Robert Macaulay

Kleo My oncologist is female and around forty years younger to me and i think she prefers to order ct scans for me at his time.Now that could change as the clinic she works is in the process of installing a new pet scan machine and is supposed to be operational in Jan-2019 and i am not putting my name forward to be a test pilot that might come soon enough. Any results in this game are better sooner rather than later. Bob

Kleo Feeling lot better today my Stomach muscles are still sore from all that coughing feels as if i did five situps in succession. lol When you are on Durvalumab i thought i read it is not advIsable to take Antibiotics ,I asked the doc if she had anything and she never replied so i said what about store bought products and she agreed.So couple of Mucinex a day and couples swigs of Robitussen will get me back to normal what ever normal is these days. lol. I got my curve ball thrown at me with the coughing hours after the infusion and was fully expecting to be given Predisone and the treatment stopped. You just got a fast ball thrown at you today and i fully expect i will get one someday as all cancer patients do during treatment . I am expecting a phone call early next week as my oncologist is back and looks at my scan from yesterday and compares it to Oct-29 results I might also be whistling Dixie or my favourite Que sera sera. The positives is they done the right thing giving you the Pet Scan and both doctors will come up with a new game plan based on what they interpret from the skin flick. lol Get your appointment book ready for 2019 and away we go again. Hi Ho Silver Bob

Well that was a intresting long day ,The clinic that does my checkup both doctors were unavailible and were GP, So the nurse told me to go to emergency i cringed and away i went and checked in at 10-30.They took blood work and the young doctor came in and checked me over and i told her the symptoms and the drug she never heard of it and ordered a x-ray. Thy gave me a private room which i was grateful for this time of year.Four hours later the doctor came back and was sorry for the delay. My oncologist in Victoria was on vacation and the on call individual had not returned her call. One hour later and those four wall in the private waiting room were not looking so good but the oncologist had called back and wanted a CT scan done, within ten minutes I had my IV in and taken right in as soon as got there for the scan. Got taken back to my private jail cell and that was taken. No big deal they had two.Doctor came in after about ten minutes and had been in discussion with the on call oncologist. with the results. She said they would rather not use predistone at his stage as it would mean cancelling Durvalumab. All they could see on the scan was Pneumonitis around the my tumor and other than that both lungs were clear of Pneumonitis and i agreed with there decision as the blood work was all good and oxygen levels no concern.Over the counter cough medicine will be choice at bedtime tonight. I do not have another infusion till Dec-19 and bet they will wait as see the doc on the 18th prior.What i found intresting the inflamation was all centered around the tumor, and with my extensive medical knowledge i have to take that as good sign. 😎 If you have to go to the emergency dept take as much information with you, I had all this information but never thought i was being sent there.All in All long day but pleased with the outcome even after coughing for seven hours last night. Bob

Heading down to the clinic this morning pretty sure i have Pheumonitis and yesterdays infusion just confirmed, as the cough was getting worse over the last two weeks. No big deal in the big picture. lol Bob

Kleo Well the tube of itch cream they give you in the gift basket might last you two days and the plastic water bottle is now on its way to be reycle depot, They must have paid more to the courier to deliver the contents. But to be fair they are covering all the costs for the infusions and clinic costs and without that i would not be getting this treatment at his time till the goverment make the decision to cover this drug. I am good till February till the next scan. My bet is they are waiting till nearer Xmas to give you your basket. Ho Ho Ho. Bob

When the drug company sends you cream in a gift basket, That tell you something. lol

That is the first thing the doctors ask me everytime do you have a rash. I say no just itch and she was going to give me cortisone cream yesterday for the itch and i told her how well the Derma-E was working and she replied just continue with it. Rash does seem to be big concern in side effects with this drug.

