1st chemo

mokus
mokus Member Posts: 63 Member
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

I had my first chemo yesterday (Erbitrux).  I had a little trouble with reactions, so they had to stop the drip twice and slow it don so I could finish treatment.  Took about 5 hours, which I will tolerate gladly for 7 weeks to minimize side effects.  The day made me weary but not nausea or anything like that.  I had an episode of SOB in the middle of the night that had me up and about for about an hour,(walked around the block).  When I woke up today I did vomit a small amount right after rising, but really no effects other than that.  If every chemo tretament can be like this it may be at least tolerable.

 

I started jevity today, 1 can, but took in 1700 calories by mouth.  The tube is okay.  Easier to hydrate, with all these flushes, but the constipation is whispering in my brain.  Start radiation treatments Tuesday I guess, after chemo, 8 miles apart.

 

Thank you all for your support and guidance.

Comments

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,722 Member
    #2
    Loadng Dose

    mokus,

    I also had Erbitux, the first dose is the loading dose, where they see how you react or don’t.   Next step is acne so be prepared.  It also made my eyelashes grow in my fingers cracked and I think I was typical. People always asked me if it itched but it never did.

    Good luck,

    Matt

  • debbiejeanne
    debbiejeanne Member Posts: 3,102 Member
    #3
    mokus, i'm glad tx has

    mokus, i'm glad tx has started and went fairly well.  I pray the rest goes as smoothly.  keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.

    God bless you,

    dj

  • mokus
    mokus Member Posts: 63 Member
    #4
    CivilMatt said:

    Loadng Dose

    mokus,

    I also had Erbitux, the first dose is the loading dose, where they see how you react or don’t.   Next step is acne so be prepared.  It also made my eyelashes grow in my fingers cracked and I think I was typical. People always asked me if it itched but it never did.

    Good luck,

    Matt

    loading

    I get to experience an added new experience then, because I never had acne issues growing up.  I may have to schedule a sock hop for when this is all over.

  • mokus
    mokus Member Posts: 63 Member
    #5
    debbiejeanne said:

    mokus, i'm glad tx has

    mokus, i'm glad tx has started and went fairly well.  I pray the rest goes as smoothly.  keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.

    God bless you,

    dj

    tx

    Thank you very much.  I have now 5 days to conquer, at least temporarily, this vicious constipation

  • wmc
    wmc Member Posts: 1,804
    #6
    Mokus you got it going......

    You have moxie in spades. You have the great attitude needed to get through this and you will do just fine. Knoe you are in my thought's and prayers.

    Bill

  • littlemisskitty
    littlemisskitty Member Posts: 35
    #7
    First Chemo

    Sounds like you made it through your first treatment with positive thinking! That's excellent. Before you know it it will be week 8 and the time will have flown. My mom is in week 2 of 7 radiation treatments (with chemo treatment 3 of 8 to be done tomorrow). With the fact we are driving an hour to and an hour home plus the waiting for appointment times, time is really flying. She spends more of her weekends sleeping which makes it go even faster. Keep up the positive thinking and things will never seem too bad. 

  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #8
    One down....YEAH!!

    For the constipation (and gawd knows, most of us had to suffer through that).....I used Colace, drink LOTS of water...and during the times when I thought I may never go again, I used Smooth Move tea (that stuff really works, so be careful Laughing). 

    Remember...this is a one day at a time deal.

    p

  • KB56
    KB56 Member Posts: 318 Member
    #9
    Mokus

    I took Erbitux as well and as Matt said, the first one was by far the worse.     It took the longest, was the most (volume) and i was nauseous for the first one, as well as the second one but after that it got easier.

    I made the same mistake as you and finally started taking fiber that i could dissolve in water and take through my PEG tube...    I found out the hard way that fiber is really important.  Talk to your nutritionist and get them to recommend some fiber and start taking it every day.  I did Jevity as well and those drinks have a lot of protein, calories but very little fiber.

     

    Good luck

    Keith

  • mokus
    mokus Member Posts: 63 Member
    #10
    wmc said:

    Mokus you got it going......

    You have moxie in spades. You have the great attitude needed to get through this and you will do just fine. Knoe you are in my thought's and prayers.

    Bill

    moxie

    I don't know if it is moxie or plain, blind stupidity, but ty, for everything.

