Rob's Second Chemo Session
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From: tanadashoes on 23 Sep 2008 01:05 I don't know what it is, I take Rob in for his chemo, and as soon as he's hooked up to the IVs, I fall asleep. Four hours later, he's fed (a courtesy for the patients, care givers fend for themselves), rested, unhooked from the IVs and I take him home. I thought we were going to get by without Ralph calling as Rob had taken anti nausea medications earlier, but they must have worn off. The bathroom is clean now. Poor Rob. He never got sick more than once every couple of years and the only times he got this ill were from chemo. I think it is worst for those who aren't used to being ill. He gets so embarrassed when he gets sick, and no matter how many people tell him that there's nothing to be upset about, he still gets upset. I know he's not doing his best as Huey, QC, and Merlin have taken position on the bed near him and Tanada is on a blanket at the foot of the bed. Qui Gun Kit, Sonya, and Pine Cone have looked in, decided that the bed is full and gone into Mike's room instead. The owners are worried about him, I think. Pam S. also worried
From: csm7532 on 23 Sep 2008 11:01 On Sep 22, 11:05 pm, "tanadashoes" <tan...(a)earthlink.net> wrote: > I don't know what it is, I take Rob in for his chemo, and as soon as he's > hooked up to the IVs, I fall asleep. Four hours later, he's fed (a courtesy > for the patients, care givers fend for themselves), rested, unhooked from > the IVs and I take him home. > > I thought we were going to get by without Ralph calling as Rob had taken > anti nausea medications earlier, but they must have worn off. The bathroom > is clean now. Poor Rob. He never got sick more than once every couple of > years and the only times he got this ill were from chemo. I think it is > worst for those who aren't used to being ill. He gets so embarrassed when > he gets sick, and no matter how many people tell him that there's nothing to > be upset about, he still gets upset. > > I know he's not doing his best as Huey, QC, and Merlin have taken position > on the bed near him and Tanada is on a blanket at the foot of the bed. Qui > Gun Kit, Sonya, and Pine Cone have looked in, decided that the bed is full > and gone into Mike's room instead. The owners are worried about him, I > think. > > Pam S. also worried I sympathize with Rob---nausea is awful, and vomiting can hurt. Embarrassment over the mess just adds insult to injury. You may want to check with the oncologist and the nurse(s) to be sure he's getting all the anti-nausea meds he's supposed to get. My worst nausea was after a nurse decided I didn't really need all the meds my onc ordered. If he's getting all he's been prescribed, ask the onc if there's anything more he can prescribe. I had two oral meds that helped. One was something like prochlorperazine, and did a pretty good job. Another was Emend, and it was wonderful, if a bit expensive. Your medical pros should have the best idea of what's appropriate for Rob. Sometimes, nothing is enough. Good luck with getting improved meds. Also, be sure to avoid giving Rob his favorite foods when he's most likely to get nauseous---it can build in an unfortunate and hard to break association. --- CSM
From: J on 23 Sep 2008 17:39 tanadashoes wrote: > I don't know what it is, I take Rob in for his chemo, and as soon as he's > hooked up to the IVs, I fall asleep. Four hours later, he's fed (a courtesy > for the patients, care givers fend for themselves), rested, unhooked from > the IVs and I take him home. > > I thought we were going to get by without Ralph calling as Rob had taken > anti nausea medications earlier, but they must have worn off. The bathroom > is clean now. Poor Rob. He never got sick more than once every couple of > years and the only times he got this ill were from chemo. I think it is > worst for those who aren't used to being ill. He gets so embarrassed when > he gets sick, and no matter how many people tell him that there's nothing to > be upset about, he still gets upset. > > I know he's not doing his best as Huey, QC, and Merlin have taken position > on the bed near him and Tanada is on a blanket at the foot of the bed. Qui > Gun Kit, Sonya, and Pine Cone have looked in, decided that the bed is full > and gone into Mike's room instead. The owners are worried about him, I > think. > > Pam S. also worried Hi Pam, I've just found two writeups on the same Phase II clinical trial of Avastin and CPT-11 for brain tumors. One's less than honest - does not show that some were Grade III glioma http://jco.ascopubs.org/cgi/content/abstract/25/30/4722 This one does http://clincancerres.