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Second Chemo in the morning.

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Posted 2/16/2011 2:04 AM (GMT 0)
Mary here,

Willie has his second chemo treatment in the morning, so please send along prayers and/or positive thoughts.

We saw his onc yesterday and his PSA has gone down a bit, his symptoms have receded a bit and his blood work is 'good', so he's going ahead with another infusion.

I am worried about his overall situation though, as his appetite seems to be waning and he seems to be a bit withdrawn. He says he's not depressed, hungry nor thirsty.

Even though he's been eating the last couple of weeks, he has still lost a fair bit of weight and is a bit too 'quiet' for my liking.........

His hair is starting to fall out and I know that's bothering him.......but it's the waning of appetite and 'quietness' that's bothering me.

We all know what that could mean.......and it bothers me. A lot.

Please send all the positive vibes you possibly can for tomorrow.

Thankyou very much again.

Hugs to you all.

Mary

Edit to add: does anyone know if the tingling in limbs side effects are reversible from chemo?
I should have asked the onc but forgot.........it would be awful to have that to contend with as well as all the other 'things' that are involved in this horrid illness.

Post Edited (Willie B) : 2/15/2011 7:07:23 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 2/16/2011 2:17 AM (GMT 0)
We are ALL pulling for Willie..Chemo can be pretty rough but you DO recover from it..Hopefully, brighter days ahead...
Posted 2/16/2011 2:43 AM (GMT 0)
We know that chemo can be rough, more so on some than others. Even when just slightly nauseous most of us don't feel hunger or the desire to eat. As to hair falling out ------ it's bound to be dramatic when it's leaving in clumps. Here's to Willie getting through this treatment and it having the desired effect ------ then he can concentrate on chowing down and watching his mane return.
My best wishes,
Bill
Posted 2/16/2011 3:01 AM (GMT 0)
Prayers and positive thoughts are flowing your way.

Sheldon AKA Sleepless
Posted 2/16/2011 4:23 AM (GMT 0)
Mary and Willie:
Here's to an uplifting spirit and embracing each day as we go forward with this battle - may your battle include seeing the joy in each others eyes, comfort in each others arms ... and a lessening of the worries that weigh us down ....

- my initial approach to Willie losing his hair is to "own it" and shave it off...( don't let the chemo take it from him - have him be in charge )

.... he can be your Telly Savalos... who loves ya baby?
:-)

hugs,
Bronson
Posted 2/16/2011 4:32 AM (GMT 0)
Mary and Willie:

Chemo is hard on the system in many ways. Usually the the stomach is a bit queezy at best so not hungry or really dont care to put anything in the stomach. It does kind of makes you feel yucky.

Know that Pat and I are sending all the positive support that we can in your direction.

Hugs to both of you.

You carring cajun friend

Cajun Jeff
Posted 2/16/2011 5:02 AM (GMT 0)
I Just hope that you and Willie can feel the care and concern we all have for you guys and your situation. What a lucky man he is to have such a loving and caring spouse.

Goodlife
Posted 2/16/2011 12:00 PM (GMT 0)
Mary, while I've not responded to your earlier posts, I have been reading them regularly and "keeping up" with Willie's situation. Let me introduce myself: my husband, John, was diagnosed in February 2007 and had surgery one month later. He is doing well, recovered nicely from the surgery, and his PSA has been undetectable.

You and Willie will be in my prayers that his current treatment works, and that it's not too hard on either of you. Chemo is rough, period, but amazing things are accomplished with it. Know that us women who care for men touched by PCa are with you.
Posted 2/16/2011 3:22 PM (GMT 0)
Mary,

As always, my best wishes - hope all goes well today.

Posted 2/16/2011 3:50 PM (GMT 0)
I hope that Willie endures this next round of Chemo well, and that it can help slow down things for him. Good luck.
Posted 2/16/2011 4:35 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Mary: My husband is in the exact same stage as yours. He had his first chemo last friday and seemed to be doing well, no actual nausea , but did not feel like eating until now as he said food and smells especially made him feel ill. He has had a couple of rough days of feeling like he's been run over by a truck, but today says he's feeling better. I know what you mean by not talking as my husband has been that way for the last few days. )He also had a shot of radiation on his arm on Monday as he was having considerable pain in his arm).

