Friday, August 13, 2010

Back on Chemo

We had a 10 am appointment with the oncologist and he reviewed the last week. He has looked at the scan and says the disease is still stable. The enlargement of the lung tumours is minute, and he is not worried about that. However, the CEA marker went up again to 4400 - twice what it was 2 weeks ago, so the Avastin alone is not doing enough to stop tumour activity. So I am back on the heavy stuff - Avastin, Xeloda and Oxaliplatin.

I start Xeloda tomorrow, but I had an infusion of the other two drugs with an early bad reaction to the Oxaliplatin. My hand hurt around the cannula and I had pain and pins and needles in my lower arm which extended up into my shoulder. Two hours now since the infusion stopped, but my arm is still bothering me and the mouth and finger tingling in response to cold is back to full strength. I'm glad I had icecream for lunch - guess it will be a while before I can eat it again.

I am not really looking forward to the next fortnight with Xeloda. Wish me luck and no side effects.

4 comments:

  1. Wishing you much luck Joan, I think of you often and am glad they feel this treatment will help you. Keeping you in my prayers...many hugs from Canada.....:-)

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  2. Here's hoping the side effects can be managed! Be sure to let your Onco nurses know what you are experiencing. Call them if you need to between visits. They are angels in disguise!

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  3. I'm wishing you luck - and much more. I asked friends who have been through chemo, or who have had family that did, what might help with food. They all say they had to force themselves to eat, that everything tasted like gasoline. I wish there was a magic bullet. Much love.

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  4. Hi Joan, just popping in to say hello and see how you are doing. Take care/I care....:-)Hugs

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