Diffuse Large B-Cell: My experiences with chemo (RCHOP)

skyblue4848 · New User Joined: 06 Apr 2008 Posts: 7

Hi,

I have just completed my 6th and (hopefully) final session of chemotherapy. I’m now bracing myself for the next phase: radiotherapy Smile

I just wanted to take this opportunity to share my experiences while undergoing chemotherapy with the hope that you may learn from what I experienced. What may have worked for/happened to me may not work for/happen to you. Obviously, consult with your oncologist and/or any other specialist on what works best for you.

1) Port usage: I had a port installed on my right upper chest region through which the chemo could be injected and blood samples drawn. The port worked fine for injecting the chemo but no blood was being drawn. This was a red flag that should not have been ignored as you read below. My oncologist assured me that this was normal and that by subsequent sessions blood should be drawn from the port. Well, it never did. He assured me that the key thing was that the port was working for the chemo. In the interim, they would draw blood from my hand/arm using the normal needle stick. Using this arrangement, everything went smoothly for the first 3 sessions. However, the day after the 4th session, I started getting a red inflammation along the catheter. Apparently, a blood clot had been developing where the catheter enters the vein; this created a back pressure which forced the chemicals to go into my body (subcutaneous) tissues alongside the catheter. The red inflammation was due to extravasation action by the Adriamycin on my body tissues. It was this same blood clot that had caused the problem of drawing blood that I earlier described. As a result of this I have a permanent scarring in the extravasation area. Lesson learned: If I were able to turn the clock back, I would never have used a port. As the port was rendered useless, the 5th and 6th sessions of chemo were carried out through the needle stick in my hand and I had no problems coz my veins were good. If you have good/strong veins, I recommend that you use the needle stick option to avoid the potential irreversible damage I experienced and the surgeries to insert and subsequently remove the port. If you must use the port, ensure that the chemo can be injected in AND that blood samples can be drawn through the port at the start of EACH session.

2) Kytril: One of the side effects you may experience is nausea and/or vomiting. I never tried Compazine but Kytril worked well for me and I hardly experienced nausea (and never vomited). The only catch with Kytril is that I experienced constipation. Trust me: when it comes to constipation, prevention is better than cure Smile

I was caught totally off guard during my 1st session and experienced constipation for almost 2 weeks after the session. Lesson learned: Take a laxative (Phillips’ Milk of Magnesia worked for me) from the day you start taking Kytril. The constipation never resurfaced for the remaining 5 sessions.

3) Vincristine: Vincristine has neuropathic tendencies and in my case I experienced ulna nerve entrapment (numbness to my left 4th and 5th finger) shortly after the 5th session. While vincristine doesn’t directly cause the entrapment, the neuropathic tendencies weakened my nerves along my left hand and my neurologist suspected that the continuous leaning of arm on my computer desk or against the car window may have made me vulnerable to the entrapment. After my oncologist and neurologist consulted on the matter, my oncologist switched me to vinblastine for the 6th session as it has comparatively lower neuropathic tendencies. Lesson learned: Numbness is a normal side effect of vincristine but keep your oncologist informed about any unusual developments such as ulna nerve entrapment so that he can make the appropriate decision e.g. switch the medications.

Hope you find the above helpful and I wish you all the best in your individual battles against cancer.
_________________
Age: 38
Age at time of diagnosis: 38
Clinical Stage: Diffuse Large B-cell NHL stage 2B
Growth sites: left neck lymph node and medastinal region
Finished 6 sessions of R-CHOP
Completed 23 sessions of Radiotherapy

ChemoMan

Hi

Snap I just finished too. No Radiation though. I'm at day 13 of cycle 6 and I am waiting to start feeling normal again.

Good luck with the rest of it
_________________
Age 52
Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma
Stage 2a
Finished six cycles of R chop 21 26th May 2008
Officially in remission 9th July 2008
Remission confirmed 1st October 2008
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=9620

brainman

skyblue4848, I still have problems feeling my toes due to vincristine from 15 years ago Confused

.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

skyblue4848 · New User Joined: 06 Apr 2008 Posts: 7

[quote="ChemoMan"]Hi

Snap I just finished too. No Radiation though. I'm at day 13 of cycle 6 and I am waiting to start feeling normal again.

Good luck with the rest of it[/quote]

Thanks ChemoMan. Best wishes to you too!
_________________
Age: 38
Age at time of diagnosis: 38
Clinical Stage: Diffuse Large B-cell NHL stage 2B
Growth sites: left neck lymph node and medastinal region
Finished 6 sessions of R-CHOP
Completed 23 sessions of Radiotherapy

skyblue4848 · New User Joined: 06 Apr 2008 Posts: 7

[quote="brainman"]skyblue4848, I still have problems feeling my toes due to vincristine from 15 years ago Confused

.[/quote]

Sorry to hear that, Brainman. It's actually on the strength of your advice on the same topic elsewhere that I consulted with my oncologist/neurologist and made the switch to vinblastine. Thanks for sharing your experience and advice and hopefully others will benefit from our experiences.
_________________
Age: 38
Age at time of diagnosis: 38
Clinical Stage: Diffuse Large B-cell NHL stage 2B
Growth sites: left neck lymph node and medastinal region
Finished 6 sessions of R-CHOP
Completed 23 sessions of Radiotherapy

Musicman · New User Joined: 13 Jun 2008 Posts: 1

I am 14 days past my 4th RCHOP and this time my immune system collapsed. I'm in the hospital now getting "elephant gun" antibiotics due to infections. Anyone else have this experience?

ChemoMan

[quote="Musicman"]I am 14 days past my 4th RCHOP and this time my immune system collapsed. I'm in the hospital now getting "elephant gun" antibiotics due to infections. Anyone else have this experience?[/quote]

It can happen. I got a bad infection in my other armpit, in my first cycle. They gave me shots of a drug called neulasta, generic name pegfilgastrim, which boosts white blood cells. I also had antibiotics. They gave me the neulasta every time I had chemo, I had a shot 24 hours after the chemo at home self administered. The worst side effect is sore bones especially the pelvis. Despite all this I still got an infection, in a tooth, and needed antibiotics, this was in cycle 4. The antibiotics made me very sick, I vomited for 8 and a half hours the day after chemo Sad

You immune system still works just not at its best. If your immune system had collapsed you would probably be eaten alive from the inside by bacteria within 48 hours. You need to be extra careful about contact with others and your own hygiene.
Another thing to consider is diet. Because your gut is not absorbing minerals and vitamins properly, your ability to fight infections is compromised. Also because taste is an issue you may be unable to eat enough vegetables and fruit. I took one multi vitamin cap per day, recommended dose was 2 per day, but only during weeks 2 and 3 of a cycle. It helped a lot, particularly for skin infections. I did ask my hematologist and he was fine with it. I managed to avoid chest infections until the very last cycle when a friend decided to pay a visit , with a bad cold. I got really crook but as there was no more chemo I recovered without antibiotics. 6 weeks out from my last chemo and I reckon that everything is back to normal. No more skin infections, my mouth is back to normal, my bowel actions are normal and my hair is starting to come back, and I am starting to enjoy all the things I used to eat before Smile

Hang in there Bro it will get better Wink

_________________
Age 52
Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma
Stage 2a
Finished six cycles of R chop 21 26th May 2008
Officially in remission 9th July 2008
Remission confirmed 1st October 2008
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=9620

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