CEA check time. January Ck - Up 2.

Nana b said:

Chemo time
Ok. Dr appt over. I have some cancer activity on my liver that got picked up on my pet scan but not on the ct. That means that it's too small to be picked up on the CT scan. I can do chemo now in pill form or wait and check my blood level monthly (CEA) for 3 months I have decided to wait 3 months. Either way it looks like chemo for 6 months is the plan. It's not as rough as before but still has side affects. The activity has always been there it's just now growing a bit....so, it must be cancer. Hubby wants me to start chemo. I have to think about it. Summer and long hours start in August. Onc said March and a 30 day break is what he recommends. Starting now I would be pooped right on time for my busy season....by August. It's Avastin, and i can't remember the other chemo pill. I should have wrote it down! He sad I could do 6 pill a day, morning and night, or two pills every day, or a #? pill for five days, and five days off.

My husband asked what are the benefits of waiting for the chemo...Ah, I don't know! ONC said 3 months on, one off, then three on, that would allow me a month to build some strength for my busy summer months (work 12/7). I really think that he is not sure it's chemo, I mean why would he wait?!?!?!

Gosh, what was that chemo name! I think Xeloda Big Mind dump

Xeloda is Correct...
You'll probably do 3000-4000 mgs a day...pills are 500mg each...so you divide that by morning and evening...most of the time it is 2 weeks on - 1 week off....toxicity will build up rather quickly and you'll notice it in your feet, Raquel...start creaming your feet early, or you won't be moving around the plant like you are accustomed to doing...can make your feet peel and blister horribly...and over time can be hard to even stand or wear shoes.

If things get really bad, you should be able to switch to a 7-day on - 7-day off program...this will help...and you'll get a full bottle out of the month - thereby using only 1 bottle instead of popping for the 2nd...Xeloda is considered a Rx and thus is subject to out of pocket cashola...when I was doing it, that was about $150 a bottle for me - the actual cost was $2000 a bottle....so if you can save a bottle a month, that can add up. It will just depend on what you can tolerate....the key thing to remember is there is some FLEXIBILITY in the way it is administered.

A little hard on the stomach, but about like the IV version...flouracil is just nasty stuff too.

A 3 month wait is certainly not against the grain...you might finally see the growth in the CT...I've done many PETs and there are alot of false/positives with those...CT and PET combined gives a better comfort feeling before heading back into this.

Avastin is good for most people, but can cause congestive heart failure...I read that in the manufacturer's "white paper" that they give with the drug...doesn't say how long for this to occur...I developed a heart arrythmia from it....I took it about 8-9 months.

I know you've tried to lead a healthy lifestyle and all of that...your case is another reminder to all of us that recurrence is prevalent with our disease and and can find us, despite our best efforts to stave it off.

I'm wishing you luck with your new approach...the combo you are on sounds workable as far as maintaining employement - so, you've got that going for you.

I hope that you do well.

-Craig

Raquel
Raquel,
Thinking about you as you process this new information. I'm so sorry you have to go through this again. You're in m prayers.

Aloha
Kathleen

Nana b said:

Chemo time
Ok. Dr appt over. I have some cancer activity on my liver that got picked up on my pet scan but not on the ct. That means that it's too small to be picked up on the CT scan. I can do chemo now in pill form or wait and check my blood level monthly (CEA) for 3 months I have decided to wait 3 months. Either way it looks like chemo for 6 months is the plan. It's not as rough as before but still has side affects. The activity has always been there it's just now growing a bit....so, it must be cancer. Hubby wants me to start chemo. I have to think about it. Summer and long hours start in August. Onc said March and a 30 day break is what he recommends. Starting now I would be pooped right on time for my busy season....by August. It's Avastin, and i can't remember the other chemo pill. I should have wrote it down! He sad I could do 6 pill a day, morning and night, or two pills every day, or a #? pill for five days, and five days off.

My husband asked what are the benefits of waiting for the chemo...Ah, I don't know! ONC said 3 months on, one off, then three on, that would allow me a month to build some strength for my busy summer months (work 12/7). I really think that he is not sure it's chemo, I mean why would he wait?!?!?!

Gosh, what was that chemo name! I think Xeloda Big Mind dump

Hi Raquel
I'm sorry to hear of your recurrence. I hope the best plan of action finds you soon. I have no experience with Avastin,so can't comment. My experience with xeloda was mild. The only side effect I got from the xeloda was hand and foot syndrome. I had some peeling of my hands and feet. (not too bad) I had no other side effects. I did pretty good. I pray that you do good, as well.
Karen

Nana b said:

Thanks!
We are waiting on the chemo. We will do the CEA check every month for 3 months, meanwhile I am back on supplements Juicing my greens and just staying away from eat, star white rice, white bread, white pasta. Fruits, nuts, veggies, salmon, & greens. I love fruit and veggies so don't miss the food and white stuff. I eat a cup of frozen pommergranite seeds each night, while in season. Wild berries, red grapes, tangerines, kumquat, aloe juice. Just going back to what I was doing earlier. We shall see if it makes a difference.




que sera sera.... It s, way it is. Not meaning that I'm giving up. I mean don't fret. Keep on living. We can't see the future, but I am here today!

Thanks for the Juicing Information
Hi Nana B
I have been following your journey and I just started juicing so thank you for sharing your nutrition plan. Prayers for a good response to chemo.
NB