...

I was panicked....

You will learn it'll take months...quite a few months....before all normalizes...

the main message is do not try to analyze every little change....do your monthly f/ups and get back to living...

best wishes,

pete

[mikeygti]

Ah yes,I remember it well....the bald head,pale skin and the dark circles around the eyes. As Robert mentioned, chemo is indeed a battle,that does take time to recover from. As the weed-killer gradually exits the body,you do begin to fel better.


I recall having been back to work for about 4 weeks post-chemo,when a concerned co-worker asked how I was feeling,thinking I was near death from the chemo. I replied "great",as I bounded up the stairs,on my way to the gym !

Best Wishes

[mercyriver]

It is hard waiting all this time to do another PET/CT scan.

I know recovery is supposed to be slow after 3xBEP...it just seems my husband is feeling worse this week, not better. He is clearly still very worn out, as to be expected.

He still has terrible dark circles around his eyes. Which is quite troubling because they were the real first sign that the cancer had spread to his lymph nodes. It is also slightly unnerving because every picture you see of someone with advance cancer seems to have the dark circles around thier eyes.

And yes I know we have covered this before, but can someone please reassure me that had big dark circles AROUND, not just under, their eyes and it did take quite some time for them to go away? And now they are doing great and are cancer free.

Also his stomach issue seems to be getting worse. He said it isn't acid reflux or nausea and he doesn't know really how to explain it other then it just doesn't feel right.....never reassuring.

And it doesn't help that he still seems a bit depressed and keeps talking like he is expecting that the cancer is not gone. Like he knows something that he isn't telling me.

And on top of that my 8 year old daughter found a book at the library last week about kids dealing with their parent dying. I can't even say how much it shook me. I asked her why she wanted a book like that and her response was just that she did.

Clearly everything could be all compleatly unrelated, but when you look at it all together and start thinking about it, it gets a bit overwhelming.

Just looking for all those positive thoughts!

Thanks for reading my rambles about my current cancer insecurities.

Becki