Pamela B

wholfmeister
wholfmeister Member Posts: 315
in Ovarian Cancer #1

Pamela B is MIA!  Hasn't posted in over a month, after her first chemo session.  I can't believe how concerned I feel about all the women on this Board.  I really do care!

Comments

  • lovesanimals
    lovesanimals Member Posts: 1,366 Member
    #2
    Thank you for the alert, Wholfmeister

    And thank you for caring about the women here.  That's what is great about this board.  We are like family and are teal sisters!

    Pamela B, I hope you are hanging in there.  Please let us know how you're doing, when you can.

    Kelly

  • Pamela B
    Pamela B Member Posts: 108
    #3
    lovesanimals said:

    Thank you for the alert, Wholfmeister

    And thank you for caring about the women here.  That's what is great about this board.  We are like family and are teal sisters!

    Pamela B, I hope you are hanging in there.  Please let us know how you're doing, when you can.

    Kelly

    I am still here!!!
    I am so sorry to worry you and thank you so much for thinking about me! After getting such good advice from this board I jumped into treatment and kept my head down. I just finished round three of IP port taxil and cicplatin. The first two rounds went pretty well. No side effects, my numbers were text book perfect and my oncologist was calling me his poster child for IP treatment. Then round three hit. I wasn't physically sick. I think I was just mentally sick of spending three 8 hour days at the chemo center flipping every 15 minutes and feeling isolated. Plus I hate not having hair. I had a longer than usual coma like fatigue recovery (three days) and then things started to get better. I temporarily lost my positive edge but it is coming back now. Next week is recovery along with blood tests and a CT scan. If it all looks good (my ca125 after round two was 33 down from 450 after surgery) my oncologist will discuss taking me off the IP treatment and tryng something lower dose more frequently.

     

    I thought I lost this site from my computer but found I had bookmarked it on a different computer in the house and am so glad I did! Just reading about 5 and 7 year success stories. Really want I needed to hear.

     

    Thank you ladies for not forgetting about me. I will definitely check in more often and keep you posted. Your post made a difference in my life today!
  • Hearty Pioneer
    Hearty Pioneer Member Posts: 158
    #4
    Pamela B said:

    I am still here!!!

    I am so sorry to worry you and thank you so much for thinking about me! After getting such good advice from this board I jumped into treatment and kept my head down. I just finished round three of IP port taxil and cicplatin. The first two rounds went pretty well. No side effects, my numbers were text book perfect and my oncologist was calling me his poster child for IP treatment. Then round three hit. I wasn't physically sick. I think I was just mentally sick of spending three 8 hour days at the chemo center flipping every 15 minutes and feeling isolated. Plus I hate not having hair. I had a longer than usual coma like fatigue recovery (three days) and then things started to get better. I temporarily lost my positive edge but it is coming back now. Next week is recovery along with blood tests and a CT scan. If it all looks good (my ca125 after round two was 33 down from 450 after surgery) my oncologist will discuss taking me off the IP treatment and tryng something lower dose more frequently.

     

    I thought I lost this site from my computer but found I had bookmarked it on a different computer in the house and am so glad I did! Just reading about 5 and 7 year success stories. Really want I needed to hear.

     

    Thank you ladies for not forgetting about me. I will definitely check in more often and keep you posted. Your post made a difference in my life today!
    IP chemo

    Dear Pamela,

    Yes, the IP treatment is very isolating!! One funny thing, I couldn't lay on my stomach, so when I had to be in that position I would get on my knees, put my forehead onto the pillow, and my butt would be high in the air-- never failed to make the nurses laugh!

    Good news on your CA 125 number!

     

  • Hearty Pioneer
    Hearty Pioneer Member Posts: 158
    #5
    Pamela B said:

    I am still here!!!

    I am so sorry to worry you and thank you so much for thinking about me! After getting such good advice from this board I jumped into treatment and kept my head down. I just finished round three of IP port taxil and cicplatin. The first two rounds went pretty well. No side effects, my numbers were text book perfect and my oncologist was calling me his poster child for IP treatment. Then round three hit. I wasn't physically sick. I think I was just mentally sick of spending three 8 hour days at the chemo center flipping every 15 minutes and feeling isolated. Plus I hate not having hair. I had a longer than usual coma like fatigue recovery (three days) and then things started to get better. I temporarily lost my positive edge but it is coming back now. Next week is recovery along with blood tests and a CT scan. If it all looks good (my ca125 after round two was 33 down from 450 after surgery) my oncologist will discuss taking me off the IP treatment and tryng something lower dose more frequently.

     

    I thought I lost this site from my computer but found I had bookmarked it on a different computer in the house and am so glad I did! Just reading about 5 and 7 year success stories. Really want I needed to hear.

     

    Thank you ladies for not forgetting about me. I will definitely check in more often and keep you posted. Your post made a difference in my life today!
    IP chemo

    Dear Pamela,

    Yes, the IP treatment is very isolating!! One funny thing, I couldn't lay on my stomach, so when I had to be in that position I would get on my knees, put my forehead onto the pillow, and my butt would be high in the air-- never failed to make the nurses laugh!

    Good news on your CA 125 number!

     

  • Pamela B
    Pamela B Member Posts: 108
    #6
    Hearty Pioneer said:

    IP chemo

    Dear Pamela,

    Yes, the IP treatment is very isolating!! One funny thing, I couldn't lay on my stomach, so when I had to be in that position I would get on my knees, put my forehead onto the pillow, and my butt would be high in the air-- never failed to make the nurses laugh!

    Good news on your CA 125 number!

     

    more IP rounds?

