I'm now officially nervous about tomorrow.
I purposely didn't research all the side effects because I tend to dwell on things and I have an active imagination. Well, now I know the coming side effects (well, possible side effects) and I've felt nauseous all day, and I haven't had any meds yet... So I'm not looking forwards to tomorrow when I'll be nauseated for real.
I'll be taking 1100mg of the pill Capecitabine twice a day (=2200mg!), but I have to do it in 5 pills as they don't come in 1100mg dose sizes (1x 500mg + 4x 150mg = 1100mg). Also, I'm to take two different anti-nausea drugs 30 min before the first dose of chemo, and periodically for the next two days. I also have a 3rd anti-nausea drug that some describe as a super-gravol that is take as needed, but not often. All the anti-nausea drugs have side-effects of their own. I don't know if I'll be having diarrhea or constipation. Some do one, some do the other, so I'm hoping they'll cancel each other out.
However, it will take time for the side effects to "take effect", up to 6-8 days roughly for the worst symptoms. Then I'll stabilize somewhat and the symptoms will become more consistent, less variable. All are temporary and should stop after chemo is finished, except possibly the Chemo-Brain, or Chemo-Fog as they call it. Temporary memory loss or short-term memory loss, forgetting about where I put something, which word I meant to say (mid sentence) etc. I'm apparently allowed to use that as an excuse for anything I forget for the rest of my life. ;-)
But, so far, I'm the youngest adult I've seen at the cancer center by at least 15 years (usually older than mom & dad) with the exception of one preschooler who was there (and bald). So I'm hoping that my body can tolerate it better than some of the "standard" population of cancer examples that generate the symptom statistics listed for all these drugs.
If I'm lucky, I'll just be tremendously fatigued and most of the symptoms will pass me by (which is why I won't list the huge list here, I'll maybe list some upon request but only if I actually experience them).
So far, I have the "jitters" only. Chemo starts 10am tomorrow.
-- Shane
Short Executive Status (Summary) -- Blog is below
Active Tumors:
» 5+ liver tumors -- largest is 7 cm by 5.2 cm (70 x 52 mm), Gold tracers inserted Nov 21 for CyberKnife x-ray 3D movement tracking. Thu Dec 1st,2011, CyberKnife planning. Dec 16th, treatment 1/3 done to whole liver. Dec 19th, treatment 2/3 done to whole liver. Dec 21st, treatment 3 failed, couldn't get tracer alignment. Dec 22nd, treatment 2.5/3 done using 2 of 4 tracers. Final 0.5 treatment was to be done Tue Dec 27th. Cancelled due to complications and hospitalization.
» 12 lung tumors -- largest is 8 mm in size (0.8 cm)
» 1 lymph node tumor -- near left renal vein & artery of left kidney (1.4 cm). Nov 14th: Ultrasound done of both kidneys and bladder area, all 3 areas are cancer free.
» 3rd-8th brain tumors -- 6 new brain tumors. Sizes all less than 5mm(0.5cm). Some as small as 2mm(0.2cm). Full brain radiation or CyberKnife TBD in Jan after 2nd MRI to see speed of growth.
Inactive Tumors:
» 2nd brain tumor -- Killed via CyberKnife Sep 29/2011, 5 mm in size (0.5 cm).
» 1st brain tumor -- Killed via CyberKnife May/2011, was 20 mm in size (2 cm). Nov 21st, still showing brain tissue swelling, but not active.
» Original Esophogeal Cancer tumor (source of everything) -- Surgically removed June/2010 by 3-field Esophogectomy. Was roughly large egg sized.
[ Note: 2.54 cm = 25.4mm = 1 inch ]
Link to 34 surgery June 2010 pictures and some post surgery shots.
» 5+ liver tumors -- largest is 7 cm by 5.2 cm (70 x 52 mm), Gold tracers inserted Nov 21 for CyberKnife x-ray 3D movement tracking. Thu Dec 1st,2011, CyberKnife planning. Dec 16th, treatment 1/3 done to whole liver. Dec 19th, treatment 2/3 done to whole liver. Dec 21st, treatment 3 failed, couldn't get tracer alignment. Dec 22nd, treatment 2.5/3 done using 2 of 4 tracers. Final 0.5 treatment was to be done Tue Dec 27th. Cancelled due to complications and hospitalization.
» 12 lung tumors -- largest is 8 mm in size (0.8 cm)
» 1 lymph node tumor -- near left renal vein & artery of left kidney (1.4 cm). Nov 14th: Ultrasound done of both kidneys and bladder area, all 3 areas are cancer free.
» 3rd-8th brain tumors -- 6 new brain tumors. Sizes all less than 5mm(0.5cm). Some as small as 2mm(0.2cm). Full brain radiation or CyberKnife TBD in Jan after 2nd MRI to see speed of growth.
Inactive Tumors:
» 2nd brain tumor -- Killed via CyberKnife Sep 29/2011, 5 mm in size (0.5 cm).
» 1st brain tumor -- Killed via CyberKnife May/2011, was 20 mm in size (2 cm). Nov 21st, still showing brain tissue swelling, but not active.
» Original Esophogeal Cancer tumor (source of everything) -- Surgically removed June/2010 by 3-field Esophogectomy. Was roughly large egg sized.
[ Note: 2.54 cm = 25.4mm = 1 inch ]
 | 5 pictures included in album | ||
| 2011_11_16, Shane in BIG CHAIR |
Link to 34 surgery June 2010 pictures and some post surgery shots.
Latest Picture
Shane - 2011_11_27, Photo Shoot lighting prep
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Love you, bro. You'll be fine. Breathe. Read. Listen to music & comedy. Apparently laughing helps. Me and tons of others are praying that your side effects are minimal...except for the one you're hoping for...y'know...the one where it reduces the cancer. :)
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