My husband hasn't lost any hair yet, but it will be tough when he does because he has lots of hair and thick, he has always worn it curled so will be tough for him as a constant reminder.

It's hard as someone who loves them when they get quiet and don't talk. I try to be patient and just be there for him.

I know what your going through and my thoughts are with you today.

Take care and know your not alone.
Kim
Posted 2/16/2011 4:58 PM (GMT 0)
Willie B said... Edit to add: does anyone know if the tingling in limbs side effects are reversible from chemo? I should have asked the onc but forgot.........it would be awful to have that to contend with as well as all the other 'things' that are involved in this horrid illness. Hi Mary,   You may have previously mentioned what type of chemo Willie is taking, but I might not have seen it or I don’t recall what you said.   Different drugs have different effects.   One of the common chemo drugs for men with metastatic, symptomatic prostate cancer is Docetaxel .   Is this what he is taking?   Numbness in fingers & toes is one of the common side effects of Docetaxel (affecting about 50% of Docetaxel patients), and should be reported to his doctor .   It can also be a side effect of other drugs, but I'm just guessing here that he is on Docetaxel.  In fact, this symptom has been given a name:   Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN).   Most patients report that the symptoms improve or totally resolve over time, but it has also been reported that patients with pre-existing numbness experience a more severe and long-lasting CIPN. I suggest assisting and advise Willie to be extra cautious because CIPN is known to result in more problems with balance, and so patients may be more prone to trip, stumble or fall.   If you are willing, a foot and hand massage for Willie will help circulation, stimulate nerves and may temporarily improve symptoms.   Also, as counterintuitive as it may seem, walking (exercise) also reduces the pain in many patients. Again, I don’t know if Willie has been prescribed Docetaxel, but the CIPN symptom is common in this and other chemo drugs. If you haven’t already visited this web site, I recommend www.chemocare.com as an informative source.   Select the button labeled “Chemotherapy Drugs” and look-up the drug Willie is on to find good patient-centered information.   Regarding hair loss, keep in mind that many patients simply end up with a "thinning" of the hair.  Steps he can take to minimize the loss include reduced frequency of washing his hair and less combing/brushing. Fatigue affects nearly all patients, and likely accounts for at least some of his "quietness", especially in the first few days after a treatment.  I suggest trying to keep him on a regular sleep schedule...let him nap during the day, but not excessively.   Best wishes for Willie...     Post Edited (Casey59) : 2/16/2011 10:02:10 AM (GMT-7)
Posted 2/16/2011 5:10 PM (GMT 0)
Dear Mary, and Willie,

Though I am fairly new here, I just wanted you to know that, your posts have been a great source of inspiration for me. Sending you both all the positive vibes I can. Hope it helps in some small way. Keep us posted.

MiraBeau
Posted 2/16/2011 6:32 PM (GMT 0)
Mary thoughts and prayers for you both! And you might ask the Dr. next time you see them or even a nurse at the chemo appointment about medications to increase his appetite. or if you are in a state that has legal medicinal marijuana...that will help with pain, mood and appetite. you would not have to smoke it you can get it in "jelly" form also.. If it is not legal where you are then the active ingredient "THC" is synthetic in a medication that can be prescribed called Marinol. If you have a chinese herbalist anywhere close by call them and ask for a chinese formula called "four gentlemen" this will help with appetite also. Anything else I can do to help feel free to e-mail me personally.

natural, I must direct your attention to Forum Rule #2:

2. No discussion of medical marijuana use.

and ask that such discussion be carried on off-board, such as by email, if anyone is interested, ok?
p.s.: check your email for an email from me

Post Edited By Moderator (James C.) : 2/16/2011 12:21:15 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 2/17/2011 12:40 AM (GMT 0)
Mary - how we worry when they get "quiet"! I've posted in the past about my Irishman's Sean Thornton routine (reference:"The Quiet Man") and how troubling it is to see it.

Willie is being filled with unnatural chemicals to help him, and it is bound to effect him. If he remains quiet too long, I know you'll encourage a loving dialogue. Others here with first hand knowledge of the concurrent damage these treatments can do are so good to provide you practical help. I hope that you also find time to care for yourself - are you eating well? Trying to rest when you can? Take good care, Mary, and feel the caring support so many here wish you and yours.
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