First week of BEP completed

[WayneB]

Well, that's the first week down. I'm currently waiting to be discharged.

Get me the hell out of here!

Things haven't been too bad -in fact things have certainly been put into persective for me.
I'm on a mixed cancer ward with people that are far worse off than me so I'm not going to complain about my treatment.

I am looking forward to getting home and having a sleep in my own bed though!

[Kiwi]

Hey Wayne

Make the most of the weekend.

Cheers

Kiwi

[Smartie]

Well done on completing the first week, Wayne.

I know what you mean about the perspective thing. I remember being on a ward with some other guys. I was hoping to be cured, another guy was hoping for a few more years to see his daughter through school. Another guy was hoping for one more summer. Really put things in perspective for me, too.

Enjoy your freedom! Feel good to be unhooked doesn't it.

[Itsadeepbluesea]

Good job on getting the first week done, it will all be done before you know it. Its good to see you have a positive attitude that will go a long way for you

[MRMRSU]

One week down...keep your chin up and geared for the next round. We're all cheering for you.

[WayneB]

Well, about time for an update.

It would have been sooner but I'm pretty angry at the moment. My grandad was diagnosed with lung cancer about 2 weeks ago and he died on Monday. This was a day before he was due to start chemo when originally diagnosed. On friday they realised just how far advanced it was and moved him to a hospice instead.
What really annoys me was when we visited the US in May he was complaining about chest pains and being short of breath and was having tests and x-rays then. What took so long??? I thought the UK health system was bad!
The thing that really upsets me though is I won't be able to attend the funeral because of my own treatment. Certainly no international travel!

Onto me - after my second bleo shot I developed an infection and had to be readmitted for a few days. Then I became neutropenic - neutrophils dropped down below 0.2
I'm now back in hospital for my 2nd cycle - they're going to give me neupogen this time to help with my count.
All going fine so far.

[Smartie]

Hi Wayne.

I'm so sorry to hear about your grandad, and that you won't be able to attend the funeral.

Good luck with your second cycle. Like you, I had an infection during my first cycle, and was admitted for treatment. In the second cycle I had GCSF (neupogen) and had no problems in the second cycle.

[sydsdad1]

Hi Wayne - my husband is just about a week behind you in treatment - he is stage III c and we know it's germ cell but not what kind. Anyway, he was hospitalized for shortness of breath and rapid heart rate ( 160) after the first week of chemo - even had to stay the night in ICU to be monitored. Finally the Dr (who had just come on rotation) firgured out that Tom normally has a high red blood count and even though he was not classified as anemic, he was anemic for him. A blood transfusion fixed most the problem. They had delayed his day 9 bleo and he finally received it 5 days later. But.. the first rotation Dr. had thought that Tom was having a reaction to the Bleo (well, he had a lot of other crazy / scary thoughts too that didn't pan out - thank goodness)

So - I have a couple of questions for the group and for you Wayne since you had an issue with Bleo (this is really for all stage III's.)... After your Bleo did you ever feel pain in your lungs from the tumors? What about coughing and shortness of breath? Because of your complications with Bleo were any of your day 9 or 16 Bleo pushes ever delayed? The shot you got Wayne and Nick was for white blood cells right? I've heard others hear say to never delay treatments - but when you say that do you mean only the 5 day treatment cycle or the Bleo too? Sorry- guess I could just ask these questions all day! Luan

[WayneB]

Luan,
they think it was just coincidence about my bleo push and infection happening the same day. The morning of my bleo push my neutrophil level was 1.79 but by the time I was admitted that night it had dropped to 0.4.
I havent had my neupogen shots yet. I have to administer them myself between the end of this weeks cycle and my day 9 bleo.
I was diagnosed as stage 1B so cannot really comment about your questions about the lungs and tumors though I have had a slight cough from pretty much the beginning of my treatment.
None of my bleo pushes were delayed and I had no issue after my day 16.

Hope this helps.

[Smartie]

I didn't feel pain in my lungs, but I only had one small tumor in my lung.

(Almost) everything I've read says that once you've started chemo, it should not be delayed for low WBCs, however, there may be delays due to reactions or infections.

Any delay in the bleo treatment would put back the rest of the treatment accordingly - so if bleo is delayed for a day, subsequent courses will be a day later.

The shot I had (GCSF or neupogen) was to boost my neutrophils, which is a type of white blood cell which is essential to fighting infection.

[richy77]

I used to get quite bad pain after my Bleo shots, and it happened for each cycle. I did have lung masses though, and I just contributed it to that. It only seemed to happen the evening after the shot and then went away. I'm glad to report that I havent had any issues since.