Got my CT/PET results. Mets to the liver. :(
Comments
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Linda and Sharonlindaprocopio said:& now the 2nd opinion, this time from my chemo onc...
Yesterday was my gynecologic oncologist. Today I met with my chemo oncologist to come up with a new battle plan. I have to get a 'skin-prick test' to make sure that I have not developed an allergy to platin drugs (as there is a lifetime limit of how much platin drugs you can have and I already did 6 infusions of carboplatin back in late 2008/early 2009 with my initial carbo/taxol rounds.) But assuming I am not allergic, I am starting on single agent carboplatin on Thursday. As long as my blood counts stay decent, I will get this infusion every 3 weeks. If I start to have blood count troubles we will 'fractionate' the dose so that I get it in smaller amounts once a week.
I was reassured by a lot of the things my oncologist said. He noted that the largest tumor in my liver is TINY, less than 1/2", and that a person can have 90% of their liver full of cancer and still have a normally functioning liver. He reminded me that I remain symptom-free and that carboplatin is one of the 'gold standard' chemos and could very well knock this back.
We talked a little about radiofrequency ablation
(http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=rfa ),
which is a great option we can re-visit if the carboplatin isn't the Magic Bullet we're hoping it will be. They don't like to do the ablation if you have cancer elsewhere besides the liver because if you run into complications you can't get the systemic chemo you truly need. But we will revisit it if the carboplatin doesn't start dropping my CA125 right away. I continue to be hopeful, and Vic and I both took this latest bad news calmly. We're really okay. So don't worry, any of you! Same war, just a new battle.
((((Sharon)))). So sorry for your test results. Back in battle side-by-side again, my sister. I've got your back; you're got mine. HUGS!
Linda and Sharon:
So sorry to hear about this latest news. Why does it seem you always have to do something different around the holidays! Such an emotional rollercoaster.
Linda, you are a real trooper. Going places and reporting on the whole ordeal. Always going for the new frontier!
As you said though, same war, new battle. You have so much more information on how to handle these things and you give so much encouragement to everyone.
Linda and Sharon I just want you to know you are in my prayers.
Kathy0 -
Linda glad you got some encouragement from your chemo onoclindaprocopio said:& now the 2nd opinion, this time from my chemo onc...
Yesterday was my gynecologic oncologist. Today I met with my chemo oncologist to come up with a new battle plan. I have to get a 'skin-prick test' to make sure that I have not developed an allergy to platin drugs (as there is a lifetime limit of how much platin drugs you can have and I already did 6 infusions of carboplatin back in late 2008/early 2009 with my initial carbo/taxol rounds.) But assuming I am not allergic, I am starting on single agent carboplatin on Thursday. As long as my blood counts stay decent, I will get this infusion every 3 weeks. If I start to have blood count troubles we will 'fractionate' the dose so that I get it in smaller amounts once a week.
I was reassured by a lot of the things my oncologist said. He noted that the largest tumor in my liver is TINY, less than 1/2", and that a person can have 90% of their liver full of cancer and still have a normally functioning liver. He reminded me that I remain symptom-free and that carboplatin is one of the 'gold standard' chemos and could very well knock this back.
We talked a little about radiofrequency ablation
(http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=rfa ),
which is a great option we can re-visit if the carboplatin isn't the Magic Bullet we're hoping it will be. They don't like to do the ablation if you have cancer elsewhere besides the liver because if you run into complications you can't get the systemic chemo you truly need. But we will revisit it if the carboplatin doesn't start dropping my CA125 right away. I continue to be hopeful, and Vic and I both took this latest bad news calmly. We're really okay. So don't worry, any of you! Same war, just a new battle.
((((Sharon)))). So sorry for your test results. Back in battle side-by-side again, my sister. I've got your back; you're got mine. HUGS!
Linda you amaze me with your calmness. I am so glad you got reasurance from your chemo onocologist. I did not know they could give a skin-prick test for the Carbo. I knew there was a lifetime limit to the platin drugs, but did not know how they determined the limit. I am hoping your blood counts remain good. I hope the Carbo is your "magic bullet".
You always have a plan B in your pocket don't you. That is one of the things I admire about you. Always thinking ahead. And you are always educating us. You and your family remain in my prayers. In peace and caring.0 -
Yours is the bad news we alllindaprocopio said:& now the 2nd opinion, this time from my chemo onc...
