Update on Dad: Chemo begins, finally

[Adrian]

Took almost two months from the date of scary X-rays, but dad is at the oncologist as I write to begin his chemo (only carboplatin today, gemzar and avastin to follow).

They did full scans earlier this week and the good news is that sans treatment (save for the WBR) there have been no further mets or appreciable changes in the primary. I suppose the only better news there could have been under the (terrible) circs was that he has sarcoids (go sarcoid theory go!).

That said, dad's dry cough is truly terrible and persistent and nothing to date has helped significantly (even the hard stuff such as hydrocodone gives minor relief at best). I understand that the cough is probably tumor related and to that extent, tumor response to the chemo may itself reduce his cough---but I'm just surprised that the stuff theyve given him so far has not itself at least suppressed the cough.

Anyhow, today is D-day on the primary. Scary, but necessary.

Best to all, thank you for your continuing support.

[Don M]

Good luck to to your dad with his treatment Adrian. I hope his cough improves markedly. I know how annoying it can be. I have a cough, that fortunately I can manage with cough drops and codeine.

don M

[Wendy]

Best wishes to your dad during his treatment. I have my fingers and toes crossed that he will be finding relief with his cough and stamping out the disease.

Keep us posted,

Wendy

[recce101]

I know it's a relief to finally get started on the chemo. My first taxol/carbo/avastin session was done in 2 days also -- some sort of lab delay -- but all the others were in just one (long) day.

That cough sounds like the pits. Throat gets sore and there's no end in sight. My cough was what led me to go to our family doctor in the first place. I don't really understand the mechanism that caused it, but it improved considerably after I got the fluid drained and hasn't been a problem since. But your dad's cough may be something different if he didn't have a pleural effusion and shortness of breath.

Give him my best! Aloha,

Ned

[ztweb]

Best of luck to you and dad. So glad that you are finally in the treatment lane...the diagnosis lane is so scary....and once you are ready to fight, you are ready! Please know I am praying for you!

Jen

[tiredmom959]

I'll be hoping for minimal-to-no side effects for your dad. Keep us posted.

[wondermom]

I pray for a quick response to the chemo for your Dad. My mom's cough improved very quickly after starting chemo. I would say within a week she saw significant relief!

[Lady Salt]

Wishing your dad a speedy recovery from that cough and an easy chemo treatment. Please keep us informed

[fillise]

I'm praying that your Dad has a good and swift (No coughing!) response to the chemo.

susan

[VegasMomOf3]

You are all in my prayers!!

Be Blessed,

Donna

[shineladysue]

Best of luck to your dad and prayers for the entire family. Keep us posted with all the updates.

Sue

[Steph74]

My mom was the same way - the cough was finally contained after Radiation to her chest. They will do it for symptom management (pallitative) care.

[dtay]

Best wishes, thinking of you x

[Adrian]

Update: Carbo 1.5 weeks ago, Gemzar last thursday.

mild nausea, debilitating fatigue/weakness. No appettite. (and that's me, dad is another story----ok bad "joke")

Wisdom/advice appreciated, especially in regards to combatting/dealing with fatigue.

the fatigue may still well be a result of the WBR which was completed less than a month ago.

[Kirsty]

We've been told that the side-effects of radiotherapy can take some weeks to pass off - and WBR is notorious for making people tired. The message seems to be not to try and push yourself through the fatigue - a bit of fresh air and change of scene every day is a good thing, but not to overdo it. I've found this helpful:

http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/help/defau ... page=10273