Gemzar & Cisplatin

Last Friday I reached the 1/2 way of my chemo treatments. Yesterday I took the compazine first thing again in the morning and felt great, so thanks Jeff for the advice – it sure works. The Dr. is also now giving me Procrit each Friday and my energy level is again up. Last week I felt the best I had since before being diagnosed with CC last Nov. It has been a long journey, but much to be thankful for. Thanks for all your support.

Nancy

Nancy, I’m glad the compazine’s working for you. I wonder if things have changed that much in a year. When Charlie was diagnosed in 5/07, all the doctors said Gemzar only to start with like it was the absolute first and best thing to do. It didn’t shrink Charlie’s tumors at all. Combination chemos seem to be the way to go now. Just a thought and a wonder…maybe there’s starting to be more data on cc patients and someone’s paying attention. I hope so. Compazine didn’t do a thing for Charlie. He had to go to Zofran so if one ever stops working for you, don’t hesitate to ask for another. Although, when we got the Zofran, on the packaging from the drug store, it said our insurance saved us $1,164.00 for a bottle of 30 anti-nausea pills. We paid $5.00. I just don’t understand the price of drugs. If we didn’t have insurance…don’t even want to think about it, but I do think of those without any and how frightened and desperate they must feel. Enjoy the beautiful day!!

Carol

Jeff, I was thinking the same thing that I should take the nausea med on Sat. a.m. as soon as I get up as it is about two hours after I get up that I feel that way. Maybe that would help solve that nauseated feeling.
Nancy

Well, round two of my treatment was completed on Friday (May 9). The aftereffects were about the same as last time. I felt good the remainder of the day remembering to drink lots of water. I had a headache as I went to bed, but it did not prevent sleep. Sat. morning I became nauseous – so took a pill, and that calmed me down. I was advised by the RN giving the treatment not to let this get out of hand. The remainder of the day I felt fine even walking on my treadmill for 30 minutes as I do every day, except day of treatment. This a.m. I’m feeling good. Oh yes, another side effect is definitely hair thinning – or maybe total hair loss to come, but I’ll keep you posted on that.

Yes, Carol, God does answer prayers. I don’t know what I would do do without the prayer support from all my family members and friends.

Love to all,
Nancy

Hi Jeff, and Carol too,

Well, almost a week has passed since the first round of chemo was given. I experienced waves of nausea (but no vomiting) and took a pill to help with that. Constipation has been a problem, but then a pill and lots of fiber in the diet have helped. Those have thus far been my only symptoms. I walk on my treadmill every day for 30 minutes, not as fast as I use to, but am getting the excersize needed. I do appreciate all your comments they are all things I have looked for as I begin this process.

The best help has been the prayer support I have received from so many people. I chose to let people know so they could pray with me and I believe God is answering.

May you be blessed today.
Nancy

Hi Carol, your absolutely correct. I too have had the radiation and enough chemo(AKA) poison to knock this CC out of a horse. But it still comes back on me as well. Just maybe when I turn green it will retreat. I also think it is important to to say the location of primary and how qiuck it was found plays a role. I’d describe this disease as like a set of christmas lights that aren’t all suppose to go out if one bulb burns out but we know that some still do. Then you wiggle the lights and they come on and we replace the bad bulb and hang the lights up and try again. What an analogy, I don’t know if I even understand what I said. Thanks for not letting me wonder Carol. I go for check up tomorrow to see how many white blood cells I’ve got left and hopefully won’t need a tranfusion of platelets. Sorry. I have an attitude today, I just stuck my gut with filgratism for the 67th time. Please forgive me.
God Bless.
Jeff G.

Welcome Nancy….. Sounds like your off and running and have a plan. Glad to hear you got clear margins and glad to hear you are going to do some precautionary chemo. When I had my liver resection and was told clean margins I pressed on without chemo. I kinda wonder if it would have made a difference as it came back to the other lobe and mets to both my lungs and now in my bones. I surely hope that doing chemo will get rid of those free radicals in your system before finding a place to nestle. Stay positive but don’t let your guard down for awhile and insist on Ct Scans every 3-4 months of chest, abomen, and pelvic. Yes drink your water and I hope they gave you prescriptions to deal with side effects. The first sign of nausea, constipation, or loose bowels use the side effect medication as it will definitely make things so much easier. Eat what you want but maybe smaller portions. You might want to invest in some stool softener from Walmart and some immodium just in case thing want to flow to much and dehydrate you before you know it. Wish you the best and please do let us know how thing go. You sound positive and up beat. That’s number one on my list. Attitude! as hard as it gets sometimes and I get a little down now and then, I keep jumping back to attitude!
God Bless,
Jeff G.

Hi Steve F.

Welcome.

I’m sorry to hear that you have CC as well. When were you diagnosed? The radiation treatment with SIR spheres has been quite helpful to some of us. Is that the type that you’re considering?

G