Yesterday was my gynecologic oncologist. Today I met with my chemo oncologist to come up with a new battle plan. I have to get a 'skin-prick test' to make sure that I have not developed an allergy to platin drugs (as there is a lifetime limit of how much platin drugs you can have and I already did 6 infusions of carboplatin back in late 2008/early 2009 with my initial carbo/taxol rounds.) But assuming I am not allergic, I am starting on single agent carboplatin on Thursday. As long as my blood counts stay decent, I will get this infusion every 3 weeks. If I start to have blood count troubles we will 'fractionate' the dose so that I get it in smaller amounts once a week.
I was reassured by a lot of the things my oncologist said. He noted that the largest tumor in my liver is TINY, less than 1/2", and that a person can have 90% of their liver full of cancer and still have a normally functioning liver. He reminded me that I remain symptom-free and that carboplatin is one of the 'gold standard' chemos and could very well knock this back.
We talked a little about radiofrequency ablation
(http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=rfa ),
which is a great option we can re-visit if the carboplatin isn't the Magic Bullet we're hoping it will be. They don't like to do the ablation if you have cancer elsewhere besides the liver because if you run into complications you can't get the systemic chemo you truly need. But we will revisit it if the carboplatin doesn't start dropping my CA125 right away. I continue to be hopeful, and Vic and I both took this latest bad news calmly. We're really okay. So don't worry, any of you! Same war, just a new battle.
((((Sharon)))). So sorry for your test results. Back in battle side-by-side again, my sister. I've got your back; you're got mine. HUGS!
Yours is the bad news we all dread, but your manner of handling this is inspiration to us all. I'm rooting for you--and Sharon--and everyone of us who face these horrendous decisions daily.0 -
Started Carboplatin yesterday, feel good today!patsplace said:Yours is the bad news we all
Yours is the bad news we all dread, but your manner of handling this is inspiration to us all. I'm rooting for you--and Sharon--and everyone of us who face these horrendous decisions daily.
I was interesting to start Carboplatin yesterday. Once you have had 6 rounds of Carboplatin (and I had 6 carbo/taxols in late 2008/early 2009) you can develop an allergy to it at any time as it accumulates (apparently forever!) in your body. So before EACH infusion now, I have to have a skin prick test. It's really nothing but it takes a HALF HOUR. They jab a little carboplatin under the skin of your arm, and then check it at 5 minutes, again at 15 minutes, and again at 30 minutes, to see if a rash appears. Any rash & the oncologist has to readjust your pre-meds and slow up your drip, or if the reaction is more severe (no idea what they means!) carboplatin may no longer be an option for you. Anyway, Round 1, I had no reaction to the skin prick. & you may remember from your 6 carbo/taxol rounds that the carboplatin bag was the small one on the fast drip that takes around a half-hour. The chemo day is still a pretty long one if you need labs and to review them with your oncologists before your treatments, and then the pre-chemo saline and after chemo 'rinse cycle' of my saline. Christmas time at the chemo lounge was in full swing with tons of goodies to eat. I made cinnamon muffins for the staff and was happy to see that they kept them for themselves and they didn't end up in the overflowing pile of treats in the chemo lounge. And I am AWAY FROM THERE until after Christmas, as I get the carboplatin every 3 weeks as long as my blood counts stay up there. ALL my blood counts were completely normal at my last labs, except for the damn highest ever CA-125 of 292. I came home and slept for 3 hours, and even with the nap and the pre-med steroids, I slept like a baby all night.
I'M SO HAPPY TO HAVE NO TREATMENTS UNTIL AFTER CHRISTMAS! HOHOHOHO!0 -
A good first roundlindaprocopio said:Started Carboplatin yesterday, feel good today!
