Chemo update and more !!

Finished chemo #4 on June 28th...same pattern...feel good for 3 days then crash for the next 4 days....try to exercise a bit. drink lots of fluids and I still feel like the worst hangover ever....and I 've many of them but they were usually worth it !!

At my onc's request I did a Ct on Tues -- a lot of stuff going on :it shows a 1mm increase in the colorectal met in my lung now 8mm...went thru a laproscopic thoracic resection in Feb for a lung met that was followed for 9 months, so I have learned to live with cancer in the lung that can not be cured, also a "tiny" liver met () had 20% removed 3 years ago) so again I have learned to live with stuff in my liver a day by day thing.

Lymph node disease is stable.!!

Bone mets appear to have increased but both my colorectal onc and prostate onc say results not conclusive, and the fact that I have no pain!! in March was taking 4-6 Norcos daily for pain. But nothing since starting docetaxol/carboplatin and the xgeva in April ......PSA is still high, but I walk 2-3 miles daily after I recover from the darn chemo.

I used to watch my PSA like a Hawk...if it moved just .1 I would freak. Last year after failing both enzo and abby my PSA went from around 5 to 259 in about 6 months....I was so preoccupied with my lung surgery and wow did this happen fast BUT remember that I was dx with advanced pca in 2002... so 14 years !!! anyway I did a baseline PSA b-4 starting chemo.....I pre-decided at that point for my sanity to not look at PSA s till the CT results were in. Wow today after 4 tx I see my baseline chemo , whoa my PSA had climbed to 540 doubling in 2 weeks!! Today it is down to 288 measured after 3 tx......both my onc are very happy about this but I am still learning to live with PSAs that are in space

I have a saying: as long as I have more better days than bad Life is good.For sure dealing with colon cancer as well PCAa has been tough...It was the coloncancer that has been the cancer in my lungs and liver caused by SRT 10 years ago.
Ayway for first time in#3weeks I am enjoying some Ballast Point Porter @ 11abv.....so time to sign.

Maybe the message is to enjoy each and every day and don't agonize over a .01 change, stay vigilant but there is a limit

Great update! You are right, we just want more better days than bad. I love your attitude. You have had a crap storm thrown at you and you keep trudging along throwing it back. I wish you success on your chemo rounds and hope they make a difference. You take care brother. -JR

Hey Ziggy- I hope I can be like you 14 years from now... walkin 2-3 miles per day and hoisting a porter, all because you can in the face of your health burden- you inspire me- thanks1

here's to fightin'

rf

I admire the way you take things as they come.

From a fellow prostate/colon cancer combo person, hang in there. You have a lot going on! Your attitude is great!
SC

ZM,

You know how to live life to the fullest on life's terms....an inspiration to us all. Thanks for posting an update. Take care and hang in there.

Steve, you will find the courage....you said "I want to live" that says it all.....you can read the other posts to get more information...it is doable but unpleasant for a few days....small price to pay for life !! Also just take things one step at a time....if I thought about all crap that I've dealt with and what I will continue to deal with I would go stark raving mad...so day by day.

Ziggy, I am right behind you and had my fourth on July 11. I told my doctor that the after affects have a pattern and mine is almost identical to yours. I got further this round but a doctor visit in a cold office caused me to spiral down and the weekend has been heck so far. Hoping for some improvement tomorrow. Roughly two of the three weeks is misery with leg pain, bone pain, chills, fever, extreme fatigue and lousy sleep.

One question, you talk about enjoying your beverage. I cannot taste a darn thing. Even water taste bad. My taste buds were fried completely on the first round and each round drives them further away. I asked my doctor if they would recoup. He says yes. I hope he is right. I have very little of life's pleasures left.

I also have developed neuropathy in my hands. This could be permanent. Sometimes I wish I had not started down this path. I fear I have done more harm than good. PSA has barely budged.

Good luck to you Ziggy.
Don

don,
You ice your hands and feet during the infusions and suck on ice chips, right? That's the only thing I know that helps, but I guess some are more sensitive than others.

- Allen

Hello !

My oncologist and chemo nurses made SURE that I had ice chips to chew continuously during the TAXOTERE chemotherapy infusion process, to protect my taste buds.

A friend of mine went through the same treatments ... along the way, he FORGOT to ask for ice chips and realized his mistake ... a couple of nights later, he went out to a Mexican restaurant and told me he had lost his sense of taste ... his lesson learned: ASK FOR ICE CHIPS to help preserve your sense of taste.

My chemo nurses kept my hands and feet in ice packs during EVERY chemo infusion ... my oncologist believed in this method whole-heartedly ...

So, during the chemo infusions, a towel or pillow was placed upon my lap --- with ice bags for both my hands ...

A towel was also placed at my feet ... ice bags were placed at my feet ... they asked me to remove my shoes, but my socks stayed on ... and the ice bags on the floor were there for my feet.

All of this was new to me at the time, but they explained it was to help prevent neuropathy ... I shrugged my shoulders, probably shot them a look of disbelief or skepticism, and said, "Sounds good to me ... whatever works ?!!"

I now hear of this MORE AND MORE AND MORE, so I believe this "ice bag" and "ice chip" strategy has become much more widely implemented across the country. In my belief, it can't hurt and it certainly might help ...

In my case, I was fortunate, and did NOT experience any neuropathy or loss of taste ... in my case, I feel that the ice bags and ice chips probably DID help protect me --- other friends of mine who are now going through chemo treatments are telling me that their doctors are also using the "ice techniques" ---

Meanwhile ---I am mindful of my brothers here who have neuropathy ... and hope the effects continue to diminish over time ... always mindful of my BATTLE BROTHERS out there ...

This website is a perfect way to share tips, techniques, and first-hand experiences with things like this ---

Just a little insight to share,
Iowa State "Cyclone Fan"

Dan has been icing with each chemo treatment and so far has had no ill effects. I purchased a couple pairs of cold therapy mitts for him to try at his next treatment. I found them on a boxing website called Title Boxing for $5/pair. They have a mitten shaped gel liner that can be frozen or heated. I'll let you know how they work. Good luck with your future treatments.