Post surgery questions

Holy Smoly Kris,  Sorry to hear about your trying endeavors!  First, the liquid sounds and bubbly sound effects can be normal especially after a major surgery as yours.  My gall bladder and half of my liver was removed years ago and I still have sound effects.  Also with a surgery of this nature it is common to have a prescription of some type of ant-acid possibally Omeprazole to keep your acidity calmed down as with your gall bladder now gone you don't have a storage bag per say releasing enzymes for digesting as needed.  You kinda have a constant flow.  This could  explain the bubbly to an extent but primarily the acidity burn feeling should calm down with ant-acid med.  I would definitley get that check out as to much constant acidity/enzymes could be causing the start of some sores /ulcer activity.  The signs of recurrence would be basically the same and with the liver involved it's not uncommom to have pain in the right side of your chest, shoulder , and even hip. You actually should be aware of unexplained pain anywhere due to if it was to return it could actually return to a different part of your body to include lungs and bones and of course other organs .  Mine returned to the liver and both lungs and suspected as far as I'm concerned tenth rib on the right.  As far as hormones and getting pregnant and having children I don't dare touch that one except I have heard and seen it done by women but did they have CC which is considered systemic cancer I don't know.  I would certainly get an Oncologist you can trust a soon as possible and get a CT Scan done to see if things are going okay post-Op.  I would have a list of my symtoms and questions about getting a prescription for ant-acid and also discuss if any post-Op chemo is something you want to think about especially if your wanting to move on and have children.  You have got quite a decision to make there.  I know as a man I'm not suppose to be trying to make babies while on chemotherpy treatments as possible birth defects could occur just base on the nature of the drugs themselves. Like smoking or drinking but maybe a lot higher risk.  Going back on the pill would be a good question for the oncologist.  Kris love your positive attitude, just get yourself an intelligent Oncologist and hopefully all your questions will be answered by a medical professional.  I certainly wish you the best Kris and hope you are able to move in the direction you desire.

Jeff G.

Hi Kris

It is difficult to know what the signs of recurrance will be and so I would go along with what Jeff said and look for the signs you had originally, but bring anything new and unexplained to the attention of your doctors.  In my own case, I didn't have any real symptoms when I had my first surgery in August 2006.  In fact I felt great.  I felt the same when I had my follow up CT scan in February; but it had returned.  With the benefit of hindsight I now realise that prior to August I had a rash (not itchy) on both arms.  This disappeared after the surgery but was definately coming back in February.  It again disappeared after my last surgery so now I watch for it all the time.  It may have nothing to do with the cancer but it was a bit of a coincidence.

As for the stomach noises, well I get this too, off and on and put it down to the fact that the bile is not being stored but is being produced, I would imagine, as you need it and going straight into your intestines.  There are probably times when more is produced than at other times.

I have a degree of sympathy for your oncologist.  They really do not have many answers when it comes to people like us who have had surgery.  You have already read my story about the chemo trial and this trial is being run to see if there is any benefit in giving chemo after surgery.  So, at present, the situation seems to be that the accepted protocol is that there is no benefit.  As for signs of recurrence, the problem would seem to be that there are various signs so, apart from the serious and generally the too late signs of jaundice, weight loss etc you are possibly not going to be aware of any signs so it is difficuklt for anyone to advise you on what to look out for.  You are fortunate to be receiving 3-monthly CT scans.  At least this should bring any signs of recurrence to your doctor's attention quickly.

As for the effects on having children I will also have to side step this one apart from saying that any of the chemo drugs I have looked at do make special mention of people who are pregnant or thinking about starting a family.

Did you manage to follow up on the chemo trial with Professor Garden?  I have now been back to see Professor Evans at the Beatson and he has stopped me taking the Xeloda.  Apparently, in rare cases, it brings on chest pains and can cause a heart attack.  I am being kept on the trial for follow up tests and so will be getting
3-monthly CT scans.

All the best

Ron