Update chemoembolization
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Cathy…sure am thrilled to hear that you have made it through this lengthy process and I wish for it to be a total success. Cathy, several others have posted on this procedure, but what comes to mind is Percy’s story, as he underwent this procedure not too long ago.
http://www.cholangiocarcinoma.org/punbb/viewtopic.php?pid=76758#p76758
Hugs,
MarionWHEW! Cathy, glad that’s over. I don’t know about recovery, I am sure that like in anything, everyone is different. I do know that someone who knows better will be along here to give you some kind of answer. Now we wait a month, that is not too bad. I’m glad its over for you and hope you can enjoy your weekend.
With a one day delay because of insurance I had the chemo embolization or chemo embo as they call it here about 12 hours ago. I had an extremely deep artery followed by extremely small arteries that extended a possible 45 min procedure into a 3 hour one. They had to use ultrasound and 3 very smart Docs to get through the maze but once they were in placing the chemo was a piece of cake. Needless to say I developed a hematoma at the entry point that was almost lemon sized but was down to pea size in 3 hours.
Of course my family was a bit worried when it took so long but were thrilled I got it done. My biggest issue was all the bone Mets along my spine and my fractured sacrum. Lying flat on your back for 7 hours is not something I would recommend. While lying there they couldn’t find a drug combo that would make me feel better but now the combo of Percocet and Ibuprofin has taken care of it. This is the first time I have had this procedure. Follow up MRI in a month.
I have heard energy and activity wise it can take from 3 days to 3 weeks to get back to normal. Is this true?Just keep on swimming!
CathyHi Cathy:
I am having the usual sensitivity to cold from the oxaliplatin. I had no problem on the first round, but have experienced it with the four rounds since then. For me, that begins immediately during the infusion of the ox (don’t accept that cold drink the volunteer brings around), but only lasts a few days and has been quite manageable. I know others can have more severe neuropathy, but that has not been my experience.
The 5-fu pump does not perhaps rise to the level of being a pain, but merely a bit of a nuisance. I am always glad when I get to disconnect. That said, I spent months last year with a PTC (percutaneous transhepatic catheter) and its attendant bag strapped to me. By comparison the pump is easy. Plus, at night the gentle whirring sound can be soothing!
Mark
Mark, how are you doing with the no cold foods on the FOLFOX? Plus the chemo that goes home? Is that a pain or do you not even notice it?
Thanks Marion. Reading those threads reminded me that I’m also getting Zometa during my infusions.
Mark
Cathy and Mark….bone mets are not uncommen with advanced disease and always, always cause major pain issues. Our JeffG dealt with it for several years. Here are some of his postings:
http://www.cholangiocarcinoma.org/punbb/viewtopic.php?id=1527
http://www.cholangiocarcinoma.org/punbb/viewtopic.php?id=1694
http://www.cholangiocarcinoma.org/punbb/viewtopic.php?id=1045
Hugs,
MarionHi Cathy,
As you said in another thread, it doesn’t seem like there are that many with bone Mets from cc, but I’ve been told it’s common. Given how quickly my bone Mets developed, we took lack of growth on Folfox as a very positive result. Most positive of all, I had considerable bone pain in the spine and sternum, and that was greatly reduced after just two rounds of Folfox. I hope it works well for you. As far as toleration, one reason I am on Folfox is my liver numbers have been elevated for a year now following Gemzar and radiation. Folfox is cleared by the kidneys, and my liver functions have remained stable. Like you, my platelets are very low, but my platelets have also been stable in five rounds of Folfox. I’ve had mild neuropathy, some fatigue and nausea, but all quite tolerable.
That’s been my experience…I hope that helps and that you do well.
Best wishes, Mark
Hi all, thought I would post an update. After I finished my Gem/Cis I tried just the Gemzar on a 3on 1off regimen. I think I had 5 treatments total but never in that order. It was one thing or another that kept me from treatments…rashes, cellulitis, very swollen feet and then finally after 2 in a row a huge drop on platelets. My Doc believed that my body and bone marrow just needed a break. I had been on some type of chemo for about 16 months. I haven’t had chemo in 8 weeks. Initially my scans maintained but one of my bone tumors grew a bit and caused a fracture in my sacrum. So I had radiation to treat it. Since I had the break I checked into doing something to get rid of the liver tumor and the Intervetional Radiologist felt based on the location of my tumor that chemoembolization would be a good choice. I’m scheduled to have that done next Wed Aug 14th. Feel a little nervous but very hopeful that this will help shrink/inactivate the tumor. Right now my large tumor and its little friends are located on the right lobe and my left is clear. After all this is done my Doc wants me to try FolFox to see if I tolerate that better. Any thoughts or comments are greatly appreciated!
Cathy
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