I was interesting to start Carboplatin yesterday. Once you have had 6 rounds of Carboplatin (and I had 6 carbo/taxols in late 2008/early 2009) you can develop an allergy to it at any time as it accumulates (apparently forever!) in your body. So before EACH infusion now, I have to have a skin prick test. It's really nothing but it takes a HALF HOUR. They jab a little carboplatin under the skin of your arm, and then check it at 5 minutes, again at 15 minutes, and again at 30 minutes, to see if a rash appears. Any rash & the oncologist has to readjust your pre-meds and slow up your drip, or if the reaction is more severe (no idea what they means!) carboplatin may no longer be an option for you. Anyway, Round 1, I had no reaction to the skin prick. & you may remember from your 6 carbo/taxol rounds that the carboplatin bag was the small one on the fast drip that takes around a half-hour. The chemo day is still a pretty long one if you need labs and to review them with your oncologists before your treatments, and then the pre-chemo saline and after chemo 'rinse cycle' of my saline. Christmas time at the chemo lounge was in full swing with tons of goodies to eat. I made cinnamon muffins for the staff and was happy to see that they kept them for themselves and they didn't end up in the overflowing pile of treats in the chemo lounge. And I am AWAY FROM THERE until after Christmas, as I get the carboplatin every 3 weeks as long as my blood counts stay up there. ALL my blood counts were completely normal at my last labs, except for the damn highest ever CA-125 of 292. I came home and slept for 3 hours, and even with the nap and the pre-med steroids, I slept like a baby all night.
I'M SO HAPPY TO HAVE NO TREATMENTS UNTIL AFTER CHRISTMAS! HOHOHOHO!
I'm glad to hear, Linda, that the first round of Carbo went well. I was not aware of the "lifetime" effect of carbo. Thanks for sharing that.
I have my GEMZAR treatment this afternoon and then will be off next week when I'm taking my grandkids to the GREAT WOLF LODGE indoor waterpark for the weekend...part of their Christmas present. I can't wait!!!
Rest up and prepare to have the best Christmas ever!!!
Peace and hope, JJ0 -
Linda happy to read your postlindaprocopio said:Started Carboplatin yesterday, feel good today!
I was interesting to start Carboplatin yesterday. Once you have had 6 rounds of Carboplatin (and I had 6 carbo/taxols in late 2008/early 2009) you can develop an allergy to it at any time as it accumulates (apparently forever!) in your body. So before EACH infusion now, I have to have a skin prick test. It's really nothing but it takes a HALF HOUR. They jab a little carboplatin under the skin of your arm, and then check it at 5 minutes, again at 15 minutes, and again at 30 minutes, to see if a rash appears. Any rash & the oncologist has to readjust your pre-meds and slow up your drip, or if the reaction is more severe (no idea what they means!) carboplatin may no longer be an option for you. Anyway, Round 1, I had no reaction to the skin prick. & you may remember from your 6 carbo/taxol rounds that the carboplatin bag was the small one on the fast drip that takes around a half-hour. The chemo day is still a pretty long one if you need labs and to review them with your oncologists before your treatments, and then the pre-chemo saline and after chemo 'rinse cycle' of my saline. Christmas time at the chemo lounge was in full swing with tons of goodies to eat. I made cinnamon muffins for the staff and was happy to see that they kept them for themselves and they didn't end up in the overflowing pile of treats in the chemo lounge. And I am AWAY FROM THERE until after Christmas, as I get the carboplatin every 3 weeks as long as my blood counts stay up there. ALL my blood counts were completely normal at my last labs, except for the damn highest ever CA-125 of 292. I came home and slept for 3 hours, and even with the nap and the pre-med steroids, I slept like a baby all night.
I'M SO HAPPY TO HAVE NO TREATMENTS UNTIL AFTER CHRISTMAS! HOHOHOHO!
Glad you did well with the Carbo. Did not realize they would do a skin test before each infusion. I did have a reaction to my Carbo infusions and they ran it over two hours instead of the usual one hour. So I wonder what that will mean for me if I go back on Carbo. Last November the onocologist told me I would go back on the Taxol/Carbo if it was more than 6 months since I finshed chemo. It has been 16 months.
I am so happy you will be treatment free until after Christmas. Enjoy those grandkids. You have Thanksgiving traditions....how about your Christmas traditions. Enjoy. In peace and caring.0 -
Wonderful to hear your carbolindaprocopio said:Started Carboplatin yesterday, feel good today!
