Chemo starts Monday morning

[mikeygti]

Hey Hippie

Glad to hear that things are going well for you to this point.
Like Dadmo says, the chemo is cumulative,and you may find yourself dealing with more side effects. For me,rounds 2 and 3 of BEP were much tougher than round 1. Hang in ther buddy,it will cure you !

Oh,a quick "tip" for you....when everything tasted like "crap",I found green tea to be both palatable,AND soothing.

Best Wishes

[Hippie]

Well just a quick update, round 2 is taking a little more tole on me fatague wise then round 1 but not to to bad, tomarrow is end of round 2 and am so looking forward to it and getting this damn external port thing out of my arm again for a couple weeks. Still just fatague no other real problems to speak of, acid reflux way way better this round with having the nexium already in me and working so thats made this round a little more bearable so far..

Also will be getting new Ct Scans done over this 2 week recovery time to see how well the chemo is destroying the lymph node mets..


Peace out!

[dadmo]

Half way home.

[Chris'Mom]

Keep up the fight and watch for the finish line...Mary Ellen

[petep]

round 2 was hardest for me...

but, you are at the top of the roller coaster now, and it's towards the downhill part now...look at it that way...

get psyched...just 2 to go..

pete

[Hippie]

Well its tuesday morning and the weekend SUCKED!!!!!! I was slap wore out slept Saturday completly away got up enough to use the bathroom and eat a couple times was it... Sunday almost the same but was awake a little more..

had some nausua on Sunday but never to the point of vomitting, Zofran was my friend...

Today still feeling weak and shaky but not so bad.. The shaky inside feeling like all your insides are coming apart I havent heard many people mention but I have had the most of that through both rounds so far. Onc has given me Xanex for my nerves/shaking seems to help but also makes me sleep/groggy..

I have seen a couple or more people mention there docs gave them decadron which I know is a steroid, and it seems during my chemo weeks when I get steriods in the morning before chemo I feel better,, so question is should I ask my doc for decadron to see if it helps will I am on my off weeks or is there a reason that someone knows that I shouldnt or wouldnt want to take it everyday or some days while on my off weeks ????

Peace Out!

[petep]

hippie,

my weeks in the hospital they always gave me decadron and zofran pre chemo....I never asked for it, they just gave it to me...

pete

[Hippie]

yeah I get it pre-chemo also every morn in IV before the chemo drugs go in. But what I read I was thinking people was taking it post chemo (off weeks) to help with side effects... maybe misread??

Round 2 for me was almost like the first, by (today)Tuesday (chemo week ended on friday) I am able to be out and about and function semi-normal, I tire easy so I dont do a whole whole lot but I go into work and fiddle around there, try and catch up on calls I need to make and orders and such till I feel like I am getting drained then I come home and chill around the house

I have not really had any or very little of the taste change problems as of yet, I can remember a tad maybe last round but really nothing major or bad.
but maybe all my TONS of metal work in my mouth from 8 different Implant surgerys and a/or was a HEAVY smoker.. probably already fried all the taste buds I had so just all normal to me. hate to admit but I am still unable to put the cigs down completly yet, I feel like a flipping idiot driving away from chemo after sitting with people with lung cancer and I light up a cig for the ride home.. but I am trying and doing ok but not 100% done with them yet..
Wow got rambling there, I was just going to ask is it normal for me not to have the taste changes yet with 2 rounds or do I count myself lucky 2 rounds down without that side effect???

Peace Out!

[Hippie]

Well got my CT scans results back today from Onc, before 2 rounds of chemo 2 worst lymphnods was at 31mm x 17mm and the second one was at 21mm x 15mm.. New results largest now is 10mm x 8mm and second is 7mm x 5mm... Blood work also in from bloodwork yesterday and all holding well potassiumm pills helping with my low potassium so I am a go for round 3 to start Monday morning.. damn these 2 week breaks seem to fly fly by.. but going into this 3rd round with the the knowledge that its working and someday in the not to far future this will be behind me and I can say I used to have cancer...

Question I do have for all out there with the lymphnods down to this size after 2 rounds wondering what is the likelyhood or unlikeyhood that I will have any residual mass or they will be totally gone after these next 2 rounds and maybe not have to have the RPLND. Just trying to get a feel for what others had lymphnod size wize before chemo and if they had or didnt have residual mass.. I know everyone is differnt but I am just so hopeing that I can avoid the surgery by having NO residual mass. and if there is any is there a certain size that they say yes have to do the RPLND or is this only if it is over a certain millimeter in size does anyone know

Peace out

[dadmo]

Congratulations on the good results. It certainly looks like you're on your way to being cured. I really can't comment on the lymph nodes, my son had his done at Sloan and they seem to want to remove them as standard practice once they have been affected.

[Hippie]

Well 2 more days and round 3 will be a thing of the past... I so far can say this has been a pretty tolarable round for me so far KNOCK ON WOOD!!!..

I have learned to adjust and find things that help which is a short walk in the park down the street with my wife when she gets of work everyday, I am finding it seems to help keep my body a little more normal functioning and helps with a good nights sleep.. also against the Onc and chemo nurse advice cause of the caffeine,my one cup of coffee in the morning helps me so far with my body seeming to respond to its normal roution (coffee has always seemed to keep me regular if you know what I mean) and this is helping with not having acid reflux so bad like I did the other 2 rounds i think, and lucky enough to not have the mouth sore side effects I am seeing how it goes with this change...

(Chemo nurse)Kim seemed more then a little supprised at the start of this week that I havent lost much or any of my arm/leg hair or any other body hair except of course my head and facial hair that went a couple weeks after round 1. head is a soft THIN THIN like peach fuzz and facial hair I have a stray few little patches of whiskers that have to be shaved every week or 2.. I will not know what it is like to have to shave on a daily basis again when this is over..

On a side note I am now 183Lbs as of last weigh-in so no loss of weight for me yet.. Still able to eat semi normal lots of small meals..

Just thought I would post a update.

Peace Out!

[Karen]

Doing good, Hippie!!!! It's great that you've managed side effects well and they haven't been too bad for you !!!! ALMOST DONE

[Scott]

I'm glad to hear things are going well. You're nearly there!

[mikeygti]

Hippie,

Way to go !

This will all be a thing of the past soon enough !

Best Wishes

[nlferraro19]

Hippie,

Hey, first of all - way to go on your ability and strength during this difficult time. My fiance went through 3xBEP, and also did very well with it. Your mind is very important during this treatment. Keep your head up!! My fiance did end up with a residual mass (which could be scar tissue, teratoma or live cancer) after chemo and we are seeing the doc tomorrow to see if a RPLND is required, which from research it seems to look that way. I am nervous, but also know that whatever needs to be done, we will get right on it. We are prepared to do whatever it takes to take the precautions that are needed, and be on our way to "SURVIVOR MODE"!!!! Always remember "LIVESTRONG"! You are in our thoughts, and BEST OF LUCK!!

Lisa & Nick
(nlferraro19)