Chemo advice

[Robster]

Yo guys - stumbled onto this site and done a lot of thread reading - This has really helped me today as tomorrow I'm going in for 3 rounds of BEP (over nine weeks) at St James hospital in Leeds! I had a re-occurrence in my groin (very rare) after 18months all clear on Surveillance - I would say surveillance - I told them I had a lump!!! Anyway can anyone tell me how rotten I'm going to feel and what to expect as currently not looking forward to it (as in the treatment) - however looking forward to giving it (the seminoma) a good kicking!! This site has really helped me feel less scarred!

[Fed]

Welcome, Bro. Many have undergone the same protocol you are, so I'm sure they will chime in. Just know that you are following the proper procedure, and hopefully after those 9 weeks of chemo, TC will become a thing of the past.

[Robster]

Thanks Man appreciate the swift reply!

[gilly6993]

Everyone will have a different experience with chemo....some get wiped out and for some it was not so bad....I pretty much cruised thru the 9 weeks....never missed work or going to the gym....I had some issues here and there but nothing to serious....a foot problem I thought was due to the chemo was not....my advice, and this goes against what most will tell you is:

don't take your anti nausea meds unless absolutely necessary...even when I felt a little nauseous I ate something and it went away....for me the nausea meds caused my worst sides and made me feel like total crap

as all will say, drink lots, when you think you've had enough, drink more....

take 500 mg of tylenol before your bleo....

exercise....

other than that everyone is affected in differnt ways....best of luck and keep us posted....

[Fecke]

I went through 2xBEP, and I was pretty wiped out the weeks I was getting EP; the Bleo weeks weren't all that bad. Make sure you keep something in your stomach -- that will keep nausea down to manageable levels, at least it did for me.

I never took the Emend that I was offered, but I do recommend lorazepam, not just for nausea but for dealing with the nervous energy you can get from the steroids they'll give you. It will knock you out a bit, but that can be a good thing.

Biggest thing is just to listen to your body and do what it's telling you. If you feel pretty good, don't shut down just because you "should" feel lousy. Conversely, if you feel lousy, don't push yourself because you "should" be able to handle it.

[Smartie]

I had 3xBEP, also in the UK, like you.

I felt completely wiped out for a few days after my three days of infusions. Also had a strange buzzing in my head and felt like I wasn't quite there. This passed after about three days. One time I slept for about two days without waking, except to go to the toilet.

Despite that, it is not just nine weeks of constant misery. Much of the time I felt almost normal, and got on with life. I probably could've gone to work at times if I'd worked locally, but it was a thirty mile drive, so I didn't.

As gilly said, everyone is affected in different way, so I guess that's why we give slightly different. I would advise taking the nausea meds whether you feel nauseous or not, in order to prevent the feeling from starting. Also, here in the UK they give BEP over three days, not five as they do in the States. Because of that they give you a large amount of fluids intravenously in order to avoid kidney damage, which means that it is not so necessary to drink lots of fluid as the drip will do a lot of it for you. Drink what you can though.

I suffered with indigestion at times, which kept me up at night. Some Gaviscon helped somewhat, as did drinking milk.

Good luck. We're here to help.

Good luck with it.

[m.a.r.k]

Hi Robster

I can't chip in with any experience quite yet, but as of next Monday I will because I'll be starting 3 x BEP just like yourself. No doubt we can exchange thoughts and help each other through, as will everyone else on here I'm sure.

Smartie - do you know what the crack is with drinking alcohol throughout chemo - advised/ill-advised? It's something I forgot to ask my doc.

Ta.

[gilly6993]

Smartie - do you know what the crack is with drinking alcohol throughout chemo - advised/ill-advised? It's something I forgot to ask my doc.

Ta.

ask your doc but I drank while on chemo....I'm not a big drinker but if I go out for dinner on the weekends I usually have 2 drinks and I continued to do that....

[Smartie]

At the time of my chemo I hardly drank alcohol (although I like a glass or two these days), so it wasn't an issue that came up. I simply stayed away from it while I was having chemo. However, my understanding is that a glass or two a couple of days a week is fine, but it is important not to have an excessive amount.

