Eight weeks out from chemo completion

Well in my eighth week after cessation of chemo. Things are improving...slowly. Keep having new stuff pop up but not sure related to chemo. Tendonitis in ankle and elbow. Elbow likely caused by trying to clean up after Matthew. Ankle been there for a while.

Still weak and not much stamina. But I an walking closer to normal and do not look like a try out for the walking dead. Chemo brain is really starting to bug me. Can't seem to get the simplest words to come out.

Recently began getting cramps and diarrhea in the mornings. But usually ok for the rest of the day.

Neuropathy in hands and feet continue. Subdued in the morning but by evening hands are painful and burning. I take an oxycodone pill in the evening and it calms things down. Knocks me out too.

Went to onco yesterday and report was PSA 4 and T 3. I had no idea T could go that low. He mentioned some other test that measures bone issues and said it was very good so we did not do Xgeva. (?)

I did not get into the trial (SMART) as the screener said my cancer was stable. My scans showed spread of bone cancer to leg and ribs. I think she made the call on the lung nodule improvement. So, wondering what to do next. I guess I could try Zytiga. Don't like the idea of the prednisone though. Got a follow up in November with rad onc.

I find myself becoming less interested in pursuing further treatments and do not read the research blurbs as avidly as I once did. Becoming somewhat ambivalent.

Best to all ,

Don

I'm sorry there are still so many after-effects from the chemo. Hopefully they will dissipate over time.

Your PSA is still low, so that's good at least. The prednisone just corrects for what the Zytiga takes away. Maybe your insurance will approve Xtandi.

The STAMPEDE trial showed a benefit to taking Zometa (or Xgeva) with Celebrex - you can ask your MO about that. Maybe you can qualify for Provenge or an immunotherapy trial.

Hi don, you deserve to be feeling a bit ambivalent, your body just went through a (chemo) war. You need passage of time to get better. Give yourself a break. Day at a time. Take walks, they are useful in so many ways. Still so many options. Sounds like you have a good time watching out for you. And us on this side. Many medicines in the pipeline (even if you don´t read so much anymore), believe me, every day we are closer to a great PC medicine.

Hi Don,

Hey, Almost said Hi Don twice. Chemo fog brother. it's so good to hear your journey and that things are improving for you. I know what you mean about researching. My avid researching has diminished during and after chemo. I thought hmmm guess I'm losing interest, but I think it's the chemo playing head games. After a little time the interest comes back to a certain degree.

Regarding neuropathy: my feet were burning after Taxotere, my first round of chemo treatments in 2013/2014. I put up with it until this year and finally complained about it instead of mentioning it to the doctor in passing. Started taking Gabapentin 300mg at night when it gets really bad. My feet are still numb, however the burning is gone and the affects of the gaba lasts most of the next day.

My last chemo, that just ended, I wore iced gloves and slippers. Seemed to work for me.

Keep going. Im' with you brother.

Rick

Thanks for the responses and suggestions. The acupuncture sounds interesting. I had a friend with throat cancer who did this and he said it helped a great deal in controlling the pain. (He beat his cancer by the way... 14 years disease free).

I take the gabapentin twice a day. Doesn't seem to do much but I can't really tell.

When I get to feeling better I am thinking about a trip up to the North Georgia lakes for a few days and just doing a little communing with nature. Maybe even pick up a rod and reel too.

Best to all,
Don

fishing sounds great man! take care buddy.

ed