Chemo sucks

Kazenmax

It sucks in so many ways. Yesterday I was to have my 4th treatment and my WBC was 1.8 so I have to wait a week. It sucks because on the one hand, I'm happy to have a break. On the other hand, it makes my 12 treatments even longer.

I've developed sores in the worse places... ugh. My fatigue is overwhelming some days. Nausea... out of 2 weeks I think I have 2 days where I feel ok.

Since I'm on the two week schedule I can't get Neulasta (doc says that's a 3 week thing).

Just trying to get through it. Needed to whine a little. I know you all are at different stages of this awful thing. I wish you all the best. just wanted to say chemo sucks!

k

 

 

SandiaBuddy

No doubt

People who have not been through it really don't understand.  Chemo assaults both your health and human dignity in so many ways.  I hear you.  Perhaps the short break will give you a taste of a more normal life.  Sorry you are going through this.

sflgirl

Low blood count

I got Neupogen, not Neulasta.  I got it once a week before chemo, I was on the two week infusion  schedule.  However one week I was low and they wouldn’t infuse that day.  But they did give me a Neulasta injection,  it works quickly.  I was able to go back the next day and continue with chemo.  You might ask your doc about that, it could keep you on schedule to the finish line!

 

My Best to you.

Kazenmax

SandiaBuddy said:

No doubt

People who have not been through it really don't understand.  Chemo assaults both your health and human dignity in so many ways.  I hear you.  Perhaps the short break will give you a taste of a more normal life.  Sorry you are going through this.

Thanks. We all are at various

Thanks. We all are at various points of the struggle. It's good to be able to lean on others.

 

Kazenmax

sflgirl said:

Low blood count

I got Neupogen, not Neulasta.  I got it once a week before chemo, I was on the two week infusion  schedule.  However one week I was low and they wouldn’t infuse that day.  But they did give me a Neulasta injection,  it works quickly.  I was able to go back the next day and continue with chemo.  You might ask your doc about that, it could keep you on schedule to the finish line!

 

My Best to you.

Thanks. I will definitely ask

Thanks. I will definitely ask my doctor

plsletitrain

I hear you

I was out of my 1st treatment yesterday on this new phase (after removal of the lung met) and I told myself I'm not going beyond 6.  It feels like a child who was about to go visit a dentist, if there's any way I could escape it I would.  I don't like the feeling of having the infusion, it takes too long.  I sometimes have to literally bring my feet forward just to move and walk.  I would go for my 12th infusion in 2 weeks and I'm not looking forward to it but I've got no choice.  We're in this together.  Let's do this.

Woodytele

Neulasta

I was on the two week schedule for the first 12 treatments, AND had a Neulasta shot after each one.  This prevents low WBC, and keeps you on schedule.  Not sure why your Doc says it’s a three week thing.  I still get the Neulasta shot every three weeks now after my infusion. 

lizard44

Neulasta vs Neupogen

Kazenmax, do ask your oncologist about Neupogen. I'm currently on a regimen of FOLFOX plus Avastin every other week and am scheduled to receive 12  treatments.  My WBC  count dropped to 2.8 after the first treatment and I just got the third of three Neupogen shots yesterday.  Hopefully they will  bring the count up enough to get  the second chemo treatment on Thursday. The same problem occured when I  had Folfox plus Avastin the first time back in 2015,  requiring 17 Neupogen shots in all, but I was ale to complete 8 chemo treatments.  I found this article which explains the differences  between Neupogen and Neulasta:https://www.verywellhealth.com/neulasta-vs-neupogen-for-chemotherapy-treatment-430223

Grace/lizard44

Kazenmax

lizard44 said:

Neulasta vs Neupogen

Kazenmax, do ask your oncologist about Neupogen. I'm currently on a regimen of FOLFOX plus Avastin every other week and am scheduled to receive 12  treatments.  My WBC  count dropped to 2.8 after the first treatment and I just got the third of three Neupogen shots yesterday.  Hopefully they will  bring the count up enough to get  the second chemo treatment on Thursday. The same problem occured when I  had Folfox plus Avastin the first time back in 2015,  requiring 17 Neupogen shots in all, but I was ale to complete 8 chemo treatments.  I found this article which explains the differences  between Neupogen and Neulasta:https://www.verywellhealth.com/neulasta-vs-neupogen-for-chemotherapy-treatment-430223

Grace/lizard44

Thanks Grace

I will ask. I appreciate the information!

