Post Surgery and Awaiting Chemotherapy

Bill Baker
Bill Baker Member Posts: 23
in Bladder Cancer #1
Hello All: I have been redirected to this board. I am reposting when I had put up on the Kidney discussion board so I apologize for the repetition. I would appreciate any suggestions.

Hello Everyone:

So I had my surgery on November 28th and d/c on December 6th. Open abdominal surgery-8.5 hours. I had transitional cell carcinoma of the right ureter and right kidney. Due to my Lynch Syndrome (Muir Torre Syndrome)and the subsequent potential risk to the other kidney, the surgeon hoped to save the kidney. After repeated biopsies during surgery with no clear margin could be made the decision was made to remove them both. Unfortunately, the tumor growth in the ureter has made it necessary to receive chemotherapy.

I have two questions:

1. does anyone here have any experience with the Chemo drugs Gemcitabine and Cisplatin? I would be interested in any thoughts/suggestions. I begin on January 6th.

2. also, does anyone have any recommended abdominal exercises? I have a 15 inch midline incision and will need to strengthen when able.

Thanks to all and my thoughts are with all of you!

Bill

Comments

  • wilsel
    wilsel Member Posts: 38
    #2
    Gem, Cis and Taxol....yep
    Hi Bill:

    This is Bill responding. I had both Gem and Cisplatin, as well as another chemo med called taxol during Sept., Oct and November 2010 for Bladder Cancer. Previous to the chemo they had removed my bladder and now I have a urostomy. I was staged at 3a with an aggressive tumor. The chemo was for 12 weeks and I tolerated it well. They gave me some anti nausea meds to take at home in the event that I started to get sick. Whenever I felt a little qeeszy, I took the meds and never actually got sick. They also gave me meds intravenously prior to each chemo treatment. I believe the most important thing is to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate before, during and after treatments with the cisplatin. My chemo cycle was 3 weeks, so I actually had 4- 3week cycles.

    Sorry to hear you're having the problems you are. I know it's very scarey to say the least. But, in my case in stopped all of my pain and gave me my life back. I wish you well and if there is something specific you want to ask, please don't hesitate.

    Take care,
    Bill
  • Bill Baker
    Bill Baker Member Posts: 23
    #3
    wilsel said:

    Gem, Cis and Taxol....yep
    Hi Bill:

    This is Bill responding. I had both Gem and Cisplatin, as well as another chemo med called taxol during Sept., Oct and November 2010 for Bladder Cancer. Previous to the chemo they had removed my bladder and now I have a urostomy. I was staged at 3a with an aggressive tumor. The chemo was for 12 weeks and I tolerated it well. They gave me some anti nausea meds to take at home in the event that I started to get sick. Whenever I felt a little qeeszy, I took the meds and never actually got sick. They also gave me meds intravenously prior to each chemo treatment. I believe the most important thing is to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate before, during and after treatments with the cisplatin. My chemo cycle was 3 weeks, so I actually had 4- 3week cycles.

    Sorry to hear you're having the problems you are. I know it's very scarey to say the least. But, in my case in stopped all of my pain and gave me my life back. I wish you well and if there is something specific you want to ask, please don't hesitate.

    Take care,
    Bill

    Bill, that is indeed a great
    Bill, that is indeed a great comfort to hear. I appreciate it greatly. I will have to hydrate like crazy as I know that Cisplatin can be tough on the kidneys and now that I have one I better baby that dude! I will also have the same chemo cycle: 4 sets of three.

    How did it affect your appetite? How about hair loss (not too concerned about this but have several evil friends who are over eager to shave my head).

    Good luck Bill! Again, thank you so much for your response.

    Bill
  • wilsel
    wilsel Member Posts: 38
    #4
    Bill Baker said:

    Bill, that is indeed a great
    Bill, that is indeed a great comfort to hear. I appreciate it greatly. I will have to hydrate like crazy as I know that Cisplatin can be tough on the kidneys and now that I have one I better baby that dude! I will also have the same chemo cycle: 4 sets of three.

    How did it affect your appetite? How about hair loss (not too concerned about this but have several evil friends who are over eager to shave my head).

    Good luck Bill! Again, thank you so much for your response.

    Bill

    email address....
    Bill:

    Eventually my hair became so thin that I shaved my head myself. And actually, many people including my wife said I should keep it off, but I wasn't ready to do that. They will hydrate you at the cancer clinic or hospital when they give you the chemo. They intravenously run saline water for one hour prior to the cisplatin (which took one hour inself) and then hydrated me another two hours after cisplatin. So, altogether it took 4 hours to receive the cisplatin alone. I will give you my email address in case you want to discuss anything more.

    It is: wilsel@verizon.net

    I am in the SW Pennsylvania area, about one hour south of Pittsburgh. Once again I wish you well. AS I said, I tolerated it well and you should too.

    C U 4 now,
    Bill
  • de4golf
    de4golf Member Posts: 2
    #5
    wilsel said:

    Gem, Cis and Taxol....yep
    Hi Bill:

    This is Bill responding. I had both Gem and Cisplatin, as well as another chemo med called taxol during Sept., Oct and November 2010 for Bladder Cancer. Previous to the chemo they had removed my bladder and now I have a urostomy. I was staged at 3a with an aggressive tumor. The chemo was for 12 weeks and I tolerated it well. They gave me some anti nausea meds to take at home in the event that I started to get sick. Whenever I felt a little qeeszy, I took the meds and never actually got sick. They also gave me meds intravenously prior to each chemo treatment. I believe the most important thing is to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate before, during and after treatments with the cisplatin. My chemo cycle was 3 weeks, so I actually had 4- 3week cycles.

    Sorry to hear you're having the problems you are. I know it's very scarey to say the least. But, in my case in stopped all of my pain and gave me my life back. I wish you well and if there is something specific you want to ask, please don't hesitate.

    Take care,
    Bill

    Gemzar Cisplatin

    Hi Bill

    Just wondering how you are doing.  I have taken 5 cycles of Gemzar and Cisplatin. The sixth

    cycle begins this week, and then we will monitor the results.  I am being treated for a recurrence of

    ureter cancer.  Originally, my ureter and kidney were removed, as I was TCC3.  With pain about 8 months later, we 

    started chemo.  

    What has been your experience since December 2011.

     

    Thanks  Don

Discussion Boards