Chemotherapy with a Stoma: Seeking Advice and Experiences

Is chemotherapy as bad as I think it is?
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I have had an ileo for approximately 7 months now. I do not like it, but after having colon cancer twice and many surgeries for hernias,
I am at peace with myself for surviving. However, I also have breast cancer and have been advised to undergo chemotherapy. They want to give me chemotherapy once every 3 weeks (very strong, no negotiation)
that is what they want to do. I need 4 to 6 treatments. Or I can do IP chemotherapy twice a week
for a month. The problem is, it's a different doctor and farther to travel. I talked to the stoma nurse, and she couldn't advise me which chemotherapy would be better for me to do because of the stoma.
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Has
anyone had chemotherapy, and what are the side effects with having a stoma?
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butterfly48

Here are my two cents based on undergoing six months (12 treatments) of chemo for colon cancer following my first stoma surgery:

- The only side effect that was possibly made worse because of the stoma was diarrhea. I've found diarrhea to be much more difficult to deal with having a stoma than without. So, if diarrhea is a side effect of one chemo treatment you are considering but not the other, that is something to think about.
- That being said, I would think the number one consideration is which treatment do the doctors feel is going to do a better job wiping out the cancer? The rest is all stuff that can be dealt with.

Best wishes

I had chemo about 8 years ago; the treatment was over a 6-month period, and the only side effects were my hair thinning out and my nails becoming very soft. No problems with my stoma (colostomy).
My wife had chemo for breast cancer, and hers included full hair loss, energy loss, etc. One thing that helped her was medicinal marijuana right after her treatment.
Both oncologists had different chemo treatments, and ultimately the choice was yours which one to take.
Sorry, I don't know which is better for you. Do you have a Cancer Society where you live? Maybe someone there might be able to help.

Cheers, Bob

I had chemo for 13 months after my second colon cancer surgery in 2004/5. The first session was with an older chemo product that didn't make me sick but didn't reduce the tumor either. The second battery of chemo worked, but they increased the dosage gradually, and it began to make me sick. However, contrary to the earlier post, I found it easier to experience the stomach sickness with a drainable pouch than previously without the ostomy. I simply took Imodium and knew where or learned where the restrooms were at. Imodium, if managed well, can be our very good friend!!! Use as much of it as needed, but be careful to learn and know when to level off.

I took my longer road trips on days when I was the sickest and got along fine. Didn't quit working at all through chemo. And was back to work 4-5 weeks after each surgery.

The stoma wasn't affected at all by the chemo. The stoma hasn't slowed my lifestyle down much at all. I am thankful that my quality of life has actually improved quite nicely since ostomy surgery. (Having my wife become an ex perhaps has helped my quality of life even more). Oops, maybe that didn't fit here!?

Some formulas of chemo don't make one as ill. I'd inquire which those are and try to start there. They give you medicine for nausea. Sometimes they work well and then...??? Unless you have a fast-growing and extremely serious cancer, I'd say you should consider a second opinion. Starting with a ferocious chemo isn't always necessary. But then I'm not a doctor. Just experienced.

Good luck. Loren

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So sorry to hear that. I could suggest to you, I have a lot of members telling me about chemo. I suggest getting the open-ended pouch; it will save you a lot of grief, darling. Hope all goes well; it's a lot to handle. Damn that cancer shit, it really makes me crazy. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
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Sorry, I needed to vent. xx All the best, Mare.

Living with Your Ostomy | Hollister

I had chemo tablets before and after my operation, and to be honest, they didn't affect me much at all, as has been said before, just the diarrhea, which is not very nice, but it wasn't that often.
Good luck with whatever choice you make.
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x

Thank you all for responding.
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  I think I am going to try the IPT only because I like the concept.  Basically they put glucose in the chemo - so when the cancer gets hungry for sugar it will go for the sugar and at the same time gobble up  the chemo which according to the doctors will kill the cancer immediately.  My friend actually used this form of chemo years ago and it worked.  Her problem she didn't continue do the dosage recommended,  the cancer went away for apx. 8 years and now  the breast cancer has come back, but it is more of a skin cancer now.  She claims she never lost her hair or got sick.  So, I am going to try it.  I also have been told there is a vaccine out there.
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  Its really difficult to make a decision because my insurance like most people who live in the states have little or no medical insurance.  Unless you are of age and can get on medicare, because of my age I am not eligible, so I have to rely on Medicaid to pay medical bills.  I am presently on a special state grant for Breast Cancer.  Unfortunately, I can't get medicaid to pay my doctors March and April bills
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  I was denied because they claim I was not disabled those months.  I was in the hospital for a blood transfusion and also testing for my surgery that took place in May.  Medicaid paid for May but not the 2 months prior.  Does anyone know how to get the system to pay these bills
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  or a loop hole I missed
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  Any information would be greatly appreciated - thank you  
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Butterfly48

Hello,

It appears you have made your decision as to what chemo to use, so I will skirt that issue. As far as complications to a stoma, in our case I know of none. With a colostomy, one may have an issue with loose stool or diarrhea, but as you know, with our ileostomies coming directly from the small intestines, they already run 24/7, so what's the difference? None!

In my case with 4th stage colon cancer with mets to the liver, I underwent 16 weeks of daily radiation, 17 months of weekly and at times daily chemo, and 8 surgeries, and the stoma was the least of my problems at the time. And actually, it was easier because I couldn't eat much so I had less flow...hahaha!

Also, after 12 months of a disability, you may qualify for Disability Social Security, so it wouldn't hurt to go online now and file with the SS Dept. I wish you luck and please feel free to read my bio and get a hold of me if I can be of further help... Ridge.

Hi Butterfly,

I have had a colostomy for the last 20 years as a result of Crohn's Disease. In April of 2010, I was diagnosed with Stage 2 invasive breast cancer, and the doctors recommended chemo and radiation following a lumpectomy. I was very concerned about having chemo, especially its effect on my stoma and colostomy, and because I have been symptom-free from Crohn's, I did not want to do anything to jeopardize that.

Last July, I began the first of my 6 cycles of chemo. I went every 3 weeks for a total of 18 weeks and finished in November. I am happy to report that there were no adverse effects on my stoma or colostomy from the chemo. I did have some diarrhea and constipation, but neither was unmanageable. I did not even have to change my appliance more often than before the chemo.

You are right that chemo is not at all fun, and it was challenging, but I am relieved and happy that my Crohn's is still quiet and my ostomy is doing well.

Best of luck to you and feel free to get in touch with me personally on this site.

Take care.
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