Question about chemo "rounds" "cycles," *added* recurrence question...

frodolass
frodolass Member Posts: 32
edited January 2014 in Uterine/Endometrial Cancer #1

What, exactly, is a "round" of chemo? What is a "cycle?" I'm not sure how to describe the treatment I'm receiving so people understand me.

During September-November, I received 6 treatments with Cisplatin. Would that be a round. Would each of the 6 treatments with Cisplatin be a round?

Next week I start a new...round?...cycle?...of 4 chemo treatments.

I just want to know what I'm talking about when I'm talking about it :-)

Thanks guys!

Comments

  • Ro10
    Ro10 Member Posts: 1,561 Member
    #2
    Round versus cycle???

    When I refer to my three " rounds" of chemo, I mean I had 3 cycles of chemo, followed by radiation, and then 3 more cycles of chemo in the first round, 7 cycles of chemo in the second round, and 6 cycles of chemo in my third round.  I don't know if that is correct or not, but that's how I refer to my " rounds".   you must of had a break between the cycles of chemo.  Are the 4 additional chemo treatments  to complete your session of chemo?   Or did you have the 6 treatments pre- op?   I don't think you would have had a recurrence yet.  I hope not anyway.

    like I said I don't know if my terminology is correct, but I think I have had 19 cycles of chemo in my three rounds of chemo.  Hope you are doing well.  In peace and caring.

  • frodolass
    frodolass Member Posts: 32
    #3
    Ro10 said:

    Round versus cycle???

    When I refer to my three " rounds" of chemo, I mean I had 3 cycles of chemo, followed by radiation, and then 3 more cycles of chemo in the first round, 7 cycles of chemo in the second round, and 6 cycles of chemo in my third round.  I don't know if that is correct or not, but that's how I refer to my " rounds".   you must of had a break between the cycles of chemo.  Are the 4 additional chemo treatments  to complete your session of chemo?   Or did you have the 6 treatments pre- op?   I don't think you would have had a recurrence yet.  I hope not anyway.

    like I said I don't know if my terminology is correct, but I think I have had 19 cycles of chemo in my three rounds of chemo.  Hope you are doing well.  In peace and caring.

    I think I'm getting it :-)

    Dang, that is A LOT of treatment. I hope you're doing well!

     

    The 6 doses/treatments (whatever!) of Cisplatin were given along with radiation therapy. I had 6 or so weeks off. The next four times I'll have chemo is with a new combination of drugs. They planned it way from the beginning. I'm looking forward to being finished...it seems like I've been doing this forever!

    Thanks!!

    Donna

  • frodolass
    frodolass Member Posts: 32
    #4

    I've been wondering about this and figured this is a good place to ask. How does the doctor discover a recurrence? Do they catch it on a scan? With blood work? What can I expect during those follow-up appointments?

    Thanks!

    Donna in FL

  • Ro10
    Ro10 Member Posts: 1,561 Member
    #5
    frodolass said:

    I've been wondering about this and figured this is a good place to ask. How does the doctor discover a recurrence? Do they catch it on a scan? With blood work? What can I expect during those follow-up appointments?

    Thanks!

    Donna in FL

    Donna regarding recurrence

    Usually the doctors watch for trends in the CA 125.  Doubling of the number is one of the things they look for.  If there is an elevation of the CA 125 a scan is usually done.  My doctor has always said the ca125 is just a number.  He does not worry about how high it goes.

    my number rises every time I go off chemo.  It was 1570 when I started me second round of chemo.  Iy was 3200 when I started my third round of chemo.  It has been as high as 700 recently.

    my medical onocologist in IL also does a complete blood count and complete metabolic profile With each lab.  He said changes in these could indicate a recurrence.  A drop in blood count, or changes in liver enzymes could indicate recurrence.  My gyn/Ono only does the CA125.

