My sister, Barb, commences treatment today. 6 treatments every 21 days. We are personally very close however live 1800 miles apart. My wife and I will travel to her when necessary. I'm trying to understand and anticipate when the chemo side effects kick in to roughly plan travel.
Does anyone have input to when and what to expect?
Thx.
Hi Doctor K, thank you so much for being here with us. I would like to offer my help and support in any way that I can, although I do not have direct experience with the side effects of chemo. Has her doctor given any guidance in this regard? You and your sister are in my thoughts and prayers.
Hello to you as well and thx for your kind words.
Barb has be counseled to expect the standard side effects: diareha, vomiting, headaches, fatigue, hair loss, etc. I was interested in timing for them to kick in. And when they might become dabilitating (sp). I understand that no patient is the same however because of the distance I won’t be able to visit all the time and I wanted to be there when she would need me most.
Barb had her first treatment yesterday. Sounded real good last evening however Doctor warned her that she would likely feel pretty bad for a couple of days after she stops taking prednisone which is Monday.
HI Dr. K. I was diagnosed with NHL 0609. I lost my hair between my 2nd and 3rd treatment. The anti sick drugs worked well. 30 days after I completed chemo I had 21 days of radiation. I've been in remission a little over a year. Side effects are different for everyone. Hope your sister does well.
Thx for the info.
Doctor K, there is a wealth of good data related to your question out on the net. This link seems pretty comprehensive to me:
http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinformation/Cancertreatment/Treatmenttypes/Chemotherapy/Combinationregimen/R-CVP.aspx#DynamicJumpMenuManager_6_Anchor_4
Because everyone is different, there really isn't a way to predict severity, which combination of effects may impact your sister (or when, for that matter). For some, CVP-R is a pretty easy ride for others, not so much.
Good luck with Barb's treatment, it is good of you to be there for her so strongly...
Good health,
kermica
Talked to Barb earlier. Not feeling well. Significant blood pressure drop, headaches, woozy, etc. 1st VCP-R treatment last Thursday. Perscription of prednisone stopped Saturday. Doctor cautioned these side effects for a couple of days following P meds. He says she should feel better in a couple of days.
Anybody can confirm or deny this statement, understanding that no patient is the same?
Thx.
I have seen a lot of anecdotal evidence of issues with prednisone, Doc. I have also seen where folks have discontinued it on doctor's orders, including people on this board. I ahave not done any chemo yet so can't speak to it personally.
Good health,
kermica
I had 5 prednisone a day for 5 days after each round of chemo. That seemed to be what picked me up those first days after chemo. She should feel better as the doctor stated from what I've seen and what I had. Hope she does well.
Hi Doctor K,When I did Chop in 1996 it hit me pretty hard.At that time {40yrs.old} I was very fit and active.Thinking I would not be affected by the side effects,I couldn't been more wrong.The predisone alone gave me many problems by itself,100mg a day.My side effects hit me -right at the start.They start to let up just about the time for the next round of treatment.I have done Rituxan over many years with hardly any side effects.Now I'm doing Treanda/Rituxan with great side effects right at the start,meaning first day.My first round of this started Jan11th and let me tell you I'm just starting to feel "half" human.Never whine about things,didn't even read the whole side effect paper till things went array.Just didn't think it would happen to me.This should be old school for me HA!So The answer I will give you is right at the start.Now don't forget these drugs come back months and years after treatment to haunt us with lasting side effects.You must understand also some folks are effected as the drugs build up in their systems.So ask her how well she is coping.Hope this helps some.Take care.
Michelle, How many times have you been in remission?
Hi,My longest remission was after doing Chop,almost 3 years maybe.With indolent NHL as time goes on remissions become shorter.So with that said “once” maybe. Here’s the history: Radiation/95 Chop/96-97 Rituxan/2000-2003-2003-2004-2006-2006-2007-2008-2009-2009- 2010 Radiation/08 Treanda/Rituxan2011 I don’t know was there remission here?Life is still good! Take care,Michele
Hi fellow lymphroamers, I have been off line for a while and Grandma Linda got me back ...I could not find the site. I have large B cell lymphoma which changed over from follicular. I just had my 4th CHOP without the Vincristine. Side affects for me seem to vary from Rx to RX. Last time not bad, this time ugh. 7 days after treatment is my very worst...I fall down from the prednisone high, stomach grumbly, tired(still), hungry but nothing tastes good, irritable at the simplest turn, my eyes start to bother me turning red and difficulty reading. On day 10 I look for big improvement. Personality improving, able to sustain almost a day without a nap, intertia leaving for sure.
I had not seen my daughter for a long time and she wanted to visit. I chose to have her come after the 13 day(out of 21) time frame. No one can really help when you feel down and out, but it did me wonders to have a happy, busy, fun visit. Love and prayers to all with or involved in the treatment of this condition. Jean H
Jean H, So glad to see you back! So happy your daughter could visit! How far away does she live?
I had less side effects from my second round than the first. Getting ready to start my "Good" week. I'm excited! Having some buzzing and numbness in my feet. I've reported it to the nurse and she said to be sure and bring it up on my next app. with the Dr. I have a CAT scan on the 14th, and start my third round on the 15th.
The Dr. want me to skip the Ambien. It has been giving me about 6 hrs. of sleep. He said to try Benedryl, I'm afraid I don't have much faith in it! Tylenol PM did nothing this time.
Hi Grandma Linda, My daughter, named Linda, Lives in Greenville, SC. I have a lot of trouble getting to sleep all the time, especially when prednisone is on my "diet" I take restoril 15mg for 10 days then stop and use benedryl 50mg, trazadone, or tough it out. Does anyone have neuropathy in feet? I am not sure if it is from the drug vincristine or from my degenerated back...probably both. I hate the numb feeling in lower legs and feet. My fingers are improving which gives me some hope. Positive loving thoughts to all, Jean H
Jean, I have had some buzzing on the bottom of my feet, and some numbness of the toes. It’s on my list for questions with my Dr. next time. I think it might be the Vinicristine (sp). I remember I had a little bit 16 years ago but not this early in the treatment. It did go away afterwards.
I’m going to beg for another script of Ambien! It’s the only way I get more than 4 hours a night! Tylenol PM had 50 gr. of Benedryl and that doesn’t phase me. I must have built up a tolerance over the years.
Keep feeling better!
LInda H. The predisone did keep me built up for the first 5 days after chemo. I had 5 prednisone a day for 5 days. Did ok with that. As far as the numbness, I had a numb tingling feeling in my fingertips, sometimes felt like needles sticking them. Once my treatments were over, that numb tingling feeling went away as well. Best wishes to you.