| Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 153 "OCF Canuck, across the pond" Senior Member (100+ posts) | OP "OCF Canuck, across the pond" Senior Member (100+ posts) Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 153 | Start of day 4 of 5 of my first chemo drip in hospital. Going mostly ok. This morning tummy feels 'fragile' but stable, no more 'mild hangover' feeling, no more acid reflux. Hoping yesterday was the worst of the Cisplatin side-effects (administered first night). Slept well. 36 more hours of the 5FU drip and then I go home.
47 yr old male non-smoker, social drinker, fit. Jan'10, Stg3 rt tonsil+rt neck SCC, HPV+, rad+chmo Vancouver Cda. 2yr clear Apr'12 London UK. Apr'13 mets recur to lymph btw left lung & aorta, 3x Cisplatin+5FUchemo+20 rad, was all clear but 6-mo PET-CT shows mets to pleura around left lung, participating in St 1 trial of GDC-0980. GDC lost effect and ended July'14, bad atrial fibrillation requiring hospitalisation, start more standard chemo 10 Sep 2014. Sadly has passed away, notified Jan 2015.
| | | | Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,293 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,293 Likes: 1 | I am surprised you are in the hospital to get the 5FU drip. I am doing induction TPF and get fitted with a mobile drip infuser and it just sits inside a small pack I put around my waste. I am sure it is far less expensive this way as well as I have full freedom of movement. Does not necessarily do much to alter the side effects though. LOL
Don Male, 57 - Great health except C Dec '12 DX: BOT SCC T2N2bMx, Stage 4a, HPV+, multiple nodes 1 tooth out Jan '13 2nd tooth out Tumor Board -induction TPF (3 cycles), seq CRT 4-6/2013 CRT 70gr 2x35, weekly carbo150 ended 5/29,6/4 All the details, join at http://beatdown.cognacom.com | | | | Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 153 "OCF Canuck, across the pond" Senior Member (100+ posts) | OP "OCF Canuck, across the pond" Senior Member (100+ posts) Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 153 | I've heard that from a few angles, Donfoo. It may be down to the gold-plated private medical insurance I enjoy through my wife's work, or it may be out of caution because I reacted badly to *something* at the end of my first cancer treatment three years ago. In any case, evidence suggests that people do better when they are in hospital, as the professionals can deal quickly with anything that comes up. Although being tethered to this damned pump stand is not ideal.
Evening of day 4 of 5, things seem to be settling down, so primary side effects seem to have been from the Cisplatin and peaked yesterday (note that by Donfoo's model, I would have been home for that).
ONWARD THROUGH THE FOG! And I don't mean the chemo fog. Hoping to avoid that.
47 yr old male non-smoker, social drinker, fit. Jan'10, Stg3 rt tonsil+rt neck SCC, HPV+, rad+chmo Vancouver Cda. 2yr clear Apr'12 London UK. Apr'13 mets recur to lymph btw left lung & aorta, 3x Cisplatin+5FUchemo+20 rad, was all clear but 6-mo PET-CT shows mets to pleura around left lung, participating in St 1 trial of GDC-0980. GDC lost effect and ended July'14, bad atrial fibrillation requiring hospitalisation, start more standard chemo 10 Sep 2014. Sadly has passed away, notified Jan 2015.
| | | | Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 4 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 4 | It may depend on the hospital. When I had induction chemo, in 2009, I was in the hospital 5 days. I know if someone now having IC in Hawaii, 3 cycles, and is doing it in the hospital also. There are probably pros and cons with both. One concern for in hospital, I think, is risk of hospital acquired infections.
10/09 T1N2bM0 Tonsil 11/09 Taxo Cisp 5-FU, 6 Months Hosp 01/11 35 IMRT 70Gy 7 Wks 06/11 30 HBO 08/11 RND PNI 06/12 SND PNI LVI 08/12 RND Pec Flap IORT 12 Gy 10/12 25 IMRT 50Gy 6 Wks Taxo Erbitux 10/13 SND 10/13 TBO/Angiograph 10/13 RND Carotid Remove IORT 10Gy PNI 12/13 25 Protons 50Gy 6 Wks Carbo 11/14 All Teeth Extract 30 HBO 03/15 Sequestromy Buccal Flap ORN 09/16 Mandibulectomy Fib Flap Sternotomy 04/17 Regraft hypergranulation Donor Site 06/17 Heart Attack Stent 02/19 Finally Cancer Free Took 10 yrs
| | | | Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 153 "OCF Canuck, across the pond" Senior Member (100+ posts) | OP "OCF Canuck, across the pond" Senior Member (100+ posts) Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 153 | Update. Just shy of one week from end of chemo round 1 and I feel better than I expected to. It was far from pleasant, but at its worst on Friday, 15 March amounted to nausea (quickly medicated), low grade 'hangover', and heartburn. I completed round one on Sunday night, and by Thursday evening felt almost normal. My digestion is 'slow' so I need to avoid large meals, but I can taste and enjoy food, and I returned to work late last week.