I was interesting to start Carboplatin yesterday. Once you have had 6 rounds of Carboplatin (and I had 6 carbo/taxols in late 2008/early 2009) you can develop an allergy to it at any time as it accumulates (apparently forever!) in your body. So before EACH infusion now, I have to have a skin prick test. It's really nothing but it takes a HALF HOUR. They jab a little carboplatin under the skin of your arm, and then check it at 5 minutes, again at 15 minutes, and again at 30 minutes, to see if a rash appears. Any rash & the oncologist has to readjust your pre-meds and slow up your drip, or if the reaction is more severe (no idea what they means!) carboplatin may no longer be an option for you. Anyway, Round 1, I had no reaction to the skin prick. & you may remember from your 6 carbo/taxol rounds that the carboplatin bag was the small one on the fast drip that takes around a half-hour. The chemo day is still a pretty long one if you need labs and to review them with your oncologists before your treatments, and then the pre-chemo saline and after chemo 'rinse cycle' of my saline. Christmas time at the chemo lounge was in full swing with tons of goodies to eat. I made cinnamon muffins for the staff and was happy to see that they kept them for themselves and they didn't end up in the overflowing pile of treats in the chemo lounge. And I am AWAY FROM THERE until after Christmas, as I get the carboplatin every 3 weeks as long as my blood counts stay up there. ALL my blood counts were completely normal at my last labs, except for the damn highest ever CA-125 of 292. I came home and slept for 3 hours, and even with the nap and the pre-med steroids, I slept like a baby all night.
I'M SO HAPPY TO HAVE NO TREATMENTS UNTIL AFTER CHRISTMAS! HOHOHOHO!
Wonderful to hear your carbo was uneventful! Wishing you much peace and joy with friends and family, far away from the chemo-lounge., as you celebrate the Season.
Enjoy! Annie0 -
Your carbo treatmentupsofloating said:Wonderful to hear your carbo
Wonderful to hear your carbo was uneventful! Wishing you much peace and joy with friends and family, far away from the chemo-lounge., as you celebrate the Season.
Enjoy! Annie
Linda,
I think you are an amazingly strong inspriational woman. Reading your posts always helps give me strength and hope for myself as well.
I am so sorry to hear about this latest development, but it sounds very encouraging that the carbo can knock this right out. I am so glad you have not had any allergic reaction to the carbo. I had no idea is stays in our systems.
You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Cindy0 -
lindalindaprocopio said:& now the 2nd opinion, this time from my chemo onc...
Yesterday was my gynecologic oncologist. Today I met with my chemo oncologist to come up with a new battle plan. I have to get a 'skin-prick test' to make sure that I have not developed an allergy to platin drugs (as there is a lifetime limit of how much platin drugs you can have and I already did 6 infusions of carboplatin back in late 2008/early 2009 with my initial carbo/taxol rounds.) But assuming I am not allergic, I am starting on single agent carboplatin on Thursday. As long as my blood counts stay decent, I will get this infusion every 3 weeks. If I start to have blood count troubles we will 'fractionate' the dose so that I get it in smaller amounts once a week.
I was reassured by a lot of the things my oncologist said. He noted that the largest tumor in my liver is TINY, less than 1/2", and that a person can have 90% of their liver full of cancer and still have a normally functioning liver. He reminded me that I remain symptom-free and that carboplatin is one of the 'gold standard' chemos and could very well knock this back.
We talked a little about radiofrequency ablation
(http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=rfa ),
which is a great option we can re-visit if the carboplatin isn't the Magic Bullet we're hoping it will be. They don't like to do the ablation if you have cancer elsewhere besides the liver because if you run into complications you can't get the systemic chemo you truly need. But we will revisit it if the carboplatin doesn't start dropping my CA125 right away. I continue to be hopeful, and Vic and I both took this latest bad news calmly. We're really okay. So don't worry, any of you! Same war, just a new battle.
((((Sharon)))). So sorry for your test results. Back in battle side-by-side again, my sister. I've got your back; you're got mine. HUGS!
damn right, same old war! when i had my surgery, i had mets to the liver which the surgeon removed-- as much as he could see with the naked eye, and the standard chemo took care of the rest, i hope. i'm not saying it's a good thing to have mets to the liver, by any means, only that it's handleable. i'm glad you and vic are taking this development in stride; i know how much it helps to have a plan or two already in place. linda, it's great that you feel so well, and amazing too. right now, i'm finally 3 months off pain meds so feel every little pain, big and small, have some energy, but not like i used to--possibly also age-related, some nausea, possibly because i'm now weaning from ativan, but who knows, all this to say, that really, i don't feel great-ok, but not great. so i count your feeling so well as a victory of sorts for all of us in this protracted war.
