Update on Keith's Chemo Plan (Boston67)

Boston67

Hi,

Here is a report to my family and friends on my meeting yesterday (January 24) with m,y Oncologist (Dr. Kimmie Ng) and my tube feeding surgeon on the chemo plan which begins on February 2.

Report January 24, 2010
Greetings,

Today was a milestone day and marks the beginning of my Treatment phase.

With me at the meeting were Natthana, Erica, Margaret and Nancy and I needed them all both for the meeting and the follow-up needed.

I reviewed with My Oncology DR. (Dr. Kimmie Ng,) how I was feeling and some issues.

I have been feeling a little full in my stomach, perhaps nausea, and we will focus on this. A meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday with my new Dana Farber nutritionist to minimize the hours I need to be on the tube and still get the nutrition I need. This should allow me to begin eating through my mouth and get my digestive system working more regularly. It’s still not quite right but I am confident it will be soon. I am no longer taking stool softener or laxatives and may begin to reintroduce them as needed. Everything is working, but just not smoothly enough. I used the travel nap sack for most of the day (first time) and that went well.

My pain management program needed improvement and we have doubled the Fentaynl patch. I will move away from both Oxycondon and Tylenol. It is too soon to tell yet, but my brain says to me this was the right thing to do and suggests to me now that it seems to be working.

I will begin a regimen of Chemotherapy on February 2, in about one week. I will present myself at Dana Farber that morning; have a series of tests and then an infusion of at least Oxailiplatin. The infusion takes about two hours. I will then be given a pump to take home and use 24 hours a day for two additional days. That will include Fluorouracil (5-FU0, leucovorin, and perhaps Oxailiplatin).

I am told that the pump will infuse the chemicals into my body for a total of three days, and that I may have side effects for two to three days. At the end of a two week cycle we begin again with new infusions and pumps. I will have a total of 4 cycles, each two weeks in length and each with about three days of Chemotherapy.

I will have a CT scan at the beginning and end of this eight week cycle.

I am told to expect side effects, loss of energy, and lessened disease fighting capacity. I should avoid anyone who is ill and will susceptible to those with diseases like the flue. I have warned to wear masks when greeting others and will ask the seme from them please for germs during this cycle.

Love, Keith

cjmac49

Chemo
Keith,

Hopefully you will get through the sessions of chemo with minimum side effects and maximum benefit.

Jim

Unknown

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ms

Knowledge is power
Thanks for your detailed sharing. The information is so valuable and only possible in a format like this one. Best wishes.

sandy1943

Hi Keith,
It's good to get
Hi Keith,
It's good to get treatment started. Everyone reacts differently to chemo. The 5 FU caused my biggest problems by making my counts drop. I would end up having to have it removed while I took the shots to build the counts back up. Because of this I had to take an extra round of all my chemo. The pump became so much a part of me, I felt like something was missing when I quit using it.
It's good to have such a good support team. Make sure and get copys of all your blood work each time. It helps to know what is going on.
You have to stay away from germs as much as possible. Keep your hand from touching doorknobs, bathroom sinks,shopping carts, other peoples hands---Everything. I used the hand sanitizers constantly.
One of the hardest things was staying away from the grandchildren when my counts were down, and this was quite a lot.
Praying for you to have a lot of good things coming, as you fight this beast!
SANDRA

Tina Blondek

Hey Keith
Thank for your
Hey Keith
Thank for your update. We will be thinking of you and praying for you as your treatment plan starts.
Keep us up to date as things go.
Tina in Va

Donna70

Tina Blondek said:

Hey Keith
Thank for your
Hey Keith
Thank for your update. We will be thinking of you and praying for you as your treatment plan starts.
Keep us up to date as things go.
Tina in Va

good update
Hi Keith,
Will be praying all goes well for you and so happy you are starting the chemo now. This is not medical advice but just something that helped me with the terrible mouth sores from chemo. My drs gave me liquid Acyclovir and it helped so much, I did not get them again for the rest of the preop chemo or post op chemo. If you get them they can be a bugger and interfere with the quality of life. But hoping you will go thru these treatments smoothly and knock back the cancer. It is good you are so careful and aware of everything that is going on and your family helping you too. Sometimes it is overwhelming with all the info you are inudated with and you can forget important things the drs tell you. I found the nurses at infusion center have a wealth of knowledge and experience that can really help. Good luck, prayers coming!!
Donna70

Boston67

cjmac49 said:

Chemo
Keith,

Hopefully you will get through the sessions of chemo with minimum side effects and maximum benefit.

Jim

Thanks
Thanks Jim

Boston67

unknown said:

This comment has been removed by the Moderator

Thank you
Hi,

Thanks for the useful tips and advice.

Keith

Boston67

ms said:

Knowledge is power
Thanks for your detailed sharing. The information is so valuable and only possible in a format like this one. Best wishes.

Get more then I give
Hi,

Thank you.

I get far more then I give on this site. And the most valuable thing I get is hope.

I try to share what I learn about myself and my situation. It isn't much, but it's stuff I had no idea about until my time came.

Keith

Boston67

Donna70 said:

good update
Hi Keith,
Will be praying all goes well for you and so happy you are starting the chemo now. This is not medical advice but just something that helped me with the terrible mouth sores from chemo. My drs gave me liquid Acyclovir and it helped so much, I did not get them again for the rest of the preop chemo or post op chemo. If you get them they can be a bugger and interfere with the quality of life. But hoping you will go thru these treatments smoothly and knock back the cancer. It is good you are so careful and aware of everything that is going on and your family helping you too. Sometimes it is overwhelming with all the info you are inudated with and you can forget important things the drs tell you. I found the nurses at infusion center have a wealth of knowledge and experience that can really help. Good luck, prayers coming!!
Donna70

Great, and Thanks
Hi,

Thanks for sharing you experience. I am staring my study of moth soars and nausea tomorrow and start with the many ideas in response to my past. Thank you so much.

Keith

Unknown

Boston67 said:

Great, and Thanks
Hi,

Thanks for sharing you experience. I am staring my study of moth soars and nausea tomorrow and start with the many ideas in response to my past. Thank you so much.

Keith

This comment has been removed by the Moderator