R-Epoch treatment

JP_NHL said:

Thread
Thanks, Max.

I can do that. My main intent was to offer advice to others on the thread, including Tony.

JP  What has been your experience after remission?

My husband just completed the first of 6 dose adjusted R-EPOCH treatments yesterday.  Each treatment will be inpatient and will last 5 days.  He is stage 2A - Bulky.

Please share your experiences with this regimen, if & when you experienced remission and for how long.  Really appreciate your guidance.  

Thank you and best wishes of good health,

Semone

I'm a bit worried though.  For rounds 4 and 5, my WBC counts got really low and I developed a fever, and that combo wins you a hospital bed. Was a 5 day stay for round 4 and a 4 day stay for round 5.  Of course I'd very much like to stay out of the hospital this time, any ideas on how I can help myself?

A factor I'm going to talk to my doctor about tomorrow, is that my bloodcounts were at the bottom edge of normal on Monday, even before they started my 5 days of chemo.  I feel doomed, and will I end up in the hospital again much sooner and for possibly longer this time?  Is there anything I can do for myself?  I teased my doc on Monday that I would do garlic supplements and Gingseng supplements as those were what I could remember boosting your immune system.  He said sure, they're harmless.  Wishful thinking is something else I added to my list.  How can I avoid a fever, a maybe there, maybe not there infection? It's no fun being in the hospital.  But maybe I'll just have to roll with it, even if I don't want to. Cancer sucks as we all know.  Wahhhhh....

KimDee said:

Last round of DA-EPOCH R is underway 6 of 6

I'm a bit worried though.  For rounds 4 and 5, my WBC counts got really low and I developed a fever, and that combo wins you a hospital bed. Was a 5 day stay for round 4 and a 4 day stay for round 5.  Of course I'd very much like to stay out of the hospital this time, any ideas on how I can help myself?

A factor I'm going to talk to my doctor about tomorrow, is that my bloodcounts were at the bottom edge of normal on Monday, even before they started my 5 days of chemo.  I feel doomed, and will I end up in the hospital again much sooner and for possibly longer this time?  Is there anything I can do for myself?  I teased my doc on Monday that I would do garlic supplements and Gingseng supplements as those were what I could remember boosting your immune system.  He said sure, they're harmless.  Wishful thinking is something else I added to my list.  How can I avoid a fever, a maybe there, maybe not there infection? It's no fun being in the hospital.  But maybe I'll just have to roll with it, even if I don't want to. Cancer sucks as we all know.  Wahhhhh....

Sorry Kim- just saw this and hope past two weeks were fever free. 

Same thing happened to me last year after my 5th cycle.  Blood counts crashed + fever = 3 bonus days in the hospital! Ironic thing was that I felt way better that week than my first week out after my 4th round. Plus my blood work from a few days earlier wasn't that bad. Unfortunately I don't think there is much you can do to avoid a fever. You just have to rest and listen to your body. And please, if you get a fever past your threshold call your doctor right away. Don't wait to see if it gets better"

Seriously, a little wishful thinking doesn't hurt either! If you get a chance check back in and let us know how it's going. All the best!