hugs and sisterhood,
maggie0 -
maggie_wilson said:
linda
damn right, same old war! when i had my surgery, i had mets to the liver which the surgeon removed-- as much as he could see with the naked eye, and the standard chemo took care of the rest, i hope. i'm not saying it's a good thing to have mets to the liver, by any means, only that it's handleable. i'm glad you and vic are taking this development in stride; i know how much it helps to have a plan or two already in place. linda, it's great that you feel so well, and amazing too. right now, i'm finally 3 months off pain meds so feel every little pain, big and small, have some energy, but not like i used to--possibly also age-related, some nausea, possibly because i'm now weaning from ativan, but who knows, all this to say, that really, i don't feel great-ok, but not great. so i count your feeling so well as a victory of sorts for all of us in this protracted war.
hugs and sisterhood,
maggie
Linda, My heart sank when I read your post. I am so sorry you are facing more treatment. I'm glad you are feeling well and that they caught things early. Hopefully the carbo will do the trick. My prayers are with you - big time!!!
And Sharon, the vaginal cuff is supposed to respond well to treatment. Hopefully you will put this recurrence behind you soon. I feel such an affinity to both of you ladies, since we were diagnosed around the same time with that monster UPSC.
Re: carboplatin. I did develop what they called a "sensitivity" (seems like it was an allergic reaction to me) at my 3rd week of recurrence treatment. They did not do the skin test - I did take decadron at home starting 12 hours before my chemo. This did the trick.
God speed, ladies. Love, Mary Ann0 -
Linda & Sharonlindaprocopio said:Started Carboplatin yesterday, feel good today!
I was interesting to start Carboplatin yesterday. Once you have had 6 rounds of Carboplatin (and I had 6 carbo/taxols in late 2008/early 2009) you can develop an allergy to it at any time as it accumulates (apparently forever!) in your body. So before EACH infusion now, I have to have a skin prick test. It's really nothing but it takes a HALF HOUR. They jab a little carboplatin under the skin of your arm, and then check it at 5 minutes, again at 15 minutes, and again at 30 minutes, to see if a rash appears. Any rash & the oncologist has to readjust your pre-meds and slow up your drip, or if the reaction is more severe (no idea what they means!) carboplatin may no longer be an option for you. Anyway, Round 1, I had no reaction to the skin prick. & you may remember from your 6 carbo/taxol rounds that the carboplatin bag was the small one on the fast drip that takes around a half-hour. The chemo day is still a pretty long one if you need labs and to review them with your oncologists before your treatments, and then the pre-chemo saline and after chemo 'rinse cycle' of my saline. Christmas time at the chemo lounge was in full swing with tons of goodies to eat. I made cinnamon muffins for the staff and was happy to see that they kept them for themselves and they didn't end up in the overflowing pile of treats in the chemo lounge. And I am AWAY FROM THERE until after Christmas, as I get the carboplatin every 3 weeks as long as my blood counts stay up there. ALL my blood counts were completely normal at my last labs, except for the damn highest ever CA-125 of 292. I came home and slept for 3 hours, and even with the nap and the pre-med steroids, I slept like a baby all night.
I'M SO HAPPY TO HAVE NO TREATMENTS UNTIL AFTER CHRISTMAS! HOHOHOHO!
Sending hugs and prayers to you both
We are all here for you..
Laurie0 -
This cancer is so tough. You are so kind and good and I am asking all the questions that we all ask. Carbo is tough and good drug for this; and besides carbo there is plain platinum and oxyplatinum. I wish I could hold your hand, hug you, and tell you thank you for all the tims you made me brave when I felt myself sliding down the hill. Carbo is a good drug and I believe you can do it! I pray for you each night.daisy366 said:
Linda, My heart sank when I read your post. I am so sorry you are facing more treatment. I'm glad you are feeling well and that they caught things early. Hopefully the carbo will do the trick. My prayers are with you - big time!!!
And Sharon, the vaginal cuff is supposed to respond well to treatment. Hopefully you will put this recurrence behind you soon. I feel such an affinity to both of you ladies, since we were diagnosed around the same time with that monster UPSC.
