Wish me luck on my first day!

[Owen]

I have been lurking here a while, as I was diagnosed with TC, had the left one removed, and have been on "watchful wait" for a while.

Well, my CT scan from last week said the cancer in the para-aortic lymph node is getting bigger, so on to the chemo!

On Friday, I had a PICC line installed, since my veins have been poked and prodded so much in the last couple months, and today is the first day of chemo for me.

I am doing out patient in the Cancer Clinic at Penrose/St. Francis hospital in Colorado Springs, on a 3xBEP regimen. Pulminary tests are complete.

But . . .

Here is the part of this that is somewhat of a bummer for me (keep on smiling, I always say), I was diagnosed with Hepatitis C a few years ago, and liver enzymes are obviously markers for both the Hep and TC. Analogous to only having one gauge in your car to measure both oil pressure and temperature . . . all is fine until the guage goes up: then you know you have a problem, but not necesarily what it is!

Anyway . . . wish me good luck!

[mk6439]

Good luck! I hope the cycles go quickly for you and that you have no complications.

[Fed]

You have the guts to fight this, and that is great. I hope you have a flawless treatment and a smooth recovery. Keep us updated; we're pulling for you.

[stevenh77]

Good luck with the chemo, you'll probably find that you have a few horrible days (especially the first week), but overall it's not as bad as you might think it is.

I just started getting my hair back about a week ago, and I already miss not having to shave.

[Savin16]

Good Luck!! You'll be OK. You'll have your good and bad days, but you will get through it. Today they have so many meds to counter act the side effects, take them when needed, they will help. Bring a DVD player or a book, and a cell phone to help pass the time. It's scary but you can do it

[Karen]

Hang in there Owen!

[indiana9]

GOOD LUCK & HANG IN THERE! I sometimes tell people that while I would not wish chemo an anyone, now that its over, I would not take the experience back. You will be fine!
Brian

[Scott]

Best wishes during your treatment, Owen. Although it will probably seem like forever while it's underway, you'll be through it and getting on with life before too long. Keep us posted.

[dadmo]

Owen:
Good luck and stay strong.

[Mom]

Here's another member of the cheering squad saying that you will get through it, Owen! To us the hardest day was the first day because we didn't know what to expect. My son was done with chemo (3XBEP) on January 28, 2005. I am sad to say that he hasn't gotten a hair cut since. Plus he has that ugly go-tee on his face too. I lost my clean cut son because of chemo but I haven't lost my clean cut son to cancer. So, do what you have to do. You are going to face some challenges but you will overcome them. Dianne

[Owen]

Thanks for all the wonderful words of encouragement.

Today went off without a hitch - mostly. After 45 yers of eating everything and anything I liked (to exclude tuna from a can packed in oil and brussle sprouts), I can now understand what my kids and friends meant when they said "I feel nauseus dad."

I was actually fine until Sue the neighbor, who was bringing us dinner tonight showed up. The food looked great (fresh baked ham, cheesy potatoes, caesar salad and chrsitmas cookies for dessert), but 5 minutes after she left, I was "driving the big white bus" as we called it in college. And just from the smell. Silver lining: I need to lose about 50 lb.s

Oh well, tomorrow is another day, we are expecting 10-15 inches of snow (should make the drive to/from the clinic white nuckled), but no more Bleo for another week.

Happy Holidays, and thanks again for your posts and energy.

[Chris'Mom]

Owen, it may seem like it will never end, but it does, and like Brian said in his post, now that it seems like forever ago for my son and four rounds of EP, he looks back and says "Mom, it wasn't that bad"....even though at the time, I didn't think he would ever make it thru four rounds....take your meds for nausea, etc, we were vigilant about that with Chris, and drink alot of course.
Chris went from being in a band in college with a long pony tail, to today, still in a band, but with a buzz cut and looking more buff than I have ever seen him. There is life after this ......just look ahead to getting to that last day......Mary Ellen

[Chris'Mom]

One more thing, I noticed you are from Colorado, as soon as Chris graduates from College next December, that is where he wants to head to......says he needs to get away and live his life....maybe it is just the college student in him talking, but we have to let him live his life....hang in there Owen....Mary Ellen

[Owen]

I am beginning to feel the cummulative effects of the chemo.

Day three was a lot harder on me, and I am a little anxoius about the last two days of this week.

Nausea is bad, acid reflux is bad, constipation is bad, lack of sleep is bad. . .

Can anyone shed a little light on when these symptoms might dissipate?

I can see why the protocol gives me a couple weeks off (except for the bleo). Is that mostly to recover?

[dadmo]

Owen:
By the second week after chemo you should be feeling pretty good. If you're like most of the guys on the forum your going to feel almost normal just in time for the next round. As far as losing weight you may catch the cycling bug which has happened far more often then any side effect I have ever read about.