post 6: “Happy hour” Chemo cocktails...
TIP 3: My Chemo Cocktails: Carbo / Taxol / Avastin...
The effects of my chemo cocktails // how I tried and often succeeded in taming them
Hello ,
As I told you during my post n°3 & post n°4 , on the days before / during & after chemo, I knew how to “tame” the protocol* with a little mastery, well yes after 36 sessions we has plenty of time to find his own tips ;)
*Don't get me wrong, by "taming the protocol" I mean that I found good tools to combat the side effects, I didn't attempt an escape or even try my own treatment (I completely trust to my oncologist), I followed the entire process to the letter ;)
I'm not going to lie to you at the beginning it was a bit of panic on board, I like to master, and clearly chemo was not yet my area of predilection, but one thing led to another and I learned some "good tips” (I have become an old “roader”)….
My K , as you understood: ovarian cancer . So my protocol * for MY K was:
* the protocol is basically the menu that you are served during the treatment: “cocktails” ;)
CARBOPLATIN / TAXOL / AVASTIN (6 courses, 1 course = 3 sessions)
My 3 famous sessions went like this:
1 session every week for 3 weeks, then 2 weeks of break, and repeat:
1st week: 1 session: CARBOPLATINE / TAXOL / AVASTIN (2h45)
2nd week: 1 session: TAXOL (1h30)
3rd week: 1 session: TAXOL / AVASTIN (2h)
then 2 weeks of break and it starts again, with the same "menu"..
This protocol lasted quite a while, in total I was able to “benefit” from 24 sessions (apparently this is not preferential treatment reserved for me, this is the case for the majority of K of the ovaries...)
After which from May 2014 , I “only” had Avastin alone every 3 weeks, arriving in September at 36, tadaaaam!! (the Big Day Announcement: REMISSION )
Excuse the technicality of the terms and the lack of lightness, at the start of this post, but it is really important to establish MY protocol, because once again (I'm rambling), each cancer is different, therefore each chemo is also different !
Indeed, the K du Sein protocols for example have nothing to do with it, Mom "only" had Taxol as a common cocktail with me (and even then we didn't even have the same side effects - but that's it. It's because she was a freshman and she didn't have the chance to follow my blog ;))
So each K must do their own analysis/trumpet of their effects after treatment, to aim correctly!
In short, I continue for those who have the courage to read to the end, and especially those who can find tips adapted to their K.
Please note that I will not develop the compounds of each cocktail because I am not a doctor once again ;), I am just giving you my feeling at the time on the effects provided ( no, I am not talking about drugs # )
First of all:
When you are comfortably seated in your shooting chair, ready to take off # ( no, no, still no question of drugs, sorry ), the nurses first inject each time the anti-nausea ( Zophren *) – and Cortisone ( Solupred **)
* Zophren : ask to pass it slowly over 30 minutes, it annoys the nurses but it's better, if it passes too quickly you get a headache
** Solupred (cortisone): try to do your Chemotherapy not too late if possible, for me it was often after 3 p.m., and cortisone prevents you from sleeping, so in the evening after Chemotherapy it's cool I was on fire, but I was also an insomniac electric battery…
> you will see below, that I ended up deducing something quite clever & effective from these first “doses” # injected
CHEMO in the starting blocks:
So I start from the least strong (for me) to the hardest, describing each product / effect 1 by 1, because I ended up targeting them all // or even almost adopting them (when we have this type of protocol, based cocktails so muscular, you become a real pillar of the bar, you end up knowing all the "regulars"):
1: AVASTIN (20 min injection)
Side effects:
can increase blood pressure, headaches, nosebleeds
> few side effects for me
My effects the following days:
I mainly had a headache (for quite a long time after the injections & still today), and I tried not to hit myself too much because it leaves big bruises :(
My Tips for fighting them:
as I had little effect, I only took Dafalgan when I had a headache
2: TAXOL (injection: 1h15)
Side effects:
High risk of hair loss, damage to nails, dizziness, fatigue, mucositis<>canker sores, tingling, or even more sensitivity in the extremities: feet & hands
My effects the following days:
Mainly fatigue, drops in blood pressure, a little mucositis on the gums and above all: permanent obsession with the loss of my hair...
> note that I had chosen the Mister Freeze option (icy helmet), throughout my treatment ( see post 4 ), which ended up working for ME – you will find this theme much more detailed in the next post ( HAIR OBSESSION )
My Tips for fighting them:
Fatigue :
boost myself with homeopathic cocktails (the same I will dedicate a post to collateral “well-being” treatments very soon – specialists in “parallel” medicine must be specialized in CANCER); and prescribed vitamins by my Oncologist: LERO BASE // GERIMAX //SARGENOR * in ampoule
* so Sargenor is based on Arginine, and it's downright disgusting! so I gave myself a little shot so that it would pass more quickly with a little grenadine and very little water ;) (alcohol shot not recommended - "alcohol abuse is dangerous for your health")
Voltage drops:
that unfortunately I did not find the miracle treatment it was mainly: REST / Heptamyl (prescribed by my oncologist of course // self-medication to be avoided !!) / and I made Ayurvedic infusions with Ginkgo from Yogi Tea to buy at Naturalia (boosting infusion prescribed by my homeopath, based on natural herbs and spices + licorice: it is therefore recommended for hypotensive people, but especially not for people suffering from HYPERTENSION)
Mucositis <>canker sores:
ACUPUNCTURE !
I have almost no mouth ulcers, except mucositis on the gums, for that, my oncologist prescribed a mouthwash : mixture: Eludril with liquid injectable bicarbonate and drinkable Fungizone (visually the mixture does not is not very tempting but it is rather effective - you have to keep it in the fridge: keep it for a maximum of 5 days, it can vaguely resemble a fruit cocktail so warn your loved ones who have a craving for a nighttime drink not to make the mistake of bottle :) , poorly awake it may surprise) // Daktarin oral gel // and what for ME worked best: LORAMYC 50mg (lozenges to put on the gums).