Re: carboplatin. I did develop what they called a "sensitivity" (seems like it was an allergic reaction to me) at my 3rd week of recurrence treatment. They did not do the skin test - I did take decadron at home starting 12 hours before my chemo. This did the trick.
God speed, ladies. Love, Mary Ann
Love,
Diane0 -
Thank you all so much, so much more than you could know.Songflower said:This cancer is so tough. You are so kind and good and I am asking all the questions that we all ask. Carbo is tough and good drug for this; and besides carbo there is plain platinum and oxyplatinum. I wish I could hold your hand, hug you, and tell you thank you for all the tims you made me brave when I felt myself sliding down the hill. Carbo is a good drug and I believe you can do it! I pray for you each night.
Love,
Diane
I appreciate all the encouraging words; they truly help. I may have bragged too soon about feeling great after the carbo infusion. I DID feel great the day after my infusion, probaby due to the pre-chemo meds. But this weekend and today I feel kinda crappy,...no pain or real nausea, but just that icky feeling like you get when your sinuses have been draining down the back of your throat for weeks or you're just 'off your game' with a general physical malaise you can't put a finger on. I don't have diahrea & I'm not constipated, & I've been eating faithfully but without my normal robust appetite, more 'forced feedings'. I tried a Prilocet (sp? OTC heartburn med) on Saturday hoping that would help in case it was stomach acid since I burped a few times. Didn't help. Yesterday I tried one of the anti-nausea pills they prescribed, that I've never taken in the 2 years I've been in treatment. Didn't help. Today I went out to breakfast with a girlfriend and ate a nice breakfast and 4 cups of coffee, and of course feel yukky again from that. I don't know why I'm going on and on about this; it is really nothing. But I got so used to feeling GOOD while I was on taxol or on Doxil, and so this yukky feeling I'd forgotten about from my long-ago carbo/taxol days caught me by surprise. I'm hoping it's just for a few days after treatment and I'll be my old lively self again any day now.
Sorry for the pity party. But in the spirit of full disclosure, I couldn't let you all think I was super woman, oblivious to any adverse chemo affects! HA!0 -
{{{Linda}}}}lindaprocopio said:Thank you all so much, so much more than you could know.
I appreciate all the encouraging words; they truly help. I may have bragged too soon about feeling great after the carbo infusion. I DID feel great the day after my infusion, probaby due to the pre-chemo meds. But this weekend and today I feel kinda crappy,...no pain or real nausea, but just that icky feeling like you get when your sinuses have been draining down the back of your throat for weeks or you're just 'off your game' with a general physical malaise you can't put a finger on. I don't have diahrea & I'm not constipated, & I've been eating faithfully but without my normal robust appetite, more 'forced feedings'. I tried a Prilocet (sp? OTC heartburn med) on Saturday hoping that would help in case it was stomach acid since I burped a few times. Didn't help. Yesterday I tried one of the anti-nausea pills they prescribed, that I've never taken in the 2 years I've been in treatment. Didn't help. Today I went out to breakfast with a girlfriend and ate a nice breakfast and 4 cups of coffee, and of course feel yukky again from that. I don't know why I'm going on and on about this; it is really nothing. But I got so used to feeling GOOD while I was on taxol or on Doxil, and so this yukky feeling I'd forgotten about from my long-ago carbo/taxol days caught me by surprise. I'm hoping it's just for a few days after treatment and I'll be my old lively self again any day now.
Sorry for the pity party. But in the spirit of full disclosure, I couldn't let you all think I was super woman, oblivious to any adverse chemo affects! HA!
So sorry you
{{{Linda}}}}
So sorry you are feeling yucky. It must be like how you feel when you are about to get a cold but don't. It's a feeling you just can't pinpoint. However, I know you are a real trooper and this too will pass. Hey, this is a great place to vent. You listen and help everyone here so we too can help you! So vent away!
Hopefully, it will be like you said, only a few days after treatment and then you will be yourself again.
Hang in there!
Kathy0 -
Linda hope the "yucky" feeling leaves soonlindaprocopio said:Thank you all so much, so much more than you could know.
