Chemo treatments

[dadmo]

Bob:
Good luck with the rest of your treatments.

[Bob cp]

The port has been in now for a week plus. I had a treatment of bleo. with it the other day, and I must say it was a lot less trouble. My second series of chemo treatments begin Tues--the day after Labor Day. Complicating my condition this week is that I pulled a back muscle last Sunday. It has made it very difficult to get around. By yesterday however, I was fine. Today(Sat.) has been an ok day. Kind of nauseous if I think about the upcoming chemo treatments. But in general ok other than some left over back pain that goes into the legs.

Ill let everyone know how the next round goes.

Bob

[MRMRSU]

Hey Bob: The port will be a good thing...those veins like to hide, especially when big needles come out to play . Your spirits sound great despite a little bit of a wait...but I am optimistic that you'll get those WBC and Platelets up!!! Hang tough...the waiting is the pits as we all know too well.

[sldl1106]

Hey Bob -

You're lucky to be getting a port. Rob couldn't get one, and now pretty much all his veins are shot.

Keep fighting the good fight; sounds like you are much better emotionally and this forum is such a great place to find out that no matter what or how you are feeling, you aren't alone.

[Bob cp]

I appreciate all of the posts. Especially about the heartburn. The past few nights have been wicked. I guess I shouldn't drink pop within 4 hours of bedtime.
Another thing, my counts were so low this week, that they could not do the bleomycin at all. Instead, I had to go in for 3 days of shots to help bring the wbc and platelet counts up, and then another day beyond that for the wbc because it still isn't high enough. So of course this pushes the bleo up a week.
Actually 2 because next week they are getting me prepped for my port on Thursday. I will really be glad to get that. My veins will be even happier!!!
The hair loss has started. It has thinned for now to the point like I went and got a haircut.

It seems to be worse at night.2 nights ago, it was 3 am before I stopped waking up. I figured last night would be better. But the nap I took yesterday must have offset it. It was 3:15 am last night. Of course, earlier in the week when I was getting those shots, a side effect was fatigue, so I slept most of 2 whole days then.

Anyway, as I said, next week is the port, and then the week after is the third full week of my "break".

Thanks for all of your support.

Bob

[MRMRSU]

Hi Bob: Sending cheers from California as promised. Hope you're doing well...just checking up on you.

[boyce]

Heartburn

I was awake at nights with hearburn and gas when I was in treatment...

Dr. prescribed Protonix for gas and it made a Huge differnece, so you may try that. Nexium may also work well.

[pjiddy]

Hey Bob,

I completely understand your post. I just finished my second full 5 day cycle and have had many of the symptoms you have discussed. The ringing in the ears comes and goes and luckily doesnt last too long. As for some other side effects I have experienced like others mentioned the 6th-9th days after the full week I have had real severe heartburn/acid problems....it causes issues with my breathing but very noticable when I lay down or seem to eat anything hot (food or coffee) so I am trying to stick to the cold stuff it seems to go down easier. Another issue is my sex drive but that is not too concerning as everyone says that it comes back (hopefully similar to like after I had my operation) and I noticed that after cycle 1 it came back in week 3 to keep me positive before jumping into cycle 2.

Anyway.....its great to use the forum to ask questions and read up on any questions man....you are doing great and you will battle it out...keep your chin up

Phil

[petep]

just re-reading the thread for anything I missed...

yes, the ringing is perfectly normal as Fed wrote....I had it and most others do as well.

pete

[spinsta]

I understand

Bob - I experienced a lot of the things you mentioned. I found that I was physically the worst at the end of the on-chemo week (Thurs, fri, sat, sun, mon). By around Tuesday I would be feeling all right, even though my WBC count was fairly low at that point. By the end of the off-weeks, I was able to do everything (swimming, biking, etc.). In terms of cancer ads on tv and things like that, give it some time - you will get used to it. Then (at least for me) you will not cringe at hearing the word, you will sort of take it in stride. I know it's totally weird, but I sort of get a kick out of telling people I am a recent cancer survivor, just to see how affected they become upon hearing it. But to me, it's no big deal, you know? Anyhow, you'll be fine. Just remember that your chemo is a 100% curing agent - it is curing you. And the sicker you get, the sicker the cancer is getting as well. When you lose your hair, it's your cancer that you are losing as well - it helped me to think about it like that. Anyhow, hang in there, buddy!

[petep]

all normal....the best part of this forum is that as you go thru this, you will find you can deal with the physical part...we've all had the flu...but the mental part can be so hard...the ups, downs, worrying etc...

I used to watch the show 24 while in the hospital on dvd...it got to the point when I'd hear the theme music I'd feel sick...pretty funny....(I can watch it now though)...

pretty soon you'll feel like a veteran...and the new cancer patients will be on this forum and you'll be giving out advice and it will make you feel good...

the best news though is as you get down, scared etc...don't worry that you are not "normal" - you are right - we have all been there and we all have had those same feelings...

pete

[dollfin1204]

Interesting, while reading your posts below I asked my boyfriend if he has had ringing in his ears at all during treatment. He said he also has ringing at times. He never complains about anything (he is such a good patient) so I would have never of know!

[Fed]

There is some ringing in my ears off and on since yesterday, and it seems like the hearing in my left ear is reduced a tad. I've not read anything in the list of side effects that mentions ringing in the ears.

Glad to hear that round one is done with. The ringing in the ears is a side effect of the cisplatin. Unfortunately, cisplatin can cause some cumulative nerve damage, and the auditory nerve is frequently affected by the platinum complexes.

[Bob cp]

The last day of my first round of chemo was Monday. I got sick again last night, but today I felt the best I've felt in a long time. Yesterday was the first time they gave the bleomycin(80 U iv bolus qw x 9 doses). I get that once a week for nine weeks total. I do not go back for the second 5 day round of Etoposide, Cisplatin, and Filgrastim for three weeks. Thank God. As I said, while I am at chemo, I am fine. It's when I am not if I start thinking about the place, I get nauseous. Someone asked me today about the recliners, and I could barely tell the person without getting sick to my stomach for a few seconds. There is a lot more psychological to this than I thought.

There is some ringing in my ears off and on since yesterday, and it seems like the hearing in my left ear is reduced a tad. I've not read anything in the list of side effects that mentions ringing in the ears.

This is the latest. Thanks for your cares.

Bob
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
diagnosed: 2/2007 right orch. 2/26/07 lab3/1/07:mixed-germ cell 40% non-seminoma embroynic carcinoma 60% seminoma stage 1B tc2 lymphatic invasion CT Scan 3/17/07: clear Blood test 3/15/07:no cancer markers.
surveillance 4/07 Blood tests in May and June:clear.
CT Scan 7/12/07:
3.5 X 2.5cm growth on lymph nodes. slight non-describable cells in kidney.
BEP began 7/31/07

[k.strehle]

chemo

bob

hang in there. my chemo had 4 21 day cycles of which 5 days were(bep) in the hospital. after that there was 3 21 day cycles of which 5 days were(tip) in the hospital. yes the emotions run high or very low. a very emotional rollercoaster. the nurses i had were the best. the week after the hospital was the worse as the immune system is wasted. stay away from the people places..walmart...the pharmacy. as it tends to be breeding grounds for infections.....had 2 times where i was right back in hospital with sepsis.
hope all goes well. you will be fine.

k.strehle

fight the good fight and dont give up