The debate of in-hospital vs. go home for chemo drip, debate, has some interesting angles. Depending on one's insurance, there could be a clear cost implication, but that (so far) is not a worry in my case. Regarding hospital acquired infection, yes, fair point, but would you rather be in a hospital where they can immediately put you on IV antibiotics if needed, or home, where you'd have to slam yourself back into hospital in crisis mode, to get on the same IV antibiotics? Of course, the lowest immune system point was probably yesterday anyway, when I'm home.
So far so good. Three more to go.
-Seth
47 yr old male non-smoker, social drinker, fit. Jan'10, Stg3 rt tonsil+rt neck SCC, HPV+, rad+chmo Vancouver Cda. 2yr clear Apr'12 London UK. Apr'13 mets recur to lymph btw left lung & aorta, 3x Cisplatin+5FUchemo+20 rad, was all clear but 6-mo PET-CT shows mets to pleura around left lung, participating in St 1 trial of GDC-0980. GDC lost effect and ended July'14, bad atrial fibrillation requiring hospitalisation, start more standard chemo 10 Sep 2014. Sadly has passed away, notified Jan 2015.
| | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Seth, hang in there! It sounds like you are doing much better than expected with this second round. I know its not easy but keep doing what you are doing as it seems to be working.
Best wishes! ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive | | | | Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 153 "OCF Canuck, across the pond" Senior Member (100+ posts) | OP "OCF Canuck, across the pond" Senior Member (100+ posts) Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 153 | Thank you Christine and everybody.
In fact by now, two weeks post chemo, I feel quite good and we even got away for two nights in the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, to a lovely B&B in Slad.
I go back in for chemo round 2 on Thursday. Oh well, the alternative is not acceptable, so bring it on.
-Seth
47 yr old male non-smoker, social drinker, fit. Jan'10, Stg3 rt tonsil+rt neck SCC, HPV+, rad+chmo Vancouver Cda. 2yr clear Apr'12 London UK. Apr'13 mets recur to lymph btw left lung & aorta, 3x Cisplatin+5FUchemo+20 rad, was all clear but 6-mo PET-CT shows mets to pleura around left lung, participating in St 1 trial of GDC-0980. GDC lost effect and ended July'14, bad atrial fibrillation requiring hospitalisation, start more standard chemo 10 Sep 2014. Sadly has passed away, notified Jan 2015.
| | | | Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 153 "OCF Canuck, across the pond" Senior Member (100+ posts) | OP "OCF Canuck, across the pond" Senior Member (100+ posts) Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 153 | I'm now two weeks post second chemo and again, doing quite well. Eating pretty much what I want, back to work, back to bicycling to work, back to the gym (gently). I'll risk it and say that this treatment (if it's working) is much easier than my original tonsil SCC treatment was.
I should learn the results of last week's CT scan Thursday night. Hoping it will confirm that this is working!
The one more round of chemo starting Friday afternoon for 5 days.
-Seth
47 yr old male non-smoker, social drinker, fit. Jan'10, Stg3 rt tonsil+rt neck SCC, HPV+, rad+chmo Vancouver Cda. 2yr clear Apr'12 London UK. Apr'13 mets recur to lymph btw left lung & aorta, 3x Cisplatin+5FUchemo+20 rad, was all clear but 6-mo PET-CT shows mets to pleura around left lung, participating in St 1 trial of GDC-0980. GDC lost effect and ended July'14, bad atrial fibrillation requiring hospitalisation, start more standard chemo 10 Sep 2014. Sadly has passed away, notified Jan 2015.
| | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Seth, you are doing great!!!! Wow, I am impressed at how well you are handling everything. You must be doing great with your nutrition to be holding up so well. Keep up the great work!!! ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive | | | | Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 153 "OCF Canuck, across the pond" Senior Member (100+ posts) | OP "OCF Canuck, across the pond" Senior Member (100+ posts) Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 153 | Hi Christine, I think for me, in this treatment, for one it's just much less harsh, only being chemo, no radiation so far (that will come later, but will be to my chest, not my head/neck) but it's been being active that has helped the most. Walking, and now bicycling and even lifting, though reduced weight. The chemo principally effects my digestion, and the anti-nausea medications likely don't help that, either, and I've found that being physically active helps my body, well, get things moving again, and probably repair itself, too, since exercise triggers repair (sore muscles). The body works best when it......works. Within reason, of course. As we know, every body, and every chemo, are different.
Amazing orange moon setting this morning here in London.
47 yr old male non-smoker, social drinker, fit. Jan'10, Stg3 rt tonsil+rt neck SCC, HPV+, rad+chmo Vancouver Cda. 2yr clear Apr'12 London UK. Apr'13 mets recur to lymph btw left lung & aorta, 3x Cisplatin+5FUchemo+20 rad, was all clear but 6-mo PET-CT shows mets to pleura around left lung, participating in St 1 trial of GDC-0980. GDC lost effect and ended July'14, bad atrial fibrillation requiring hospitalisation, start more standard chemo 10 Sep 2014. Sadly has passed away, notified Jan 2015.
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