I appreciate all the encouraging words; they truly help. I may have bragged too soon about feeling great after the carbo infusion. I DID feel great the day after my infusion, probaby due to the pre-chemo meds. But this weekend and today I feel kinda crappy,...no pain or real nausea, but just that icky feeling like you get when your sinuses have been draining down the back of your throat for weeks or you're just 'off your game' with a general physical malaise you can't put a finger on. I don't have diahrea & I'm not constipated, & I've been eating faithfully but without my normal robust appetite, more 'forced feedings'. I tried a Prilocet (sp? OTC heartburn med) on Saturday hoping that would help in case it was stomach acid since I burped a few times. Didn't help. Yesterday I tried one of the anti-nausea pills they prescribed, that I've never taken in the 2 years I've been in treatment. Didn't help. Today I went out to breakfast with a girlfriend and ate a nice breakfast and 4 cups of coffee, and of course feel yukky again from that. I don't know why I'm going on and on about this; it is really nothing. But I got so used to feeling GOOD while I was on taxol or on Doxil, and so this yukky feeling I'd forgotten about from my long-ago carbo/taxol days caught me by surprise. I'm hoping it's just for a few days after treatment and I'll be my old lively self again any day now.
Sorry for the pity party. But in the spirit of full disclosure, I couldn't let you all think I was super woman, oblivious to any adverse chemo affects! HA!
Sorry you are not feeling your best. Hope this feeling does not last long. I am sure you have a very long "to do list". I hope you can start working on that list very soon. You are a "super woman" to us. In peace and caring.0 -
Oh myRo10 said:Linda hope the "yucky" feeling leaves soon
Sorry you are not feeling your best. Hope this feeling does not last long. I am sure you have a very long "to do list". I hope you can start working on that list very soon. You are a "super woman" to us. In peace and caring.
Linda and Sharon-
You're both in the forefront of my prayers. I hope you both have good results with treatments for your recurrences. I'll be standing by for reports.
Suzanne0 -
LindaDouble Whammy said:Oh my
Linda and Sharon-
You're both in the forefront of my prayers. I hope you both have good results with treatments for your recurrences. I'll be standing by for reports.
Suzanne
I am so sorry for your latest health update about the liver mets. As others gave said in these posts, you are an inspiration for all of us. In October, I finished 4 rounds of carbo/taxol for my UPSC and I always felt OK the first few days after chemo. It was the 4th and 5th days where I felt the worst. Hopefully, you are already starting to feel better. I hope you and all our fellow warriors here have a wonderful holiday surrounded by loving family and friends.0 -
Linda - You certainly are super LOVED womanlindaprocopio said:Thank you all so much, so much more than you could know.
I appreciate all the encouraging words; they truly help. I may have bragged too soon about feeling great after the carbo infusion. I DID feel great the day after my infusion, probaby due to the pre-chemo meds. But this weekend and today I feel kinda crappy,...no pain or real nausea, but just that icky feeling like you get when your sinuses have been draining down the back of your throat for weeks or you're just 'off your game' with a general physical malaise you can't put a finger on. I don't have diahrea & I'm not constipated, & I've been eating faithfully but without my normal robust appetite, more 'forced feedings'. I tried a Prilocet (sp? OTC heartburn med) on Saturday hoping that would help in case it was stomach acid since I burped a few times. Didn't help. Yesterday I tried one of the anti-nausea pills they prescribed, that I've never taken in the 2 years I've been in treatment. Didn't help. Today I went out to breakfast with a girlfriend and ate a nice breakfast and 4 cups of coffee, and of course feel yukky again from that. I don't know why I'm going on and on about this; it is really nothing. But I got so used to feeling GOOD while I was on taxol or on Doxil, and so this yukky feeling I'd forgotten about from my long-ago carbo/taxol days caught me by surprise. I'm hoping it's just for a few days after treatment and I'll be my old lively self again any day now.
Sorry for the pity party. But in the spirit of full disclosure, I couldn't let you all think I was super woman, oblivious to any adverse chemo affects! HA!
I am happy to see that you are still coping so well in spite of your fatigue. It’s nice to know that you have such a great and extensive support team on the home front. You know how cherished you are here! Of course it is very disheartening to find that some chemo treatments have not done what all of us had hoped for you. It’s so good to hear that you are once again able to team up with “good ol’ carbo”! Let’s hope that it quickly gets to work bringing that pesky CA125 down and shrinking those spots to nothing!
