New to the site

Blessed

Welcome to the site. There is a fantastic group of people here. I have received so much comfort and encouragement here. I have laughed out loud a number of times; I have cried. I have felt so much compassion directly toward me and given to others. We have compared notes. We offer advice. We sometimes goof around and shoot the breeze. . .just hang out to socialize.

I hope that whatever you need, you will ask for. I sure haven't been shy in that department!

I am glad you are here.

Hugs and prayers to you,

Rocquie

 

Welcome

I just wanted to extend a warm welcome to you. To let you know that you are surrounded by a ton of loving and inspirational people. We will all be here for you in anyway.

xxxooo

Carie

Indeed Blessed

Welcome, Always-blessed,

As my site name might give away, I began here with Stage 3 HL. I too did abvd, 12 infusions (6 "cycles).  Quite a few of us here have done abvd, so do not hesitate to ask questions about the medications or side-effects.

Also like you, my spouse led me throught this thing. Because I was so extremely weakened, she had to drive me to and from all treatments, and  I was a virtual invalid for those six months. By around midway in treatment, I was sleeping 17 or more hours per day, for instance.

Bless your progress, and your husband as well,

max

alwaysblessed2013 said:

Stage IV HL, treatment and sleeping, etc.

After my first treatment I was told that I would experience some nausea, however, I was truly blessed and did not have any of that problem.  I am going in this Wednesday for my second ABVD treatment.  I have read in some posts that as the treatment progresses you sleep alot more.  I am already sleeping a lot as I don't have much of an energy level.  Is sleeping one of the side effects? Besides losing hair, which I understand usually occurs after the 2nd or 3rd treatment.  I know that each person is different, but it helps to know what some of the side effects are so I can be on the look out for them.

Hugs and prayers to all,

Always Blessed

Side-Effects

Always BLessed,

Abvd pretty consistently causes the hair to all drop out within a few days after the second treatment. Mine fell out all at once. There was nothing gradual about it.  I went into the bathroom one mornng, scratched my head, and had a handful of hair. FIve minutes later, there was not a hair on my head.  I eventually lost all of my eyebrows and eyelashes as well. 

The side-effects tend to increase in intensity as more and more infusions are received; this is true not just of abvd, but most chemo drrugs.

Extreme fatigue was my most pronounced side-effect.  It is impossible to determine how much of this was due to the medicine, and how much was caused by the disease itself, but as I have mentioned many times, by around my 4th treatment, I slept about 17 or more hours per day.  The doctor encouraged me to rest. This is not the time to train for the Tour de France ! By about midway through treatments, my appetite went to zero. I mostly relied on breakfast drinks at that point, although I did at times eat solid foods.

Many chemo combinations contain steroids, which act like a stimulant to the patient, and encourage appetite and increase energy.  ABVD does NOT have a steroid, so the experience is different.

My other more pronounced side-effects were neuropathy (hands and feet go numb), and a loss of my sense of taste.  You may not have any of these, or they may vary in intensity.

Watch for breathing problems: I had "lung toxicity" from the Bleomycin. This is pretty rare, but can be serious.  Call your doc if you develope a persistent, serious cough.

Most side-effects go away over time after treatment ends. Hair, for instance, virtually always returns.

May you get well fast, and have the fewest side-effects in history !

max

keep positive

Alwaysblessed2013 ,

I also have completed 12 infusions of ABVD. each infusion will add to nausea. But one has to keep positive

attitude. welcome to the site. guys here will share there experiences and provide support.

suresh