Had forgotten what all has to precede getting actual IV chemo. The biological avastin I'd been on for two years (which held me steady but was denied payment by BCBS) required no pre-meds or anti-nausea pills. With carbo, I had a bag of dexamethasone & zofran followed by another anti-nausea bag of emend. Nurse Linda said they each deal with different receptors in the brain to prevent nausea. Think steroids. Was I wired last night!
After driving to OPC this afternoon to get a neulasta shot to boost my white blood cells, will stock up on anti-constipation pills as well as Immodium to be able to counteract whichever way the new chemo affects me.
Good news is that my CA125 only went up 1.5 pts to 207.2 since 3/23. Am hoping carbo will put numbers in a downward spiral and get rid of recent new very small pleural effusion near my left lung.
Friday, April 20, 2012
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Spring has sprung
Jenna and Tyler have broken out their spring duds. And are enjoying the lovely weather albeit without much in the way of April showers this month.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Back on carboplatin chemo
Since my CT scan on 3/23/12 showed some good stuff but CA125 had risen to 205+, I had an appointment to see Dr. Rosenshein. Dr. R said CT scan showed new pleural effusion near lung. He inferred this might be causing the CA125 to rise. Etoposide chemo pills are NOT doing the trick so I start on chemo Carboplatin by IV 4/19/12. I’ll have to go to Weinberg every three weeks for an IV infusion.
Oct. 19, 2006 my first chemo treatment was a combination of taxotere and carboplatin. In 12 treatments the combo dropped my CA125 from 1535.2 down to 13.7. I haven’t had either of those drugs since 6/28/07. Since they worked then and it’s been a while, Dr. R reasoned they might work again. But I only have to take one of them.
Common side effects of carboplatin are constipation; diarrhea; hair loss; loss of appetite; nausea; stomach pain or upset; vomiting; weakness. Nothing I haven’t had to deal with. I was joking about holding a zofran (anti-nausea pill) between my knees when I have to give a 5-minute speech at the National Cancer Survivor’s meeting June 3. I may have to swallow it so I can make the speech.
Never a dull moment when you have chronic cancer.
Oct. 19, 2006 my first chemo treatment was a combination of taxotere and carboplatin. In 12 treatments the combo dropped my CA125 from 1535.2 down to 13.7. I haven’t had either of those drugs since 6/28/07. Since they worked then and it’s been a while, Dr. R reasoned they might work again. But I only have to take one of them.
Common side effects of carboplatin are constipation; diarrhea; hair loss; loss of appetite; nausea; stomach pain or upset; vomiting; weakness. Nothing I haven’t had to deal with. I was joking about holding a zofran (anti-nausea pill) between my knees when I have to give a 5-minute speech at the National Cancer Survivor’s meeting June 3. I may have to swallow it so I can make the speech.
Never a dull moment when you have chronic cancer.
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