Stomach pain- cancer/chemo

[Earthdog]

Any ideas appreciated. My Mother is on chemo (Oxilaplatin and Capecitabine) for secondary bowel cancer. She is coping well, but the one symptom which is causing problems is severe abdominal pain after the Oxilaplatin. It kicks in 2 days afterwards and she is in terrible pain for about 3 mornings running. We have upped her pain killer four fold and she is taking 4-5 ducosate a day to keep her bowels moving, but although this has helped a little she is still in too much pain. The nurses and doctors are brilliant but can't seem to solve this one. Mum thinks the pain is wind as it moves around. She has tried Buscospan and Colpermin plus all the usual indigestion remedies but nothing helps. Thanks for reading.

Your poor mum. I've had advanced bowel cancer too, although I didn't have capecitabine.

I had modified folfox, which included oxaliplatin and I don't recall severe abdominal pain the day after. I was frequently very sick, and I know my tummy sometimes hurt from this and hunger when I couldn't eat, but when my sickness was more under control I don't think I had that kind of pain. I only finished six months ago I'm sure I'd recall that.

I was looser rather than firmer during my chemo. Is the pain killer making her constipated? Can she manage to eat something like dried apricots or maybe drink some prune juice? Is she drinking enough? It's quite easy to get dehydrated.

I do still sometimes get terrible problems with wind and tbh I haven't found anything stops it although some things ease it a bit. Walking around and moving my tummy ease it a bit (but I'm well now so easier). I drink a lot of peppermint tea. And as it's six months since I last had chemo I then get all anxious and think it's come back . Tension such a great help when trying to ease abdominal pain. Not. Still, scan next week so I can reassure myself/face up to things according to how it goes! But seriously, is there anything that could help your mum relax deeply to help relax any spasms? Yoga? Any suitable massage? (ask chemo nurses)

Good luck with it. I feel for her. It's so horrible.

Thanks for your kind replies ThingOne and RubysReturn it is really appreciated. I am very sorry to hear what you have both been through too. I will ask about the injection of Buscopan. I know the pain killers do cause constipation which I am sure is contributing, but the pain was even more severe without the increased dose and it is definitely the chemo causing it as it is the same each time afterwards. The oncologist had not heard of this reaction before. The pain is too severe unfortunately to do exercise and yoga, sometimes she is crying out,shaking and thrashing around in pain, I almost called 999 once. But the chemo has helped overall, it has pulled her back from the brink and now she has good weeks too. Thanks again, good luck with the scan results ThingOne I will be thinking of you, let us know how it goes xxx

The poor thing. That sounds very unpleasant. It must be terrible for you to see that.

I forgot to add that the peppermint tea helps loosen things up as well. I had to ration by drinking of it while I was on chemo as it was all a bit much. One of the oncologists told me it was well known for having that effect.

Does she like miso soup? It's quite easy to get down when you're not well, and has little to make you constipated.

Thanks for the further thoughts, will definitely give the peppermint tea a go, it's worth a try! Appreciated x