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/13/4/1253 "We conducted a phase II trial of bevacizumab and irinotecan in adults with recurrent grade III-IV glioma. The dose of irinotecan was determined based on antiepileptic use:" (I forget if Rob's on an antiepileptic or not) "Results: Thirty-two patients were assessed (23 with grade IV glioma and 9 with grade III glioma). Radiographic responses were noted in 63% (20 of 32) of patients (14 of 23 grade IV patients and 6 of 9 grade III patients). The median progression-free survival was 23 weeks for all patients (95% confidence interval, 15-30 weeks; 20 weeks for grade IV patients and 30 weeks for grade III patients). The 6-month progression-free survival probability was 38% and the 6-month overall survival probability was 72%. No central nervous system hemorrhages occurred, but three patients developed deep venous thromboses or pulmonary emboli, and one patient had an arterial ischemic stroke." Are you being honest with Rob, Pam? Seems to me he has the right to know what he's fighting and suffering for? (that's a question, not a typo). Only you and he can answer. Hugs to you all, probably gets better further away from each treatment? I hope so. J
From: tanadashoes on 23 Sep 2008 22:07 "J" <xewsnswex(a)nalid;"no> wrote in message news:48D9621C.9F897B1(a)execulink.com... > > Hi Pam, > I've just found two writeups on the same Phase II clinical trial of > Avastin and > CPT-11 > for brain tumors. > One's less than honest - does not show that some were Grade III glioma > http://jco.ascopubs.org/cgi/content/abstract/25/30/4722 > > This one does > http://clincancerres.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/13/4/1253 > "We conducted a phase II trial of bevacizumab and irinotecan in adults > with > recurrent grade III-IV glioma. > The dose of irinotecan was determined based on antiepileptic use:" > (I forget if Rob's on an antiepileptic or not) > "Results: Thirty-two patients were assessed (23 with grade IV glioma and 9 > with > grade III glioma). > Radiographic responses were noted in 63% (20 of 32) of patients (14 of 23 > grade > IV patients and 6 of 9 grade III patients). > The median progression-free survival was 23 weeks for all patients (95% > confidence interval, 15-30 weeks; 20 weeks for grade IV patients and 30 > weeks > for grade III patients). The 6-month progression-free survival probability > was > 38% and the 6-month overall survival probability was 72%. No central > nervous > system hemorrhages occurred, but three patients developed deep venous > thromboses > or pulmonary emboli, and one patient had an arterial ischemic stroke." > > Are you being honest with Rob, Pam? > Seems to me he has the right to know what he's fighting and suffering for? > (that's a question, not a typo). > Only you and he can answer. > > Hugs to you all, probably gets better further away from each treatment? > I hope so. > J > I went over this information with him. He feels it is worth the risks and to get what quality time he can get. He is on an antiepileptic, Dilantin. Pam S.
From: J on 24 Sep 2008 06:50
tanadashoes wrote: > "J" <xewsnswex(a)nalid;"no> wrote in message > Phase II clinical trial of Avastin and CPT-11 for brain tumors. > > > http://clincancerres.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/13/4/1253 > > "We conducted a phase II trial of bevacizumab and irinotecan in adults > > with recurrent grade III-IV glioma. > > The dose of irinotecan was determined based on antiepileptic use:" > > (I forget if Rob's on an antiepileptic or not) > > "Results: Thirty-two patients were assessed (23 with grade IV glioma and 9 > > with > > grade III glioma). > > Radiographic responses were noted in 63% (20 of 32) of patients (14 of 23 > > grade > > IV patients and 6 of 9 grade III patients). > > The median progression-free survival was 23 weeks for all patients (95% > > confidence interval, 15-30 weeks; 20 weeks for grade IV patients and 30 > > weeks for grade III patients).<snip> > > Are you being honest with Rob, Pam? > > Seems to me he has the right to know what he's fighting and suffering for? > > (that's a question, not a typo). > > Only you and he can answer. > > > I went over this information with him. He feels it is worth the risks and > to get what quality time he can get. He is on an antiepileptic, Dilantin. > Thanks Pam. That tells me something - he's alert and functional. That's a good thing. :) It sounded bleak from the description of his sleeping and the cats. I found more answers. ACS says that Avastin makes the Camptosar (CPT-11) stay in the system longer. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CDG/content/CDG_bevacizumab.asp There's 2 theories about Avastin "Bevacizumab attaches to a protein called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). It is thought that by doing this, the drug stops tumors from being able to create new blood vessels. This limits their supply of nutrients, which in turn is thought to slow or stop their growth. For this reason, bevacizumab is sometimes referred to as an anti-angiogenic drug. Another theory is that it may work by making tumor blood vessels (which are usually leaky) more stable, allowing chemotherapy to get into cancer cells more effectively." The combo must be relatively safe, since it's been approved by Health Canada for lung cancer. That makes me feel better. Now (for you) to find out tips on how to prevent or ameliorate the vomiting. Best wishes, Let us know any tips please. Others might be interested. J |