Please tell me your experience with r-chop!

curryh
curryh Member Posts: 13
in Lymphoma (Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin) #1
I am going to be starting r-chop soon and I am really wanting to hear how it was for everyone. If you have had r-chop please take the time to tell me your experience...

Comments

  • vinny59
    vinny59 Member Posts: 1,036 Member
    #2
    hi
    Hi, this treatment is different for everyone, you are going to have some up and downs, the first treatment in my opinion is the worst, because it takes the longest. Make sure to rest a lot. I never did lose my appetite, but I did lose all my hair. I had a couple times were I had a fever, but I never had to go to the hospital. Bring a IPOD and listen to some music that helped me with passing the time......... stay positive it really does help! good luck, remember it will be over quicker then you think!!!!! Vinny
  • COBRA666
    COBRA666 Member Posts: 2,401 Member
    #3
    R-CHOP
    Curry,
    I did not have R-CHOP,but I did have R-CVP. My understanding is the chop is a little harser than the cvp. CVP was no fun,but the effects are very similiar . You will have days of extreme tiredness,especially as the treatments progress. The chemo will build up in your body from treatment to treatment. We all react differently no matter which chemo we take,but the tiredness is the usual after effect of both chemos.You will do fine. Keep us informed of your progress and schedule.We are here for you. John(FNHL-1-4A-5/10)
  • homegirl
    homegirl Member Posts: 15
    #4
    r-chop
    Hi! I just started r-chop Monday. I know everyones experiences are different but for me it was not as bad as I anticipated. The first day I did have slight reaction to the ritixan, scratchy throat, runny nose, sinus pressure, so it ended up taking 5 hours and I had to return Tuesday to receive the rest of my treatment. I have not had a bit of naseau! Little trouble sleeping, but got some sleeping pills. Today is the last day for my preds, so don't know what I will be feeling in couple days. Do not return to the doctor until Monday to check blood work. Actually feel pretty good. Don't even feel fatigued, but I had been feeling really well before I started treatment. My large node under my arm has shrunk. Hope this helps relieve some of your concerns. How soon are you to start your treatment? I will be happy to hear how you are doing when you get started.
    Martha
  • xlconsult
    xlconsult Member Posts: 18
    #5
    CHOP
    Hi Curry,
    I had R-COP (same as R-CVP) in 2008. The 1st day will be pretty long as the infusion rate will be very slow especially for R. They monitor your BP and temperature every 10-15 minutes to ensure that there are no side effects. I had a smooth infusion for all the 6 cycles and had only tiredness especially towards 5th & 6 cycle. No nausea, or loss of hair (anyway I do not have much!), except little constipation that will go away with some Metmucil.
    However it will be different for different people. Take care and avoid public places and too many visitors to avoid infection.

    Good luck,
    Hari
  • JacquieK
    JacquieK Member Posts: 14
    #6
    R-Chop
    Hi Curryh,

    My best advice is to not worry too much! The first 4 treatments were not too bad. You may have an adverse reaction during the first treatment (I did), but the nurse was right there immediately to deal with it. The last 2 are rough. It is a long day, so bring something to do and someone who can make you smile and keep you occupied while your there. It will probably make your hair fall out (I have yet to meet anyone who was spared this problem on r-chop, so be prepared for this - I know it's almost impossible to prepare for). I made it through the surgery (my tumor was on my heart), chemo and radiation and am now almost 2 months in remission. You can do this and know that you are NEVER alone!
  • Sinatra
    Sinatra Member Posts: 5
    #7
    Hi, I completed 6 1/2 r-chop
    Hi, I completed 6 1/2 r-chop treatments 5 weeks ago due to Large B cell lymphoma. The first was 1/2 because they did not think I could tolerate the treatment based on the aggressive nature of the cell splitting (called blast crisis). The only side affects were chills the week following, but no nausea, night sweats, or loss of appetite. Initially in the hospital after the 1/2 I had NO appetite and felt really bad but my kidneys were also compromised and I went through dialysis with that. Over the next 4 months (one treatment every 3 weeks) my appetite was off the chart and I exercised every day. I never took any pain medication of anti nausea meds. Sleep had always been a problem for me and this made it worse so that was an issue.
  • curryh
    curryh Member Posts: 13
    #8
    Sinatra said:

    Hi, I completed 6 1/2 r-chop
    Hi, I completed 6 1/2 r-chop treatments 5 weeks ago due to Large B cell lymphoma. The first was 1/2 because they did not think I could tolerate the treatment based on the aggressive nature of the cell splitting (called blast crisis). The only side affects were chills the week following, but no nausea, night sweats, or loss of appetite. Initially in the hospital after the 1/2 I had NO appetite and felt really bad but my kidneys were also compromised and I went through dialysis with that. Over the next 4 months (one treatment every 3 weeks) my appetite was off the chart and I exercised every day. I never took any pain medication of anti nausea meds. Sleep had always been a problem for me and this made it worse so that was an issue.

