Hi, Minnie,

The port is not bad to put in and makes the treatment and blood drawing so much easier. My husband had the same three chemo drugs you mentioned at the beginning of this thread for his induction chemo (he had all 3 at once with 2 given over the course of a day along with fluids and nausea meds at the hospital and then the 5 fu pump was started there and continued at home for 5 days). Then, two weeks off and then all three over again. He had his chemo begin on a Monday and the 5 fu pump was removed- by me with my hazmat materials handy!- on Saturday. He felt fine during the actual chemo day infusions (was given stuff for nausea during the actual infusions and continued it during the week) but about a day or two after the 5 fu pump was removed, he bagan to have thrush and some minor mouth sores and pain. He began a low dose fentanyl patch not too long after that (I can't remember if it was a couple of weeks after the first round or after the second round) and actually got through the second round pretty well as he had the pain meds, breakthrough pain meds, nausea meds and meds for thrush and his rinses. The 3rd round was a bit tougher but he still felt pretty decent at the end of it. In addition to zofran, he found lorazepam (both calms, helps nausea, and helps sleep) helpful. He took compazine a couple of times.

I think that you already know about rinses, thrush, the peg tub and what works for you with nausea and pain, constipation so you will do better than he did. You will be much better prepared and you have already dealt with mouth pain so it won't be so suprising to you. You know what works for you in terms of food. For us it was the beginning of treatment and we had to learn everything that worked for him as the symptoms developed and we weren't always able to address side effects quickly and in the best way for him. He did lose his hair and that began after a few weeks at which pont he shaved it off. He was able to eat all the way through this treatment but his mouth did begin to hurt and he did use the peg tube to supplement his fluids and calories.

Your treatment is definitely more intense than just getting cisplatin. It is 3 types of chemo drugs and I believe at higher levels. Please let us know if we can tell you any more about our experience with this treatment.

Best wishes- Sophie