Ben\'s Chapter One - Partial Cystectomy

One week of rest from treatments sounds like a real good thing. Maybe it will let you enjoy your Easter.

You sound a little like me when you talk about feeling weak or resting. In a way I almost feel guilty at times for resting, or not doing anything.

When you now officially have permission to get some rest. Its okay we won't tell anyone.

Mark

I had the third chemo treatment day before yesterday and all went well. My platelets were low so they cut the GEM dosage. Yesterday I felt sick on and off all day but it wan't too bad. Today the fatigue is starting to set in but so far so good. Next week is my off week for chemo so NO TREATMENTS until the following week when I start the 2nd or 3 cycles. I hope everyone has a great Easter weekend!!

Thanks for the information Ben. That gives me a little first hand insight to the process. Hopefully it won't come to that for me, but this is a sneaky underhanded sickness.

Stay positive my friend.

Mark

Thanks Anita.

Mark - nothing is to personal anymore. The all day chemo for me was like 2 hous of saline for hydration, some steriods, two other solutions potassium and magnesium (they protect kidneys etc, then about an hour of GEM, then CIS for a couple hours, then 2 hours of hydration, and then another GEM. I was awke for the whoe thing and so was everyone else I saw there. The GEM burned alot so they just slow the drip to make it comfortable. I started truning pale/gray towards the end of the day but I was back to normal color the next day. The seconf treatment was only GEB for about 30 minutes and some hydration for the same time. I get everything thru an IV, no port.

Where I go you can chose a bed or a lounge chair. The first all day visit I took the bed and my wife layed there with me all day. that part was nice but the whole thing in general was creepy. HOWEVER, when the turned on the first bag, I looked up at the bag and said I COMING TO GET YOU............ it made me feel in control I guess. I do not look forward to the next 2 all day treatments but I have to get it done. The all day treatments sort of knocked me down so my wife is going for all of those. The other treatments that are short aren't bad at all. I drove my wife and I there and back 100 miles each way. Even stopped and had Olive Garden!!!!

Ask any questions you have Mark. Chemo treatments are different depending on the situation. I get GEM/CIS (CIS is the bad toxic stuff). Other people get 4 solutions and I think its abbrev MVAC. C=CIS.... and not sure about the others.

Sorry for any misspellings...........I'm in a hurry!

Ben

Ben,

I haven't had to have Chemo yet. You say the treatments take around nine hours at times, are you awake and just lying there the whole time or are you put under?

If that's to personal to answer I will understand. I just want to understand how it is done so I know what to expect if I have to do it.

Mark