As you may recall, I received carbo/Taxol in 2009. Due to the combo, I have no way of knowing which side effects would have been attributed to which chemical. The first couple of days I mainly dealt with diarrhea and exhaustion. The next few days the exhaustion continued (diarrhea abated and was gone by the end of the week) and the additional symptoms of deep bone pain in my arms and legs with the feeling of large weights strapped around my legs began. The extreme fatigue and pain lasted until a day or two prior to the end of the 3 weeks signaling the next round of chemo.
By the end of my very first week of chemo treatment I noticed “chemo brain”. Never having heard that term before or knowing even about the possibility, I thought I was going a bit crazy. I couldn’t remember any new information. I felt like I had fallen down Alice’s rabbit hole and was still in free-fall. I tried to attribute it to fatigue, but I had never in my life experienced such acute memory problems, even when I had missed several nights of sleep or was under a lot of stress. I just could not “figure anything out” or make decisions. I was unable to prioritize. At work (and at home, too) I was accustomed to making many important decisions every day and to deciding who needed to do what and to set deadlines. Now I could do none of those things. It was very, very frightening.
I was very fortunate all during chemo that although my blood labs showed steady erosion away from “healthy” numbers, they stayed OK enough that I needed no supplemental therapy such as transfusions or shots. By the last round of chemo my important blood counts were all just barely out of the desired range – good enough for one last round of chemo, but not good enough for a subsequent round.
By the third round of chemo I really started to notice the effects of peripheral neuropathy in my fingers and toes. I had to lift a cup of coffee with 2 hands rather than with one hand holding the handle. I often was unable to turn a key in a lock, etc. Writing with a pen or pencil was difficult. My gait was unsteady, so I walked much more slowly and deliberately with a wider stance in order to prevent falling. The peripheral neuropathy symptoms PEAKED a few months after chemo ended.
Now the neuropathy symptoms are gone, but some of the “chemo brain” persists. Although the extreme fatigue is gone, my stamina remains far short of my former energy level. If I did not have to go to work, I am quite certain I would take a nap every afternoon. As it is, I go to work late and come home early. Essentially I only work a few hours each day. My work is much harder for me than before any chemo and mentally exhausts me. I reach a point every day where I feel I can take in no more information. I find I can no longer work on several projects at the same time but must concentrate on only one thing at a time. At home I still pretty much limit myself to preparing one pot meals. I try to make lists, but it’s still hard for me to remember I have a list and should refer to it.
Thanks so much for keeping us posted on how you are doing. I always watch four your comments. And thanks again for all the combing of the internet and postings of new studies.
Big cyber hugs from Sally
P.S. Sorry for the long saga!0 -
Good tidings to you!lindaprocopio said:Thank you all so much, so much more than you could know.
I appreciate all the encouraging words; they truly help. I may have bragged too soon about feeling great after the carbo infusion. I DID feel great the day after my infusion, probaby due to the pre-chemo meds. But this weekend and today I feel kinda crappy,...no pain or real nausea, but just that icky feeling like you get when your sinuses have been draining down the back of your throat for weeks or you're just 'off your game' with a general physical malaise you can't put a finger on. I don't have diahrea & I'm not constipated, & I've been eating faithfully but without my normal robust appetite, more 'forced feedings'. I tried a Prilocet (sp? OTC heartburn med) on Saturday hoping that would help in case it was stomach acid since I burped a few times. Didn't help. Yesterday I tried one of the anti-nausea pills they prescribed, that I've never taken in the 2 years I've been in treatment. Didn't help. Today I went out to breakfast with a girlfriend and ate a nice breakfast and 4 cups of coffee, and of course feel yukky again from that. I don't know why I'm going on and on about this; it is really nothing. But I got so used to feeling GOOD while I was on taxol or on Doxil, and so this yukky feeling I'd forgotten about from my long-ago carbo/taxol days caught me by surprise. I'm hoping it's just for a few days after treatment and I'll be my old lively self again any day now.
Sorry for the pity party. But in the spirit of full disclosure, I couldn't let you all think I was super woman, oblivious to any adverse chemo affects! HA!
Linda,
Yes that pre chemo steroid and other meds gives one a good day and then that day 2 "feeling". Keeping you in my prayers...you are suh an inspiration to all of us in the sisterhood. Enjoy your family and friends in this most blessed season.
Blessings and hugs!
Lori0
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