Stage III - Questions

[Trisha]

Yes he did have a pre-chemo pulmonary function test I am happy to say. He started a little cough the other day and was worried it might be related but he stopped : )
Thanks everyone for your support and comments!

[mrb1980]

Trisha,

Congratulations on the end of BEP round 1. For me, round 3 was tough and round 4 was absolutely brutal, especially the first few days after the last treatment. Sounds rough, but it's better to be honest about these things.

Did your husband have a pre-chemo pulmonary function test? Bleomycin can negatively affect lung function and it's probably good to have him conduct the test at this early stage. For me, I lost about 40-50% of my lung function after chemo due to bleomycin irritation, although my lungs rapidly returned to normal (thank goodness).

Hope all is well, my prayers coming your way.

[Jilleighn]

My husband said each round was always harder. By his last round (3) it was pure hell on him. He was extremely ill and needing blood. He did not have to have any futher surgeries though. Good luck and keep us posted.

[Chris'Mom]

Trisha, hang in there and take one day a time...Round three for my son Chris was the hardest....mentally....wanted to give up...but the nurses always talked him thru it....round four we knew we were seeing the light at the end of the tunnel......he is doing great almost two years out of chemo....he did need RPLND with Dr. Sheinfeld at Sloan, had teratoma left over after chemo...but he though chemo was worse than surgery....please know I am thinking of all of you....Mary Ellen

[timothye]

For many the toughest time is the start of round three. At that point it seems like it will never end. Round four may be physically tougher but the end of treatment is close which make it easier to bear.

Yepp round three you know what is taking place ( hopefully ) and its very tough . But for me round 4 was the hardest . Just stay positive and think about the final outcome

Cheers T

[dadmo]

For many the toughest time is the start of round three. At that point it seems like it will never end. Round four may be physically tougher but the end of treatment is close which make it easier to bear.

[Trisha]

Doing OK so far - Stage IIIb 4BEP Underway

Thanks for the messages! We are in the end of our first round of BEP - with 3 rounds to go! He did OK for the first cycle. It was more exhausting because of the anxiety of what to expect. He got sick from the bleo in the second week. Fever, chills, rash and very tired. This week when he got his bleo they pumped him up with steroids, benadryl and zantac. He was way better Monday when he got the Bleo and even up til today. He is crashing a bit now and losing his hair!

He wants to know what you all think is the next toughest milestone after the first round and losing your hair?

They take our cancer markers on Monday again so we are hoping to see them plunge!

I know it's still very probable that he will have surgery (RPLND) aftery chemo (according to the NCCN document). But does anyone know the chances of having to do RPLND? or what Sloan/IU typically recommends?

[Jilleighn]

hang in there and stay positive. My husband declined the port too. By the end of treatment his veins where shot, but he felt that it was best for him to reduce the chance of infection to the port. Get a huge calander and start marking off the days. As each one passes we put a huge X through it. It totally made us realize that it was getting closer to the end. I would be very upfront with your children given there age. We just told our daughter daddy was sick. When she sees pictures of him with no hair she will say "daddy was sick then". She was only 18months old when my husband was diagonised.

[Karen]

Tricia,
Hang in there and stay positive! You are a wonderful advocate for your husband. The waiting really sucks. My thoughts and prayers are with you for good news with the CT results!

[Trisha]

4bep

Thanks everyone,
He decided not to have the port - his choice. On fifth day of our first cycle. Not bad yet. Waiting for Monday when the steroids wear off to see how he will handle the chemo. We get Neulasta tomorrow to help keep his blood cell count steady. The Oncologist tells us they will do CAT Scan after the 2nd round to see if it's all working . Got my fingers crossed. Meanwhile it feels like we are walking through a minefield waiting for what will happen to him with the chemo. Thanks for all your good wishes.

[Hopeful]

I would HIGHLy recommend the port. AFter a few rounds of chemo, the veins become very hard and like rubber. Thus it's harder to put a needle in and can REALLY hurt. Kevin was very grateful for his port because he hated the blood draws when he didn't have a port.

If you can help not having one less pain during chemo, then go for it. But it's his decision.

Patti

[Mom]

I wanted my son to have a pic inserted the first day of chemo. He wanted to tough it out. At the beginning of his 3rd cycle he had the pick installed. He wished he had it at day one. Stay strong and stay positive. Dianne

[jdunn]

Hi Trisha,
My son's doctor suggested him to get a port but his response "No thanks" He did survive the muliple pokes. Like Chris' Mom it was hard to watch. Towards his last of his 4 BPE cycle his veins were almost gone. The nurse's would leave the needle in his arm and wrap it so he wouldn't have to be poked everyday. That seemed to help. My Mom is going through chemo and is thankful that she has a port. Of course her treatment is extensive.
Best of Luck ....Stay strong.....prayers to you and your family.

[Chris'Mom]

Trisha....good luck with everything...hang in there...my son went thru this a year and a half ago...four rounds of chemo under Sloans direction.(he also needed surgery for teratoma after his chemo and Dr. Sheinfeld at Sloan is my hero...we still do follow ups there)......he never had a port....it was excrutiating as his mom to watch them poke him some days over and over......but he made it thru, and is healthy and a senior in college now...it seems like forever ago and also like yesterday....you will all get thru this.....I am praying for you ...........Mary Ellen

[Trisha]

port

funny you asked - we are sitting here on day 2 and the iv they put it did not last. So they had to put a new one in today. Our first oncologist had recommended the port but our new dr. told us they don't normally do it. Great tip and I will ask today!
Thank you for the well wishes and the comments! you are all making this much easier!