Ruthmomto4

I am sorry

i am only a caregiver but I do hope your counts come up so you can feel better! Your new picture threw me off I was used to the Eagles one being a NY Giant and a Patriots fan I like this much better

Annabelle41415

Yes it does

It's not only hard to deal with the reality of diagnosis but then the after math shocks us even more.  It's surprising what we will put up with, how hard we fight and how literally we let ourselves battle just to get better.  I'm thinking about you struggling but let your doctor know.  It's not a fight you should be having alone. 

Kim

mountainhiker

Neulasta

Hey Kazenmax,

You're absolutely correct - chemo sucks in so many ways!  I too had low WBC after the first round of chemo and was on Neulasta for the remainder of treatment which did the trick.  In fact, it can do too good of a job.  I once had labs done 3 days after an injection and my WBC was 32.5

My chemo cycle was a 5 week deal.  Week 1 - HAI pump chemo, week 3 - systemic, week 5 - systemic, one week later rince and repeat.  So my systemic chemo treatments were two weeks apart between weeks 3 and 5, and three weeks apart between weeks 5 and 3.  I received the Neulasta shot after each 5FU bottle disconnect (actually disconnected myself at home and gave myself the shot).  Not sure why your doc is saying it's only a three week shot.

mountainhiker

PS. I live not too far from Philly and my son loves all things Philly sports.  Go Eagles!

Kazenmax

Another low WBC

I just got back from my oncologist. My WBC is still 1.8. He said that it appears that I can't tolerate the current chemo and he would look into another option. I asked about both shots and he said that he thought I would be better without the shots. Evidently my platelets are in fine shape and all the other blood work looked good. He sent me over for a CT scan. He said he wanted to see how things were. I had no other evidence of cancer when I had my lung surgery. Now I'm hoping to get a clear scan. Maybe he's thinking about watchful waiting. i don't know...

Not sure what to think. But ultimately I have to wait another week to see what will happen. In the meantime he told me to eat well, drink lots of water, and get plenty of rest.

k

Ruthmomto4

Kazenmax said:

Another low WBC

I just got back from my oncologist. My WBC is still 1.8. He said that it appears that I can't tolerate the current chemo and he would look into another option. I asked about both shots and he said that he thought I would be better without the shots. Evidently my platelets are in fine shape and all the other blood work looked good. He sent me over for a CT scan. He said he wanted to see how things were. I had no other evidence of cancer when I had my lung surgery. Now I'm hoping to get a clear scan. Maybe he's thinking about watchful waiting. i don't know...

Not sure what to think. But ultimately I have to wait another week to see what will happen. In the meantime he told me to eat well, drink lots of water, and get plenty of rest.

k

I hope the scan is good

And maybe you don’t need anymore chemo. It’s goid the other tests were good a lot of times all levels go low. So rest like he said, and hopefully things improve soon.

plsletitrain

Hi K

I believe we're on the same boat.  I too had clean scans except for that one lung met that was removed via VATS wedge surgery.  I am now doing mop-up chemo (folfox) but I only intend 6, I don't think I can muster the 12.  I've also had all sorts of pain in the breast area and I'm hoping this is just one of those surgery effects and not something else.  I go for my 2nd infusion next week and I hope my bloodwork is fine.

Here's to hoping your bloodcount improves and for clean scans.  

