Hi Tina, Bart here. Wow! You're a fighter, that's for sure! You also seem to be able to take things in stride, an invaluable asset for someone dealing with this cancer business.
I've just discovered your thread and read all 12 pages, so forgive me if I don't recall exactly what it was you said, but you said something that leads me to believe that you either workout or do something else to keep fit. I'm a huge believer that those who are fit can handle this (or any similar) ordeal much better than the average person. (Part of this may also be genetic, but one can't do anything about that, while one definitely can do something about their fitness.)
I was also stage IV when diagnosed (I'm IVc now) and after initial treatments, was clear for 17 or 18 months before it showed up in my liver. My initial Chemo was the standard 3 applications, 3 weeks apart, while getting 8 weeks of chemo. Like you, I did not need a peg, although I did quit eating solid food for 90 days due to a number of factors, e'g., (temporary) loss of salivary production and (again temp, but total) loss of taste function. I lost 38 lbs, from a very solid 192 down to an emaciated 154 (I'm down to 5'9".)
During the time I was clear, I got my butt back to the gym in an effort to rebuild both my weight and fitness level. I was only moderately successful, but I did get back to 165.
When mine returned (to my liver), I was treated with Carboplatin and Taxol, and the taxol was replaced with Taxetere midway through due to additional hearing loss. However, since I did not have to have a mediport for this chemo cocktail, and I had resumed my regular weight lifting regimen as soon as I was cleared after the initial treatments, I did not interrupt my workout schedule again even while getting IV Chemo 3 weeks out of 4 for 6 or 7 months (I had a couple of longer breaks during the treatments.)
I got clear again, but it showed up in my liver in multiple locations on my first follow-up, my second reappearance. This one was treated with Xeloda, a pill form of 5FU, which I finished in late Feb this year. My next PET in on the 19th of this month.
As you might imagine, I much prefer the Xeloda to the other Chemo agents, mainly because it's so much easier to take and you never have a vein blow out, or get stuck 4 or 5 times because the plebotomist keeps running into a valve
My only complaint about any of the chemo agents (other than Cisplatin) is that they really suck the energy out of me. I've never missed a scheduled gym session due to chemo, but the chemo has caused me to cut reps, sometimes sets, and occasionally even entire exercises. But it's never made me feel sick (other than as noted, the Cisplatin.)
I strongly feel (and my MO agrees) that vigorous exercise helps metabolize the chemo and move it through and out of your system quickly enough that it minimizes the collateral damage it does to other tissue/organs.
I'm 74, by the way, so obviously; my excessive youth may be the explanation, if it's not the exercise...