[TCdoc]

do you know what the crack is with drinking alcohol throughout chemo - advised/ill-advised? It's something I forgot to ask my doc.

.

I was told that alcohol was fine during chemo if I felt I wanted it. Have to say I didn't feel like any for the first two weeks but during the third week I must say I do appreciate a glass of wine with my meals. Chemo week next week so I'd better make the most of it!

[m.a.r.k]

That's cool, I can't see myself drinking at all but was interested to see how people reacted if they did. Thanks a lot.

[loveumms]

my husband likes to drink a beer or so with dinner but, he didn't really drink much while going through chemo. Basically, most will tell you to avoid alcohol because it's just one more thing your body has to detoxify. Remember, the liver is our major metabolizer and the kidneys are the major excreters. Alcohol puts the liver into overdrive from a metabolism standpoint and can 'compete' with the other medications (such as chemo/anti-nausea meds/ect).

A few drinks here and there will certainly not make a huge difference but, avoid binge drinking (more then 2 alcoholic beverages in one period).

Also, alcohol can cause dehydration because it acts to block a hormone (anti-diuretic hormone). That is the last thing you want while going through chemo.

[NixMom]

Have a Leary Biscuit instead (but don't smoke anything!) Kiddin' (kind of... I DO live in a state where one can get a prescription for medical weed, after all... ) Good luck to you & I hope you can get thru this with a minimum of side effects.

[Ali_S]

I've just finished cycle 2 of 3xBEP. Cycle 1 was tough I must admit. Its the few days after you get your three days blasted by BEP. I felt really "hungover" after my first cycle. I simply felt rotten. I walked quite a few miles everyday after my 3-day regime. I think it helped me. Cycle 2 was much of the same though it didn't feel as bad maybe because I knew what I was getting myself in for. Cycle 3 starts this sunday.

Though I must stress I haven't felt nearly half as bad as I thought I was going to be. I've even kept the majority of body hair. I'm pretty bald at the front of my head but have kept a lot of hair at the back of my head. I just shaved it off anyway. I've kept my eyebrows completely, chest and arm hair. My leg hair is patchy. My beard fell out first, then my pubs though the mrs never liked my beard and I was long overdue a good trim down below so everything ain't so bad.

Ali

[m.a.r.k]

I've just finished cycle 2 of 3xBEP. Cycle 1 was tough I must admit. Its the few days after you get your three days blasted by BEP.

My leg hair is patchy. My beard fell out first, then my pubs though the mrs never liked my beard and I was long overdue a good trim down below so everything ain't so bad.

Ali

Ha!

The first few days after my first cycle hit me for six as well, felt groggy, knackered and couldn't put two thoughts together. It did wear off though and it's now day 13 of cycle 1 and I kinda feel back to normal.

From reading people's posts I get the impression the first cycle is the worst, I'm hoping, as I know what to expect, the second will be easier. Going to be shaving my head soon too. Although only a couple tiny clumps have come out at the back after a bit of pulling, I've always wondered what I looked like with a shaved barnet!

[Ali_S]

Totally understand your statements about not being able to string two thoughts together. My concentration was hit the hardest. I found it difficult trying to stay in tune to conversations. I couldn't read for more than 30secs. I have a ps3 which annoyed me after 5 mins. I got really restless.

I just shaved my bap off before it came off. I remember putting my hair through my hands, pulling and huge clumps came out really easy. Very weird feeling. It was that point I think I had to admit to myself that I was sick. My hair didnt start to fall out on its on accord until day 2 of cycle 2. Just went for a shower and when I got out half my head was bald lol.

You'll be ok with the second cycle. I felt the first was worse. Your body recovers quick after the first cycle. I felt pretty normal after day 10 cycle 1. Although I didn't get it as tough cycle 2 it has taken me a lot longer to return to the normal feeling. I start cycle 3 tomorrow. Bring it on!!

I hope everything goes well for you.

Ali