  • mokus
    mokus Member Posts: 63 Member
    #11
    littlemisskitty said:

    First Chemo

    Sounds like you made it through your first treatment with positive thinking! That's excellent. Before you know it it will be week 8 and the time will have flown. My mom is in week 2 of 7 radiation treatments (with chemo treatment 3 of 8 to be done tomorrow). With the fact we are driving an hour to and an hour home plus the waiting for appointment times, time is really flying. She spends more of her weekends sleeping which makes it go even faster. Keep up the positive thinking and things will never seem too bad. 

    first

    tyvm.  I guess one positive, for me anyway, is sleep.  I love sleep, and have been an insomniac all my life.

  • mokus
    mokus Member Posts: 63 Member
    #12
    phrannie51 said:

    One down....YEAH!!

    For the constipation (and gawd knows, most of us had to suffer through that).....I used Colace, drink LOTS of water...and during the times when I thought I may never go again, I used Smooth Move tea (that stuff really works, so be careful Laughing). 

    Remember...this is a one day at a time deal.

    p

    Ty, Phrannie, I will take note.  I have been doing Metamucil shots in the tube, and this morning ate a yogurt mixed with all bran, and wowla!!.  Within 90 minutes had a nice relief episode.  That was new for me.  I hope it wasn't a "One Hit Wonder."

  • mokus
    mokus Member Posts: 63 Member
    #13
    KB56 said:

    Mokus

    I took Erbitux as well and as Matt said, the first one was by far the worse.     It took the longest, was the most (volume) and i was nauseous for the first one, as well as the second one but after that it got easier.

    I made the same mistake as you and finally started taking fiber that i could dissolve in water and take through my PEG tube...    I found out the hard way that fiber is really important.  Talk to your nutritionist and get them to recommend some fiber and start taking it every day.  I did Jevity as well and those drinks have a lot of protein, calories but very little fiber.

     

    Good luck

    Keith

    Fiber

    Ty, Keith, I will talk to nutritionist about that.  Thanks for your support

  • hwt
    hwt Member Posts: 2,328 Member
    #14
    mokus said:

    Fiber

    Ty, Keith, I will talk to nutritionist about that.  Thanks for your support

    Erbitux

    At first sign, or before, of cracking fingers or toes, I suggest putting on Aquaphor healing ointment at night and wearing 100% cotton garden gloves or socks. My fingers never did crack but when they started to tighten up I went straight for the Auquaphor. After tx, my heel and toe broke open but not too bad.

  • mokus
    mokus Member Posts: 63 Member
    #15
    hwt said:

    Erbitux

    At first sign, or before, of cracking fingers or toes, I suggest putting on Aquaphor healing ointment at night and wearing 100% cotton garden gloves or socks. My fingers never did crack but when they started to tighten up I went straight for the Auquaphor. After tx, my heel and toe broke open but not too bad.

    erb

    Ty, I will implement your suggestion ASAP.

  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #16
    Hi mokus

    Not bad for the firth go around, you might start to see more side effects as you get more into treatment, just remember to tell your doctor about them. May PEG tube is the only thing closer to me then my wife and I thank the good Lord everyday for the person who made it.  

    Tim

  • mokus
    mokus Member Posts: 63 Member
    #17
    Hondo said:

    Hi mokus

    Not bad for the firth go around, you might start to see more side effects as you get more into treatment, just remember to tell your doctor about them. May PEG tube is the only thing closer to me then my wife and I thank the good Lord everyday for the person who made it.  

    Tim

    hi

    Ty Hondo.  I am trying to anticipate and prepare, as best I can, based on what people share here, for what is ahead.  I know the hard part is yet to come, but I am stubborn and will need the sickness to humble me into sensibility, and am certain that will happen, in due course.

  • nannahannah
    nannahannah Member Posts: 5
    #18
    head and neck cancer

    We had our first treatment Mon.  They ran a bag of benadryl then started his chemo.  About 20 minutes after chemo started Robert had like stabbing pains around his shoulder blades in the middle.  They stopped chemo rushed him to er and BTW his blood pressure had dropped too.  They started testing for heart problems but said all tests point away from heart problems.  We go back to doc next week to see what next step is.  Did this happen to anyone else?  I guess I asking do they sometimes treat by trial and error?  I don't know just want my husband cancer free.

  • avisemi
    avisemi Member Posts: 172
    #19
    Glad things went overall

    Glad things went overall well.  You can do it! Yes you can!  5 hours sound about right. Dima slept through most of each of his sessions. 

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