had my first chemo (gemzar and carbo) for first recurrence today

maggie_wilson said:

hi ro
good to hear from you. yes, this fanny pack keeps me happy; when they remove it on monday, i tend to sink, but that was last time, and this is a new day i'm thinking.

i get the fanny pack with each treatment, thank goodness, for about 4 days. less if i want, but why would i want less? no, i had the standard carbo/taxol first time around. this combo is less likely to give me neuropathy, which i still have some residual of in some toes and fingers, plus, added bonus, i might not even lose my hair. but believe me, i'm prepared this time if i do. got a wig that actually looks alot like my own hair and had the hairdresser cut the bangs and then spray it to take some of the artificial shine out and now will collect dust. kind of funny, but plan b in place. for some reason it's impossible to get human hair in curly gray, i think gray haired people who have enough hair to give, aren't doing so, and probably many don't have enough.

i'm guessing the hydration bag isn't standard. i bet if you wanted one and asked for it they'd give you one. you should have one automatically--it makes all the difference, and it's nothing to them--just a little saline, benydryl, ativan, etc. the pump in it does have an annoying little whining sound. but, geeze, i can live with that.

just don't know how this chemo is going to go. last time i was just following protocol, pretty much in shock. i'm not in shock anymore and know lots more, so i'm actually a little more worried re this one, but , i do trust my very up-to-date doctor, and this is the combo she chose. if for some reason it doesnt't work so well, there's plenty more. plus, after chemo, i'm extremely interested in high dose vitamin C iv. i've been checking out the ovarian cancer site and found some useful and important anecdotal information. commonweal,
the cancer retreat i want on in december just recommend the book " i have cancer, what should i do? " it's all about vitamin c in layperson's terms, and says what studies have actually been done. i know in the bay area and elsewhere, there is renewed interest in this. so, that's my next step after chemo. i'm not going to sit around and wait for my next recurrence without doing something myself.

how are you holding up on your chemo regimen? gee, ro, sure wish you could have had the hydration bag, would have made you feel so much better. since we both started chemo this month, for our first recurrence, right?, i feel allied with you in this, and am really eager to know how you are faring with each chemo. what is the regimen? i think i've already said mine is carbo/gemzar first friday, gemzar alone second friday, off the third, then start over again for 6 cycles, 12 infusions, 6 more than last time. all i can say, is thank goodness they've always given me a private room with a tv. makes it so much better.

i really do hope you're feeling better, ro. i loaded up last night on 2 stool softeners, 3 magnesium tablets that i take every night to help me sleep, but also have laxative effect, and two ducolax. success this morning, thank goodness. last time i was in the hospital for a week after my first treatment with a damn blockage. not this time!!

sorry this is so long, didn't mean it to be, but once i got talking to you, ro, i found i had a lot to say.

take care of yourself, and please, please keep us posted on how you're doing.

sisterhood, and hugs

maggie

Hey Maggie
You seem to be doing well. I think that fanny pack sounds great. I had such a hard time with chemo and that sounds like something I could well with carbo. I hope it goes well. It's hard to off of it; people don't understand. I think it's the drop in steroids that we miss. I've gained alot of weight and she told me it was from the steroids which affect the adrenal glands. I tried on dresses for the wedding yesterday (rehearsal dinner) and I look like crap! I'm having my dress for the wedding made. It will hide my power port (which looks like sci fi monster under my skin) and maybe the rear end.

Keep us in touch with your treatments. hugs and love over the airways.

Diane

upsofloating said:

Hi Maggie
I rechecked the
Hi Maggie
I rechecked the Gemzar prescribing, dosage and administration doc from Eli Lilly, maker of Gemzar, and 30 min infusion is recommended rate to minimize toxicity. Perhaps your longer infusion is the reason for your 'goody' bag to help ameliorate possible issues.

Here is link if you'd like to review:
http://pi.lilly.com/us/gemzar.pdf

Hope second infusion goes smoothly and counts are holding up!
Annie

Thanks for the update, Maggie
Glad to hear Chemo #1 is under your belt. Hope you continue to do well.

Suzanne