    i start chemo when the scan shows changes and increase in the size of my lymph nodes.  I always have several different areas where the lymph nodes are enlarged.  I have had 19 scans since my diagnosis.  I expressed concern over the number of scans, but both doctors said the risk of the cancer is higher than the risk of all the radiation from the scans.  They both prefer CAT scans, so I have never had a PET scan.

    some people have various symptoms with their recurrence.  I have never had any symptoms before my diagnosis or with each recurrence.

    originally i I was told I would have lab every three months and a scan as needed.  But since my CA125 rose as soon as I went off chemo.  The labs have been every 6-8 weeks.  My last scan was in July.  My doctor in IL thought I should be rescanned in Jan, but my doctor here in FL did not think it was necessary since my CA125 dropped to 500 on my last test.

    hope this answers your questions.  Try not to worry about recurrence, and enjoy every day.   Live your life to the fullest.  In peace and caring.

  • frodolass
    frodolass Member Posts: 32
    #6
    Ro10 said:

    Donna regarding recurrence

    Usually the doctors watch for trends in the CA 125.  Doubling of the number is one of the things they look for.  If there is an elevation of the CA 125 a scan is usually done.  My doctor has always said the ca125 is just a number.  He does not worry about how high it goes.

    my number rises every time I go off chemo.  It was 1570 when I started me second round of chemo.  Iy was 3200 when I started my third round of chemo.  It has been as high as 700 recently.

    my medical onocologist in IL also does a complete blood count and complete metabolic profile With each lab.  He said changes in these could indicate a recurrence.  A drop in blood count, or changes in liver enzymes could indicate recurrence.  My gyn/Ono only does the CA125.

    i start chemo when the scan shows changes and increase in the size of my lymph nodes.  I always have several different areas where the lymph nodes are enlarged.  I have had 19 scans since my diagnosis.  I expressed concern over the number of scans, but both doctors said the risk of the cancer is higher than the risk of all the radiation from the scans.  They both prefer CAT scans, so I have never had a PET scan.

    some people have various symptoms with their recurrence.  I have never had any symptoms before my diagnosis or with each recurrence.

    originally i I was told I would have lab every three months and a scan as needed.  But since my CA125 rose as soon as I went off chemo.  The labs have been every 6-8 weeks.  My last scan was in July.  My doctor in IL thought I should be rescanned in Jan, but my doctor here in FL did not think it was necessary since my CA125 dropped to 500 on my last test.

    hope this answers your questions.  Try not to worry about recurrence, and enjoy every day.   Live your life to the fullest.  In peace and caring.

    Thank you!

    Thanks for always being here to answer questions!

    Finished the first treatment with Carbo/Taxol and got the Neulasta shot today. Somehow they worked it out where I didn't have to pay anything. Very happy. Feeling tired, but no nausea yet. The steroids pushed my blood glucose way up and I'm really tired, but doing well.

    Thanks again!

    Donna

  • Ro10
    Ro10 Member Posts: 1,561 Member
    #7
    frodolass said:

    Thank you!

    Thanks for always being here to answer questions!

    Finished the first treatment with Carbo/Taxol and got the Neulasta shot today. Somehow they worked it out where I didn't have to pay anything. Very happy. Feeling tired, but no nausea yet. The steroids pushed my blood glucose way up and I'm really tired, but doing well.

    Thanks again!

    Donna

    Donna

    Glad you made it through your first chemo.  Hope you are still doing  okay.  I an glad you did  not have to pay for the Nuelasta  shot.  That alleviated a lot of stress for you.  Take it one day at a time, and rest as you need to.    In peace and caring.

  • frodolass
    frodolass Member Posts: 32
    #8
    Ro10 said:

    Donna

    Glad you made it through your first chemo.  Hope you are still doing  okay.  I an glad you did  not have to pay for the Nuelasta  shot.  That alleviated a lot of stress for you.  Take it one day at a time, and rest as you need to.    In peace and caring.

    Thanks!

    You've been so helpful. Thanks so much! Still doing well.

     

    Donna

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