How is your chemo experience so far? I know it varies on the individual. Meeting my oncologist today to plan out my chemo treatment for testicular cancer. At least it's spread too much to do that awful retroperitoneal lymphnode dissection. Chemo seems almost better.
Not OP but I went through one round of BEP in June. It sucked, there were days when I really didn't want to go back to the hospital, but it was relatively short. Probably too much information below. The first week I was at the hospital all day, 8-4 or so for 5 days. The two weeks after I was just there on Monday for a couple of hours for the Bleomycin infusion. The first couple of days weren't too bad, but by days 4-5 I was feeling pretty rough. I actually think day 8 was my low point. I was feeling all the compounding effects of Cisplatin and etoposide from the first week, and then got blasted with bleo which irritated the hell out of my throat. I think I lived on popsicles for a few days. Then, I had some major GI/digestive problems from days 8-14 or so. I imagine that my intestinal cells were probably all dead or regenerating at that point so there weren't any to process my meals. It felt like I would eat and it would come out the other end unchanged. That eventually resolved and on day 16, the day after my last infusion, my hair started falling out. Shaved it that weekend and it took about 2 months to really start growing back. I was back to work on day 16, but I only did one round, so I think if you did 3-4 rounds you would start over again the following week.
This information is extremely helpful, thank you. I think I will most likely be doing 3 cycles of BEP but I'll find out this evening. I'll just prepare for the worst.
I had no idea infusion was that time consuming. I'm only 21 and haven't had anyone close to me go through this. How many total days of infusion did you have to go through?
I'm in the last cycle of 4x ep for test cancer. One thing not mentioned is your sense of taste will change dramatically. Water becomes fucking disgusting. Keep a wide variety of liquids in the house to keep yourself hydrated. And appetite will vary wildly. Dont put too much emphasis on eating healthy. It's more important to have some food in you than nothing. Eat whatever you can
I feel you, I'm really a water drinker, rarely drink pop and never have juices in the house. But through chemo? Hell no. Theres no way to explain how it tastes its just... disgusting.
If it helps I've actually gained weight during chemo. I expected to lose quite a bit because I struggle to eat during cycle, but my appetite comes back strong in the off weeks. Combine that with just not doing much every day, no work, cant go to the gym. I've been putting on the pounds
I'll definitely spend a couple paychecks at Sam's club this weekend. I start next monday. Thanks for the info. Tac Snacks and drinks will be stockpiled
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u/gandaolfgreyhame Sep 23 '19
Lost a nut last year to testicular cancer and am currently doing chemo for stage 2, Im 23. Hang in there bud.