My husband was diagnosied with appendix cancer in 2014. this cancer is very rare and becuase of it, there isn't many type of chemo teeatments and there are not any trial studies. he has had 2 major surgeries to remove appendix, mosu of tumors. he just spent almost 6 weeks in hospitals. we will be seeing a different Oncologist to determine if there is anymore options available. if not, my husband wants to go back to old treatments even though side effects made him horribly sick for many days. i don't want to see him suffer anymore and I believe he should only get another type of Chemo, if available and with a better prognois.Is anyone in this situation or has been ?? tired of this illness.
Everyone in my immediate paternal family has had cancer; some in my maternal family have as well. Thus far I'm one of the few who hasn't been struck. From seeing the agony my family has gone through, I feel very strongly that:
(a) the wishes of the individual in treatment need to be respected, unless chemo brain or some type of cognitive dysfunction is involved;
(b) even the closest family member isn't undergoing the agony, anxiety, fear, sometimes terror, and other mental and physical challenges of cancer, and can sometimes at best provide a supporting environment for the person who is in treatment.
(c) That's not to say that caregivers can't be sympathetic; we just can't and I'm thankful for that, experience the daily stress of cancer. And it's difficult to make the decisions to return to an already challenging treatment, regardless of whether there are alternative options.
So we need to respect the choices of the person who is, again, unless there are extenuating factors.
I think there are other issues to address:
1. Were the drugs administered specifically for appendix cancer, and at what level? There's been a lot of research, including genetic, done and some drugs are more tailored to specific cancers. Different drugs can be targeted for different types of cancer as well as different methods of controlling and/or hopefully curing.
I'm not knowledgeable enough about the genetic and gene targeting drugs to write intelligently about them, vs. drugs specifically targeted for the cancer that attacks the appendix. This is a complicated medical and scientific area.
2. Someone who is more qualified to address this is AKDaughter.
3. If you feel he should get a different type of chemo, which kind, and what would it target? This is where the genetic and similar issues come in.
3. What are the side effects of the other drugs you think might be more appropriate? Would they be less, similar, or worse than the drugs he's had?
4. What does his oncologist recommend, although I understand that you haven't yet seen the different oncologist.
5. Have you yourself researched the drugs? If not, you might want to start at the website of CURE, a magazine devoted to cancer issues. You can also get hard copies of the quarterly magazine, free to those battling cance as well as their caregivers.
6. I would search for Gilda's Club in your area. In mine, they hold meetings specifically for various kinds of cancers. It's possible you might connect with someone who also has dealt with appendix cancer. If not, it's still a top notch support group.
The articles range from practical ones such as chemo induced appetite loss to the complex genetic issues I referred to.
As to one of your questions, the cancers we've experienced on the paternal side of my family haven't included appendix - they're skin, lung, pancreatic, & gynecologic. On the maternal side, they were breast and lung cancers. So I have no direct experience with appendix cancer.
I think you're wise to address other chemo drugs, and both of you would in fact have a better understanding of their effectiveness and side effects after the meeting with the new oncologist. In the meantime, you can help your husband by researching and learning about what other treatments methods might be available.
This is a challenging journey that you both face; I hope you're able to find some comfort and helpful advice from the next oncologist.
I'm sorry that your husband is going through this. I have to agree with GardenArtist in that your husband's wishes need to be respected. It's not his job right now to get on board with what you want, it's your job to get on board with what he wants.