One ABVD down and 11 to go. :(

Hey Bill

Hi Bill.  I can't answer your specific question but I'm sure Aaron or Max will respond shortly.  I just wanted to offer encoragement and support.  Congratulations on completing your first round!  It helped me to try to focus on getting through my treatment (R-EPOCH) and setting milestones along the way.  I had little celebrations at the half way point, etc.  Pretty soon, you'll be saying "6 down, 6 to go" so hang in there.  You know we're here rooting for you!

Big hugs,

Jim

Bill_NC said:

Thanks Jim

Thanks Jim, I really Appreciate it.

Me too...

Hi Bill,

 Just wanted to chime in with my support and prayers with your treatments. It goes faster than we think...you will be done before you know it. My last infusion is tomorrow...2 years, every other month, and I can't believe where the time went! Hang in there friend...we are always here for you! Best wishes...Sue

(FNHL-2-3a-6/10-age62)

illead said:

We three

Yes, congrats on your first round, you're already getting the lingo down.  We have no answers either but also want to wish you well and think you will be feeling better soon. You sound much more positive, you'll be encouraging others in no time. Thinking of you, Bill and Becky

Hi bill

When you say rt do you mean rituxan or radiation? Both max and I received rituxan with our abvd but no radiation. I'm glad to hear you made it through your first infusion without a problem, you got the toughest one out of the way. I'll try to check the board more often for your questions but I e been pretty busy lately training for my new job as a school bus driver. I guess I'm just a glutton for punishment after all . 

Rituxan

Hi Bill ! I'm very glad that you are now started with treatment and have written.

I am pretty sure that your doc was referring to rituxan.  Late-stage (III or IV) NLPHL virtually never receives radiation, which is a probably a good thing, since radiation with large amounts of abvd can SLIGHTLY increase other types of cancers showing up years later.  Actually, radiation is only commonly used in most types of HL in early stage disease (I or II).  Of course, each case is unique and may require a doctor to modify protocols.    Rituxan is fairly commonly used with abvd to treat NLPHL, but not always.   When it is, your drugs are written as "r-abvd". There may have been something in your biopsy results that suggested it would not be necessary in your case to add rituxan.  The only way for you to know what the reason was for using or not using anything is to ask your doctor, of course.  Also, NLPHL virtually never presents as what is called  "bulky disease," even in advanced stage IV.

The side-effects of abvd are sort of "cumulative": You will feel worse after each infusion than you did before. I have never corrosponded with an abvd patient who did not agree with this. It is not so bad for people who do only a few (2, 4, or 6) cycles, but you are going whole-hog, with 12 cycles, as Aaron and I did.  I felt like I had been beaten in an alley with a 2X4 most of the time after about the 4th infusion. I am just giving you a heads-up.   It absolutley was the right thing to do, and I would start the meds again tomorrow if it were necessary. But it was rough at the time.  I ended up sleeping about 17 hours per day the last three months.   Abvd does not have Prednisone, which is a steroid and stimulant of sorts, the way several of the other lymphoma combinations do, so there is nothing to energize a person on abvd.  Also, I required a fair amount of loritab, since I ALWAYS felt like I had the flu (serious muscle pain, etc).

You will lose all of your hair (including eyebrows and eyelashes) within about a week after your second infusion (people lose the hair with abvd in a pretty standardized fashion), so expect that upsetting event as well.

You can and will do this !  Abvd is extremely effective in putting NLPHL into complete remission, so we are all expecting this ordeal to come to an end for you in six months.  Bless you and write as often as you feel we can assist,

max

Side-Effects

Bill,

Actually, in most cases, most or ALL side-effects of chemo end after ending chemo, but this can take from weeks to many months. Some problems can be more long-lasting, or even permanent.  I actually never had nausea on abvd, but did feel horrible, and absolutely would not have been able to work after around my third treatment.  I took the anti-nausea medication En-Med.  Ask your oncologist about it.  You will have issues, and you will feel horrible. But it is a necessary thing, and will have an end.  No one can or should sugar-coat this for you. I would check into possibly getting short term assistance from family or some agency, because I just would not have been able to work.  Investigate this now is my recommentdation. 

max