TO Debbie - Lymphomas Message Board

beckyb46 · 09-19-2006, 06:52 AM

I will be starting Rituxan on Friday. I go for my chemo talk today. My Dr said that he sent it 2 diff paths and it came back CLL indolent. But in my bone marrow also. So I will getting Rituxan for 4 Friday's then 1 once either 3 or 6 months not sure yet.
I had 3 units of blood on Friday because my crit was down to 14, And that made me feel wonderful, Doc was very impressed about how much better I looked.
Will let you all know Friday how things went.
Did they give you IV benadryl with Rituxan?
Take care

ash0479 · 09-19-2006, 08:15 AM

Becky when where you diagnosed...let us know what your chemo routine will look like, were you in an advanced stage and that is why chemo is being administered, I have heard from many people that this can be treated by radiation only?

beckyb46 · 09-19-2006, 08:29 AM

Apparently like alot of other people I have had this for a while. Except when my blood work went bad, I have felt perfectly wonderful. Walking 4 miles a day, going to gym 4 times a week.
My lymph nodes onmy neck started to enlarge, went to a ENT who jump on it right away with a biopsy, the sent me to oncologist who did pet scan bone marrow biopsy.
It wasn't till he did Bone marrow that he decided to do chemo.
So its like this.
Predisone 40mg every morning.
allopurinol which is a medicine for gout to protect my kidneys.every morning.
Start Rituxan on Friday for the next four fridays
Then once every 3 or 6 months. The Doc hasn't decided I guess my blood work will tell.
I am nervous about starting Rituxan I have a very hard time taking new meds I am afraid of side effects. Eventhough I have never had a side effect from a medication. Just my anxiety.
Take care

Nassau one · 09-19-2006, 11:40 AM

Hi Becky, firstly, Debbie will tell you how she experienced very few, if any side effects from Rituxan, which is not chemotherapy. It is a monoclonal antibody so the effects are usually mild if any at all. Yes, they do give Benadryl as a pre-med infusion. It will make you drowsy so make sure you have someone to take you home afterwards.

They will administer the Rituxan very slowly at first to make sure you can tolerate it. Most people can. So the first treatment will take longer than the following ones.

Hope all goes well on Friday...post back and let us know.

Love and prayers,

Debbiefix · 09-19-2006, 11:49 AM

Hey Becky! We're twins. I also have CLL. I had benedryl and tylenol by the way of pills. It was all a breeze for me. The first treatment will be long.. .my first was 5 hours I think...much shorter after that. In the evening of the treatments I would have a minor headache but nothing bad. I felt completely fine. They will administer the IV Rituxan real slow and every half hour or so, turn it up a little faster. It was really a breeze.
I had 4 treatments last July, then 8 in Dec/January because I only had a partial response. Then this June I found out I am in remission. I am now on Rituxan Maintenance and had 4 treatments in July. I'll have my CT and PET scan again in November and if all is well I'll have 4 more treatments in January. I will be on maintenance (every 6 months) for 2 years. Personally...I love Rituxan. I wish I could have it once a week for the rest of my life!
It sounds like your doctor treats it exactly the way my doctor does.