Just about to start chemo

[chris0]

Hi,
Just registered here and had a few questions etc.
Figured i'd start out by introducing myself. My name is Chris and im 20 years old. I live and study in warsaw, poland but i am originaly swedish. I was diagnosed with TC in my right testicle and had it removed about 4 weeks ago. I am this upcoming week hopefully going to start chemo. I have read pleanty about it and feel that i should be able to pull through. My family and friends are very supportive and they all make me feel great which too me feels like one of the most important points going into the chemo treatment.

Now to the not so fun parts, ever since the operation i have been extremely paranoid about anything that isnt like it should be, lumps, soars, bla bla bla. The first thing that scared me was my nipples going soar and eventually forming masses right underneath (the nipples). I read about it and asked my doctor about it and it seems as if the hormonal changes causes this.

The next thing is that two days ago i felt an ulcster in my mouth as well as a lump under my jaw bone (which ive understood as beeing a swollen lymph node?). So my question is if it is heard of TC causing mouth cancer?

Thanks for providing a great forum!

[TSX]

Welcome, Chris.

I wouldn't worry too much about the mouth ulcer - it's probably just from increased stress or something else unrelated to the cancer itself. I would however be concerned about any lumps and report anything like that to your oncologist without delay. In the highly unlikely (as far as I know) case that the lump under your jaw bone were from TC, it would be called "metastatic TC" and would be treated the same as TC. Note that if the lump were the site of another "primary" cancer, the treatment would have to be according to whatever that kind of cancer called for.

Regarding hormonal changes, it would probably be a good idea for you to get your testosterone levels checked by your primary care doctor. If your remaining testicle is unable to produce enough, you may need to supplement it with something like the Androgel mentioned elsewhere in this forum.

-TSX

[chris0]

Thanks!
Im going to my doctor tomorrow morning so i will bring everything up with him then. Hoping that TC is all i'll have to deal with for the times beeing =P

Again a big thanks for the quick answers, greatly appreciated!

[Scott]

Also, those same proteins that are tumor markers can trigger temporary breast growth, which can become apparent even after the orchiectomy. How high was your hCG?

[athena]

Also, those same proteins that are tumor markers can trigger temporary breast growth, which can become apparent even after the orchiectomy. How high was your hCG?

Hi again, the hCG was at 150, sorry but i dont't remember the unis however they are now back to 0 =) well < 1 as they say on the blood test.

I just came back from the hospital after reciving my first "dose" of BEP. I've been told i will receive 2 cycles of this, hopefully completing the treatment in ca 6-7 weeks. Does this sound ok as a treatment for Non-seminona stage 2? (they said there was only one type of cell in the tumor that was likely to spread outside the actual tumor). I will get more exact info tomorow when i return for the 2nd dose.

Im not sure how you normally feel after the first dose, but it hasnt effected me at all (5 hours after completing the does) except for some slight tiredness. Can i expecet it to get a lot worse?? I went in there expecting major nausea and basically hell, so far ive been plesently suprised though =)

All the best,\Chris

[athena]

Hi sorry, my girlfriend just signed up on the forum as well, and im using her laptop atm, and i forgot to log her out, so this is\was really "chris0" writing hehe

[BeachTech]

Im not sure how you normally feel after the first dose, but it hasnt effected me at all (5 hours after completing the does) except for some slight tiredness. Can i expecet it to get a lot worse?? I went in there expecting major nausea and basically hell, so far ive been plesently suprised though =)

Typically, BEP is done 5 days (Monday-Friday) and then you are given 16 days to recover. Days 1-3 will be OK, on 4-5 you get a little nausea. I was sickest on day 6-9. Days 16-21 (right before the next cycle) will be your BEST DAYS, so be prepared to accomplish 3 weeks of work, etc., into those days.

Be sure to get the anti-nausea drugs from the doctor (Zofran, Ativan, etc.) and USE THEM. Don't try to "tough it out". The anti-nausea medication they have today is very effective. I think I only threw up twice, but you will be nauseous. Also, most oncologists will prescribe ANYTHING you need

Each cycle usually gets worse. Although they give you 16 days to recover, you actually need 21-28 days to recover fully. So you always begin the next cycle "in debt". Since you are only getting 2xBEP, you should be fine. The end of cycle three and especially four are bad.

Here is a secret among TCers that went through chemo. Please don't tell non-TCers. All people are different, but usually, chemo (BEP for TC) today is not as bad as other people think, if you work with your doctor and take the anti-nausea medication. If you have read Armstrong's book, he talks about it being almost unbearable. However, he had a different kind of chemo (VIP) because his cancer was more advanced. That was also 10 years ago before the modern anti-nausea medications of today.

When you are sick and don't feel like eating, think of this. If you have a choice between an apple and apple pie, take the apple pie since it has more calories. Drink lots of water (I know, it taste awful when you are on chemo, but you need it to protect your kidneys.) When you are done with chemo, just remember to reverse your thinking, or you'll get fat quickly, especially once you can taste the apple pie again. After chemo, my favorite sport has been eating .

Keep us posted. There are a lot of people here that have been there and can give you hints to get through it. And when you are done, come back and help others get through it.
________
VAPORIZER

[dadmo]

chris:
Do what BeachTech told you. Take the anti-nausea drugs, don't wait until you feel sick. Once the nausea get ahead of the drugs it becomes hard to control. Also with the food, eat anything you want, don't worry about any specific diet, you need protein, calories and lots of fluid. Avoid alcohol and herbal teas, they may interfere with the chemo.

[Scott]

I've been told i will receive 2 cycles of this, hopefully completing the treatment in ca 6-7 weeks. Does this sound ok as a treatment for Non-seminona stage 2?

No, standard treatment for stage II non-seminoma is RPLND or 3xBEP or 4xEP. See these guidelines for more details.

[dadmo]

Scott:
Is 3-4 standard in Europe also. I was under the impression that they went with 2 cycles.

[Scott]

I've only seen 2xBEP as adjuvant therapy for stage I non-seminoma.

[dadmo]

chris:
I checked every resource I could think of and Scott is correct. You may want to speak with your oncologist and find out why he wants to go with two cycles rather then the world standard of 3-4 cycles.

[chris0]

Ye i had a slight suspicion about the 2 cycles. However they had spoken to my insurance company and their doctor whom had agreed on the 2 cycles and said it was standard in Sweden as well?? But i will bring it up with my doctor tomorrow.

Another thing is that there is no sign whatsoever of tumors etc in the CT scans, X-Rays, and like i said my hCG levels are back to non existent. Could this have anything to do with the doctors choice of only 2 cycles?

Last thing, if ive understood everything correctly my cycles look like this:
CYCLE 1:
June 7th, 8th, and 9th to start it, then June 14th, and then the last one on June 21st.

CYCLE 2:
June 28th, 29th, 30th to start it, then July 5, then July 12th, and then im supposebly done... So im a lil worried since it seems really out of the normal procedure?? perhaps i should call a doctor from sweden or possible England and check what they say??

Also i still feel fine, still quite tired, but eating and drinking is not a problem, and my girlfriend keeps on coming in with water every 20 minutes hehe

thanks for the support!

[dadmo]

Chris:
Click here for a list of tc experts. I think it would be a good idea to run your treatment cycle past one of them.

[chris0]

Chris:
Click here for a list of tc experts. I think it would be a good idea to run your treatment cycle past one of them.

Thanks, sounds like a good idea, i'll do it right away!