    After I posted the news about potentially going off the IP treatment I read the article about how effective going 4 or more rounds is to over all life expectancy. I guess I will have to psych myself up for a few more rounds as long as I can stand it!

  • wholfmeister
    wholfmeister Member Posts: 315
    #7
    Pamela B said:

    I am still here!!!

    I am so sorry to worry you and thank you so much for thinking about me! After getting such good advice from this board I jumped into treatment and kept my head down. I just finished round three of IP port taxil and cicplatin. The first two rounds went pretty well. No side effects, my numbers were text book perfect and my oncologist was calling me his poster child for IP treatment. Then round three hit. I wasn't physically sick. I think I was just mentally sick of spending three 8 hour days at the chemo center flipping every 15 minutes and feeling isolated. Plus I hate not having hair. I had a longer than usual coma like fatigue recovery (three days) and then things started to get better. I temporarily lost my positive edge but it is coming back now. Next week is recovery along with blood tests and a CT scan. If it all looks good (my ca125 after round two was 33 down from 450 after surgery) my oncologist will discuss taking me off the IP treatment and tryng something lower dose more frequently.

     

    I thought I lost this site from my computer but found I had bookmarked it on a different computer in the house and am so glad I did! Just reading about 5 and 7 year success stories. Really want I needed to hear.

     

    Thank you ladies for not forgetting about me. I will definitely check in more often and keep you posted. Your post made a difference in my life today!
    Whew!

    I am so relieved to hear from you!

    I have decided that every month's chemo is different.  I go along for a couple rounds with only moderate fatigue and chemo brain, and then whammy!  Last week I vomited for two days, inspite of all the anti-nausea meds. So don't let one rough round discourage you.
    I am a little concerned though. When I did my six months of IP, I didn't have to do all the rolling around you ladies describe. Haha! Hope mine works without all that acrobatics!

  • JoanC
    JoanC Member Posts: 231
    #8
    Pamela B said:

    more IP rounds?

    After I posted the news about potentially going off the IP treatment I read the article about how effective going 4 or more rounds is to over all life expectancy. I guess I will have to psych myself up for a few more rounds as long as I can stand it!

    Only did 3 rounds

    Pam,

    I read that also about 4 or more but I had to quit after 3 because i got blood clots in my lungs so then they finished out with Gemzar. I just past my 5 yr mark for dx........of course if you can go the extra rounds it is good but wanted to let you know that 3 has worked well for me.

    ((HUGS))

  • Pamela B
    Pamela B Member Posts: 108
    #9
    IP article

    Must be my chemo brain, but now I can't find the article I just read on this board about the benefits of IP chemo.  Can anyone help?  I don't think I imagined it.....

     

  • Glad to be done
    Glad to be done Member Posts: 569
    #10
    Pamela B said:

    IP article

    Must be my chemo brain, but now I can't find the article I just read on this board about the benefits of IP chemo.  Can anyone help?  I don't think I imagined it.....

     

    Pam so glad you are

    Pam so glad you are tolerating the chemo.  I did the same chemo you are doing.  I too felt great after one and two and all the side effects started after rnd 3.  If you can tolerate it and are not having anything bad happening because of the chemo stick with it if you can...  I started to get neuropathy in my feet after the 4th treatment but the hard headed person I am I barreled through.  My doc said they could lower the dose of the taxol for the last treatment.  It was my choice and I said no...

     

  • Alexandra
    Alexandra Member Posts: 1,308
    #11
    Pamela B said:

    IP article

    Must be my chemo brain, but now I can't find the article I just read on this board about the benefits of IP chemo.  Can anyone help?  I don't think I imagined it.....

     

    Hello Pamela

    Here's a link to a recent thread http://csn.cancer.org/node/256297

    If you search for "IP chemo", or "intraperitoneal" you will find a lot more.

    Feel better! 

  • Pamela B
    Pamela B Member Posts: 108
    #12
    Alexandra said:

    Hello Pamela

    Here's a link to a recent thread http://csn.cancer.org/node/256297

    If you search for "IP chemo", or "intraperitoneal" you will find a lot more.

    Feel better! 

    That's the one!  Thanks!!!

    That's the one!  Thanks!!!

  • Pamela B
    Pamela B Member Posts: 108
    #13
    Glad to be done said:

    Pam so glad you are

    Pam so glad you are tolerating the chemo.  I did the same chemo you are doing.  I too felt great after one and two and all the side effects started after rnd 3.  If you can tolerate it and are not having anything bad happening because of the chemo stick with it if you can...  I started to get neuropathy in my feet after the 4th treatment but the hard headed person I am I barreled through.  My doc said they could lower the dose of the taxol for the last treatment.  It was my choice and I said no...

     

    neuropathy

    Did the neuropathy go away after you stopped your treatments?

  • lovesanimals
    lovesanimals Member Posts: 1,366 Member
    #14
    Pamela B said:

    That's the one!  Thanks!!!

    That's the one!  Thanks!!!

    Hi Pamela

    Sending lots of good thoughts and good vibes your way.  Hang in there!

    Kelly

  • Pamela B
    Pamela B Member Posts: 108
    #15
    Continuing IP treatments

    Going to continue with as many IP treatments as I can handle based on the recent article. No major side effects so far, just a day or two of bad fatigue and a tiny bit of nausea easily controlled by anti nausea pills. Halfway through round four, finished tomorrow then a week off to recover. Sometimes the first week is worse sometimes the second. able to have a pretty normal week during my third recovery week. Then it all starts again. Thank you all for your valuable insights during this process. They are invaluable and really took the fear of the unknown away.

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