delayed bleo OK? (a few days)

[kristina]

Russ ended up being admitted to the hospital yesterday when we went in for his bleo - his pulse was really high (130+) and his blood pressure was really low. (I can't remember the numbers) I am hopeful that everything is OK now and that he can come home today. I think this is due to all the effects of the long week of chemo (we just finished the 3rd long week). No matter what we do, he gets really sick from it. I think he was really dehydrated. (and he went into the outpatient center over the week-end for fluids, and had extra fluids on Monday as well when we went in for the Neulasta shot)

I am going to follow up with his oncologist today because he did not get his bleo yet this week. I hope that it is going to be OK to be a few days late?

After this week, we have a bleo only week, and one more long week. I am really looking forward to September...not sure how we will survive the 4th long week - but trying to get through it one day at a time!

[hbr777]

Kristina, I'm sorry he is going through this. Usually, Bleo is not to be delayed - it should never be delayed if blood counts are low, and I don't know of any other scenario where it should be delayed.

[Pattytricia]

Kristina,
I, too, am sorry that your husband is having a hard time with the chemo. If it helps to know, my son went through 4xBEP, and had a lot of the difficulties you are experiencing. He dealt with nausea, which was helped by alternating Zofran and Ativan every few hours, and starting it before he felt nauseous. He developed Neutropenic fever, like clockwork, on the 10th day after each chemo treatment, and was in the ER each time for that for IV abx and fluids and then admitted. He had low blood pressure and high pulse rate and did have a reaction to the Bleo, which involved a rash. He was very thin and weak, which may have contributed to some of this, plus I believe some are very sensitive to medications, and have a more severe reaction.
Also, even though it is recommended that you do not delay chemo, my son's was delayed, by several days. It is difficult to watch them go through this, but we did get through it, and I know you will too. I hope this helps you to know you are not alone in the battle. Take care of yourself, too.

[Fed]

What was the specific reason he did not get the bleomycin? Being neutropenic (low WBC) is NOT a valid excuse for withholding bleomycin because it does not have an impact on reducing counts. It is known that delaying chemo for germ cell tumors is counterproductive. A delay of a day or two is not going to cause any major problems, but a lengthier delay will diminish the efficacy of the treatment protocol.

[kristina]

We ended up getting the bleo today..(yay)...I guess they delayed it because he was having cardiac issues. (the oncologist admitted him to the hospital - he only stayed overnight) I think the cardiac issues were due to the dehydration. He was discharged today, and is feeling much better! (as good as he can for a bleo only day)

We only have 2 weeks left of the 4xBEP, one bleo only week, and then another long week. I can't wait until it is all done! We are getting so close!

[kristina]

Kristina,
I, too, am sorry that your husband is having a hard time with the chemo. If it helps to know, my son went through 4xBEP, and had a lot of the difficulties you are experiencing. He dealt with nausea, which was helped by alternating Zofran and Ativan every few hours, and starting it before he felt nauseous. He developed Neutropenic fever, like clockwork, on the 10th day after each chemo treatment, and was in the ER each time for that for IV abx and fluids and then admitted. He had low blood pressure and high pulse rate and did have a reaction to the Bleo, which involved a rash. He was very thin and weak, which may have contributed to some of this, plus I believe some are very sensitive to medications, and have a more severe reaction.
Also, even though it is recommended that you do not delay chemo, my son's was delayed, by several days. It is difficult to watch them go through this, but we did get through it, and I know you will too. I hope this helps you to know you are not alone in the battle. Take care of yourself, too.

Thanks! It does help to hear others that have been through it - I do think he is much more sensitive than others - because we have taken and done everything that is suggested, and it never fails that he gets extremely sick. His oncologist is going to admit him to the hospital on Friday for our last week of the 5 day chemo - so he will be in the hospital and they can help him through the week-end. I feel so much better about that!

[love4leon]

Phew! Happy to hear that he is doing better and was able to handle the Bleo- so sorry to hear he had to be admitted though. Hang in there!

[34with1]

Hey Kristina,

The last long week for me was not as bad as the 3rd long week, because I knew it was OVER! I was psyched up a little bit and I knew how to recover, so I hung low all weekend and I remember that I watched Clash of the Titans on that Sunday.

I also had some delayys in chemo. I had to wait a few extra days for one of my bleo pushes because of the shortage of the drug, and one of my long weeks was flip flopped, and I have been all clear since complleting chemo in December of last year.

Hang in there, the hard part is almost over, and then you can begin the fun anticipation of that first all clear! As someone (I think Fed) told me in my last cycle, the chemo melts this stuff like butter! Have that image this last long week and it could help the psyche!

Hoping you both have a good week!

[hbr777]

I also remember Fed saying that about cutting through it like butter, and used it several times to explain to people what the chemo does.

Rock on, Fed.