The one they sent is called Natureplex Maximum strength Hydrocotison Cream fast itch and rash relief. No idea how good it is as i use Derma -E Itch relief Lotion and it works great for me in minutes but i only have a itch no rash. Bob

Just received a box delivered by Fed Ex from the makers of durvalumab thought at first it was my drugs for tomorrows infusion as the doctor yesterday was saying she is the one giving approval now. It was a thank you gift with no expense spared, Water bottle. cream for itching, Calendar to mark any problems that might arise and nice red back to carry all that in with there logo very prominent. Oh well beggars cannot be choosers. Funny thing while getting my last infusion there was woman in the chair next to me and kept looking over and was reading a magazine i could not talk as my right hand had the drip in .Shen then says to me you look like Robert De Niro and then called the two nurses over to reveal her great discovery and they agreed. I just shook my head and smiled. Never a dull moment Bob

I went up to 208 pounds prior to my treatment in March this year on purpose. During the treatment stayed at 200 pounds.The last two full doses of chemo in July i lost all my hair and dropped to 172 pounds. Now steady at the 200 pounds mark since late August when starting durvalumab and decided to keep my hair short less grey hairs that way lol.

Sorry to hear that you could try Ibuprofen extra strength works for me.

Hi All Just got back from Victoria and my temperature light came on one hour into the drive lucky there was gas station nearby as the temp gauge stayed steady topped the bottle up and hoped for the best and that solved the problem the rest of the way down and all the way home. Seen the Doc and her resident assistant and the were very pleased with the Ct scan as it showed no progression and the tumour shows slight decrease since the last scan in July, She also said my lung were still bit inflamed but that is from the radiation and is normal. Both were very pleased with my condition and blood work i only now see the doctor once month during infusions instead of bi-weekly. She has scheduled another Ct scan in three months time and told me not to bother coming down to the clinic as she will call me at home with the results. One thing the resident doctor mentioned i thought was intresting this drug works for a very long time after your finished the treatment.On infusion number six this week and no side effects at all but he said the can come at any time so onward to the six month mark which is piece cake compared to a full dose of chemo. lol Bob

Kleo My bet is this time next week you can stop looking but maybe still scratchin. If you can avoid the cough and mine is very slight not even a concern to the doctor and your still good to Go, Your are on your way for the four infusion blue ribbon 😉

Never had rash but itchy skin yes and that is one question the doctor asks at each checkup do you have a rash and I seen a picture of a woman with the symtoms ouch!. Good luck on your scan, I am lucky I get mine a day before yours. lol

Thanks Eagle13 I have no illusions and very glad to be receiving this treatment and if it is not working I am sure they will find something for me to try. lol

Yes I go for my first Ct on the 29th of this month since starting the drug and my Oncologist stated prior to starting they will make a decision then to stop or continue. I meet with her on November-9 for that outcome.

Eagle13 Did you not see a doctor in between your Durvalumab infusions, I do. Going Monday afternoon and she will give me checkup and asks for any concerns prior to my next infusion.

No the coffee does not count in the water intake in this scenario.

My thought is metatastic would put a individual at stage 4?

It is like any other drug works for some and not for others , Doctor ever asked if you were allergic to Penicillin .

Welcome aboard yes you are correct the side effects that can occur must be closely monitored and my oncologist has assigned me a local doctor at the hospital for visit every two weeks prior to my infusion and blood work. I have to agree on the Fatique as soon as I feel it coming on I go and lay down no longer than hour and no less than twenty minutes and that works real well for me. I never try and fight it waste time other than that I feel good and the test will come with the CT scan on the 29th of this month. Que sera sera. Bob

Well he wiil probably not have to worry about getting haircut for while, I was fine up to the first full dose and then oh oh.

This is very intresting recent article on this drug. https://www.astrazeneca.com/media-centre/press-releases/2018/imfinzi-receives-positive-eu-chmp-opinion-for-locally-advanced-unresectable-non-small-cell-lung-cancer-27072018.html

Same routine but the doc thinks we should go monthly with the checkup but still bloodwork every two weeks.

No magazines and I doubt i will be taking them up on the free samples although I did think about it. lol. I get enough exercise every day with my dog so the pedometer will come in handy and the very expensive after shave wiil help maybe. Had any fatique yet?