Any specific questions for Oncologist after 1st chemo treatment?? - Lymphomas Message Board

singer78 · 06-07-2007, 07:01 AM

Hi,
I have an appt. later today with my Oncologist for blood work, etc...
I posted a different post yesterday, and quite a few people wrote a few long, enlightening, lenghty explanations about Hodgkin's and it's treatment. One thing that came up, was radiation after chemo. I'm certainly going to address that today, as I've only had 2 small sessions with my Oncologist so far. The last few posts made me aware that I need to ask questions & seek answers, other than the usual "is this normal?" and "is that normal?"---are there any other specific things (other than radiation treatment) I should ask?
I had such an awry of weird symptoms during this first chemo...thank goodness it's subsided on day # 6, to the point that I'm feeling "alive" and somewhat normal again.
I had quite a bit of abdominal cramping throughout it all --I'm certainly going to address that.
Shoulder pain, too---which I practically LIVE on Tylenol's---although it is getting somewhat better.
If anyone has any tips about my appt., and what to address, please let me know. Otherwise, the main topic will probably be about the "rest" of my treatment concerning radiation, which in yesterday's post, raised a lot of questions for me. Linda (the one who posted) spoke of secondary cancers caused by radiation, and speaks first-hand, because it's happened in her family.
Please let me know if you will, and if you've read this & don't have anything to add---Have a wonderful, healthy day

S.

pinkmada · 06-07-2007, 07:09 AM

hey, i don't want to scare you or worry you any more than you already are but secondary cancers are a risk with chemo too. Chemotherapy is another type of radiation therapy. I've never found statistics that say which gives more of an increased risk but i know that chemo increases your risk of a secondary cancer (esp breast cancer) by 23%.

If you think of any questions for your oncologist, write them down because you will forget, and nothing is too trivial if it's causing you to worry!

xx

singer78 · 06-07-2007, 07:18 AM

Do you think, they "have" to tell you all the risks, just to cover themselves, because of potential law suits? Like on the back of a bottle of med's--any medication bottle---they always state "this risk" and "that risk"...which doesn't necessarily mean you're going to get it....maybe only 1% of people will get it, but "they" have to let it be known. maybe....? I'm trying to psyche myself into thinking they don't mean "me." LOL
Do you happen to know of any statistics out there for people using the mixture ABVD and it's "cure rate" concerning Hodgkin's?
I'm riding such a rollercoaster here. I feel up....then down....hopeful....scared.... I know knowledge is power, but it's also alarming, at times.
Thanks. You're always informative. I did not know that chemotherapy was a form of radiation. You're teaching me....

X

pinkmada · 06-07-2007, 10:00 AM

ABVD is this first combination to have completely cured a person of hodgkins. And i know that it is one of the least aggressive tyoes of treatment.

Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are basically poison being pumped into our bodies. Your oncologist will prescribe the best combination he thinks is suited to you and takes everything into consideration including height, weight, age and B symptoms (weight loss, night sweats, fevers etc) because even though we are recieving ABVD i know that i am the only person getting that treatment at the hospital and i think you are the first person i've spoken to on here that is recieving it. everyone else seems to be getting rituxan(?) and CHOPP.
Good luck at your oncologists
xxx

singer78 · 06-07-2007, 10:10 AM

Hey there,
If I recall, Ails (Aileen) from England had Hodgkin's a few years back & I believe she had ABVD. The only problem I seemed to have, when they were administering it, was the last "D"---whatever that stuff is....it made my heart pound & when I mentioned it, the nurse's all came running & slowed the drip down quite a bit. I came home & still felt it a little---took half a xanax and that seemed to help. I probably was experiencing a little anxiety, too, from it all.
I've noticed quite a few people getting the other treatment you mentioned. I can't imagine anything harsher, than what I'm getting right now. This has been rough, but I'm beginning to understand the "pattern," and why treatment is so necessary. My collarbone node is still causing me problems---making my shoulder ache...sometimes debilitating....That's where all my problems started. It needs to shrink.
Gotta get ready to see my buddy, the Oncologist. Thanks again ...
I'll be in touch.
S.