Perforated Bowel after first round of chemo

jamie1969

Hello

I am writing this story about what has happened to my wife thus far. In May 2018 she found a lump in her left breast. After a Mammogram, and MRI a Biopsy was performed on her tumour. It was confirmed as IDC Breast Cancer. It was a large lump around 7cm. Bone scan and CT Scan should no Metasis. She began Chemo In mid June 2018 to try and shrink the tumour before surgery. After her first round of Chemo she became constipated and had pain in her stomach after about 3 days. We begin to discuss the issue with the Oncoligist nurse. We were advised to try senokot and laculose tp try and get her bowels moving. She started to have bowel movements but Pain was not getting any better so we were advised to come in for an x-ray. X ray reveiled a bit of a back up in the lower area of the bowel but no blockage. We were advised to try an enema and suppositories. One week after the first treatment the pain became very very bad. We were advised to go to the emergency room where they would do a CT Scan. The Ct Scan confirmed a perforated bowel. Emergency Surgery was performed. She survived the surgery but was in very bad shape. In ICU with multi organ failure and sepsis. After 3 weeks in ICU and 4 weeks in acute care she had to learn to walk again. She is now home and surgery was performed a mastectomy on her left breast. Lymph nodes were removed and 11 of 12 had microscopic cancer cells. Good margins on the tumour which ended up being 6.5 cm and grade 2.She goes for a CT scan on Tuesday and a radioligist appointment the following week. No plans for chemo at this time. She is HER2 Positive and is taking Tomixifen at this time. She is 48 and had a mammogram at 46 that was all clear.

thanks for taking the time to read.

Meow13

jamie, so sorry to hear, I wish medicine was more advanced that it is. I hope she feels better soon.

CindyNY

jamie1969 - your wife has been through the ringer. HUGS to both of you. I too wish meds were better at ridding cancer from our bodies. Hoping for the best on Tuesday. Keep us posted.

grainne

So sorry for you both. What an awful time you have had. I hope things start to improve for you.

fredntan

I am so sorry to hear this. Constipation has plagued me this entire journey. These drugs can be so constipating. They kill all your good gut bacteria.

my go to declogger is that glass bottle of stuff in every pharmacy. forgot the name. I keep one in fridge.

I hope your wife is on the mend.

NotVeryBrave

Wow - that is so scary! And at such a young age! I'm sorry for all you've both been through.

Perhaps your wife will be able to do just the targeted therapies of Herceptin and Perjeta? They are much less destructive to the rest of your body and often very effective against HER2+ cancers.

I hope that things continue to improve and you can both be hopeful for her treatment.

jamie1969

Update

CT scan and bone scan were clear. Radiation to start shortly. The cancer was ER Positive not HER2 Positive as I first said in my original post.

Thanks

CindyNY

jamie1969- that's good news! Happy to hear it. There are forums on here regarding radiation - maybe a Dec 2018 rads group. It helps with what's normal, a group that's starting around each other use each other for support and share information.

Good luck to you & your wife.

Sunocean

this exact thing happened to my mom when she first started. She got diverticulitis and then during her following chemo round she got it again and ended up with an ostomy bag. Luckily she was able to get it reversed after one year but it was so much to deal with. Wishing your wife a quick recovery.