Bowel cancer symptoms appearing to improve/lessen 3 weeks into chemo?

[cocoawithsprinkles]

Just wondering if this is common?
A family member recently started chemo for early stage bowel cancel. He started the chemo about 3 or 4 weeks ago and although the chemo itself it making him very sick/the runs/exhausted, he feels the symptoms of the actual cancer have lessened.... Is this normal? Should we take this as hopeful?
He's in early 70s and generally fit and healthy.

Yes it's possibly a good sign

I'd say so. My wife had advanced ovarian cancer and felt a bit better after the first chemo session. Also she was given high doses of steroids before each treatment which really made her feel better- perhaps that's the same in your case

I was successfully treated for a different type of cancer including chemo as part of the treatment and experienced similar.

My cn did say at the time it was fairly common but was often a result of the steroids they give - a side effect of these is to reduce inflammation which I can imagine would be very helpful with making bowel cancer patients more comfortable.

That's not to say it isn't a sign that the treatment is working well and keeping fingers crossed for a good outcome for your relative.

My bowel cancer symptoms improved after staring chemo. Particularly the blood in my stools...it stopped completely. The consultant said this was normal and it was a good sign the treatment was working. X