Kazenmax

Ruthmomto4 said:

I hope the scan is good

And maybe you don’t need anymore chemo. It’s goid the other tests were good a lot of times all levels go low. So rest like he said, and hopefully things improve soon.

From your mouth to God's ear!

From your mouth to God's ear! I'm hoping for no chemo or at least a break. Right after surgery my WBC was 3.2. maybe I just need a break! I have scanxiety waiting for results. Trying to think all will be good.

Kazenmax

plsletitrain said:

Hi K

I believe we're on the same boat.  I too had clean scans except for that one lung met that was removed via VATS wedge surgery.  I am now doing mop-up chemo (folfox) but I only intend 6, I don't think I can muster the 12.  I've also had all sorts of pain in the breast area and I'm hoping this is just one of those surgery effects and not something else.  I go for my 2nd infusion next week and I hope my bloodwork is fine.

Here's to hoping your bloodcount improves and for clean scans.  

So your doctor also

So your doctor also recommended 12 treatments? It just seems like so much. Especially since there was no other cancer any Place else. I finally came to terms with the fact that I have to do chemo and I was ready to do 12 for a cute. And now my body betrayed me and I can't. There anxiety in stopping chemo as well. Just a rough situation.

Good luck to you

K

AFBDVM

chemo sucks

People only see you from the outside.  So when you don't lose your hair, they think you're fine.  They have no clue what's happening on the INSIDE, physically and emotionally!

 

Kazenmax

AFBDVM said:

chemo sucks

People only see you from the outside.  So when you don't lose your hair, they think you're fine.  They have no clue what's happening on the INSIDE, physically and emotionally!

 

That's the truth

My family all day how good I look as if surprised. And that's as much as they will say. Don't want to discuss the details of chemo and side effects. It becomes a burden to say, oh I'm doing good, when all I want to do is cry on someone's shoulder.

K

Annabelle41415

AFBDVM said:

chemo sucks

People only see you from the outside.  So when you don't lose your hair, they think you're fine.  They have no clue what's happening on the INSIDE, physically and emotionally!

 

You look normal

Even my brother told me that.  You might look normal, like you say, but you don't feel normal.  Some days you just want to crawl into a hole and other days you pretend that you are normal.

Kim

pcmeiners

Scannxiety

"Scannxiety " a new word. Yes waiting for scan results can be scary,  just had a CT a few weeks back, got the result late last week, CT and blood work looks good.  I am surprised I got more worked up then normal about this last CT.

"So your doctor also recommended 12 treatments? It just seems like so much. Especially since there was no other cancer any Place else. I finally came to terms with the fact that I have to do chemo and I was ready to do 12 for a cut"

Same here, 12 cycles of 2 weeks, just finished. If the doctor recommends, do it, you will make it, possibly with some delays. I had completed 6 cycles, had surgery, had really bad anemia, healed for a month then did another 6 cycles... I graduated from Chemo late in May

Make sure you get blood work, checking for vitamin/mineral deficiencies, my anemia in part was caused by bottomed out B , D vitamins, and iron due to chemo....wow anemia sucks big time.

As to dealing with people on the subject of cancer/chemo I was able to go 2 years without telling anyone, that avoided a lot of conversations about my cancer or the chemo effects. In the last year it became impossible not to tell people. The subject comes up as it deals with human curiosity, and human nature's fear of death. Knowing that, it does not bother me when people ask questions or make comments. One thing does bother me, a couple of people gave me the "goodbye handshake",  like I have 2 weeks left to live...(I do not plan on dying anywhere in the near future)

As far as the sadness, sometimes it is just good to cry for while. Personally I got to the point where I refuse to dwell on the situation, I have done everything I can . I have just accepted that I can not change what will be.

Ps  If you get mouth sores, there is a mouth wash called "First" which has lidocaine in it, by prescription only. It will allow you to take care of your teeth and or eat without pain. It does not make food taste good as chemo makes that impossible.