    Thank you all for commenting
    Thank you all for commenting i know all of you have been in my position at some point, scared and not wanting to go through this at all. I am only 25 years old with a 12 month old son that i love so much and i just fear that i will be to sick to work and spend time with him. I am glad you guys are so caring and share your experiances with me I think it helps me out knowing when people didnt have crazy experiances and it something that I can handle. Thanks again for taking time to comment it means a lot to me. I hope all of you are doing well and beat cancer with no problems!
  • JoanieP
    JoanieP Member Posts: 573
    #9
    RCHOP
    Hi I did very well with it. I did not get sick. I was weaker as the treatments were at the 5th and 6th round. It has been two years this month that I had this chemo and I feel great. I was diagnosed in Jan 2009, had chemo in March and was cancer free in June and I am still. I feel very blessed. I wish that for you also.
  • homegirl
    homegirl Member Posts: 15
    #10
    homegirl said:

    r-chop
    Hi! I just started r-chop Monday. I know everyones experiences are different but for me it was not as bad as I anticipated. The first day I did have slight reaction to the ritixan, scratchy throat, runny nose, sinus pressure, so it ended up taking 5 hours and I had to return Tuesday to receive the rest of my treatment. I have not had a bit of naseau! Little trouble sleeping, but got some sleeping pills. Today is the last day for my preds, so don't know what I will be feeling in couple days. Do not return to the doctor until Monday to check blood work. Actually feel pretty good. Don't even feel fatigued, but I had been feeling really well before I started treatment. My large node under my arm has shrunk. Hope this helps relieve some of your concerns. How soon are you to start your treatment? I will be happy to hear how you are doing when you get started.
    Martha

    Update
    Just wanted to update how I was doing. Like I said I had treatment Mon and Tues. Had a great week, no sickness, just lack of sleep. Friday was the last day of preds. Went grocery shopping, and even Saturday night was uneventful, other than mild constipation. Well then Sunday, I hit the perferbable brick Wall!! Total wipeout! Entire Sunday on the couch, mostly in a fog. Just kind of felt like I was recouping from the flu, not sick just feeling like crap! No appetite, achiness, pull the covers over your head feeling. Monday had doctors appointment, had to have my daughter take me. Took a couple Tylenol before and time I got there was feeling pretty chipper! Doc says I am doing good. Printers down so couldnt get copy of blood count but RBC was 4.96, (all I remember) see him in two weeks for second treatment. Largest node has shrunk considerably, not gone completely. Went home and crashed again!! Slept the afternoon. Sleeping pill and slept the night. Anyway today I am feeling like a new woman!! or atleast a heck of a lot better! Hopefully each day gets better and I can do this!!!
    Martha
  • allmost60
    allmost60 Member Posts: 3,178 Member
    #11
    homegirl said:

    Update
    Just wanted to update how I was doing. Like I said I had treatment Mon and Tues. Had a great week, no sickness, just lack of sleep. Friday was the last day of preds. Went grocery shopping, and even Saturday night was uneventful, other than mild constipation. Well then Sunday, I hit the perferbable brick Wall!! Total wipeout! Entire Sunday on the couch, mostly in a fog. Just kind of felt like I was recouping from the flu, not sick just feeling like crap! No appetite, achiness, pull the covers over your head feeling. Monday had doctors appointment, had to have my daughter take me. Took a couple Tylenol before and time I got there was feeling pretty chipper! Doc says I am doing good. Printers down so couldnt get copy of blood count but RBC was 4.96, (all I remember) see him in two weeks for second treatment. Largest node has shrunk considerably, not gone completely. Went home and crashed again!! Slept the afternoon. Sleeping pill and slept the night. Anyway today I am feeling like a new woman!! or atleast a heck of a lot better! Hopefully each day gets better and I can do this!!!
    Martha

    Update
    Hi Martha,
    As I read your post I remembered back to my first week after having round one of chemo. What you experienced was almost identical to my experience...especially the few days after ending the prednisone. I also felt wiped out, achey and in a fog. As with you, after a few days of finally getting some good sleep under my belt, life sort of took on a somewhat normal feel again. The fatigue still lingered, but was totally do-able, as long as I paced myself and rested when my body told me too. I had my treatments every 21 days, and if memory serves me right, I would get about 6 days out of the 21, feeling pretty good, but then it would be time to get another treatment and start the whole crazy process all over again. The prednisone was a real bugger for me! It disrupted my sleep something awful. Even with taking a sleep aid/antianxiety med(Zanax .05 mg), the most I could get was "maybe" 2 to 4 hours of sleep a night. 4 hours was a stretch, which didn't happen often. Even taking the Zanax, I still experienced high anxiety, shotness of breath and irritability from the pred My doctor finally told me to take 2 Zanax...1 pill in the late afternoon and again at bedtime. The higher dose was only done during the 5 days of pred. Increasing the Zanax dose did help, but only slightly. I was told the reason Pednisone is used in our chemo protocols, is to keep our organs from swelling. Without it, we would hurt from the inside out and feel much worse. So...once I knew the facts of why the prednisone had to be taken, I slowly learned to quit fighting it so much....well truthfully,I just bit the bulet and endured those awful 5 days. Hubby HATED the pred days..ha! I know we all re-act different with our chemo's, but I think maybe my body just couldn't tolerate the pred as well as others. Anyways...I am so very happy your first round has gone as well as it has. Just remember...as treatments continue and as the chemo accumulates in your body, the fatigue will increase. Just listen to your body and rest, rest, rest. My worst days would happen when I ignored what my body was telling me to do. Hang in there and keep us informed with how you are doing. Best wishes...Sue (FNHL-2-3a-6/10)

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