Hair:
so as you have understood, it's a long story ( to be found in the post dedicated to this subject – you can already see my first tips in post 3 and post 4 )
Tingling in feet/hands:
ACUPUNCTURE ! (I'm stubborn)
I have never had these symptoms, and I am almost ready to say that it is thanks to acupuncture ;) – Mom, on the other hand, had these problems, she lost her balance because of loss of sensitivity in the feet... (Mom didn't want to do acupuncture.... maybe because she's a bit cozy
Otherwise I know that she spread green clay on her hands and feet in the evening, which she placed under plastic gloves so that it penetrated well and effectively ;) to be tested...
Nails:
The famous dark varnishes all the time on your feet & hands (see post 3 & very soon a post "Beauty // my tips ) - ditto Mom didn't keep the varnish until the end of her chemos, her toenails did not survive the shock, oops (it grows back of course)...
3: CARBOPLATIN (injection: 45 min)
that’s the last but not least…. The one I fought the most against!
Side effects:
Fatigue, Nausea // yuckitude
My effects the following days:
Clearly, we're not going to lie, big effects: Nausea / significant yuck, flat for 4 days,
My MANY Tips for fighting them:
A. I understood after a few sessions that the evening after my CARBO session, I was not bad... Weird / Why...?
Well because on the day of Chemo you are injected with Zophren & Cortisone of course! So I noted this example to my oncologist, and I told him that when I took Zophren + Cortisone tablets I was yuck for 4 days, whereas the same evening after chemo I was fine...! So I asked him to prescribe the same doses as during the Chemo Day injectable for 4 days (at home)!
All this required a little organization, already the first option: he had to accept, and then:
1) you had to keep the chemo needle for 4 days, you have to be extremely vigilant with that, because the pack must under no circumstances be in contact with anything NON-STERILE; for example: do not wash on the area because it is 100% sterile
2) find a nurse specializing in oncology who will come to your home to inject you every morning for 4 days for injection (for me) of Zophren* and Solumedrol**
* Zophren: ask to pass it slowly over 30 minutes, it annoys the nurses but it's better, if it passes too quickly you get a headache - please note that some people tolerate Zophren poorly, there are others auti nausea (ask your onco) – effect around 8 hours – in the evening when I felt that Zophren was no longer effective, I took Primperan tablets
** Solupred (cortisone): try to do the injections at home early if possible, because cortisone prevents you from sleeping...
3) find clothes that are pretty and wide enough to hide the protuberance: needle coming out of the pack in the shoulder ahah (and sleep on your back ;))
4) buy the right blackout dressing but not aggressive on the skin, because after 4 days it can tear off the first layer of varnish: I found thanks to my great nurses at home, the MEPITEL Film 10.5cm x 12cm from Safetac ( request a prescription for reimbursement, and it is to be ordered because it is quite special)
5) to have the complete equipment, you can complete your combat outfit: anti-nausea with, as its name suggests: anti-nausea bracelets (which we usually take for seasickness – these can be purchased in pharmacies)
You will be “ Sexy tomorrow ” ;)
YOU OBVIOUSLY MUST MAKE SURE THAT YOUR ONCO IS FAVORABLE TO THIS OPTION (I'm talking about home performances, the bracelet I think will especially make him laugh ;)
B. have your fridge filled with things that don't make you nauseous (do the SHOPPING in my post 3 ) & that make you happy!
C. ask those around you not to wear perfume (trust me, it’s for the good of the community)!!! avoid home perfumes and scented candles for 5 days, believe me, the smells made me want to murder haha
D. again and again the Holy Grail: acupuncture
E. AURICULOTHERAPY (really good for nausea in my case – ditto I will develop these points in a future post … patience ;))
PURCHASES RECAP:
Unreimbursed:
- races ahah obviously this is not supported (see post 3)
- varnish (see post 3)
- gentle shampoos
- homeo pills (see next post dedicated to “parallel medicines” // well-being)
- GINKGO infusions from Yogi Tea (to buy from Naturalia)
- in Pharmacy, but need prescription: LERO BASE (the most natural) // GERIMAX //SARGENOR
- anti-nausea bracelets (for seasickness)
Reimbursed but need validation and oncologist prescription:
- Solupred and Zophren injectable for 3, 4 or 5 days depending on the duration of your effects
- MEPITEL Film 10.5cm x 12cm from Safetac
- EMLA patch to be applied 1 hour before chemo
- Heptamyl
- Mouthwash, mixture: eludril + liquid injectable bicarbonate + drinkable fungizone
- Daktarin oral gel
- LORAMYC 50mg (lozenges to put on the gums).
And....let's quickly talk about my effects since I've been in REMISSION :
the onco told me that it would take me 1 year to eliminate the treatments, in fact I have recurring headaches, and frequent drops in blood pressure, but I'm fine honestly ;), I've finally been working again since September , it is for me the best remedy, and my life is getting back on track...
The emergency: get into sport (and I lack a bit of motivation)!!! This is my next challenge! and stop smoking :) (that's really difficult, it's not for lack of repeating it to me all day, if you have any Tips I'm interested ;) …)
Thank you for once again taking the time to read me
See you soon for the next post: HAIR OBSESSION !
And I wish you a very happy holiday season from now on..
Charlotte
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<:en>TIP n°3: My Chemo's cocktails: Carboplatin / Taxol / Avastin...
The effects of my chemo cocktails and how I tried to tame them☺
Hello ,
As I recounted in my posts post n°3 & post n°4 , the day before / during and after chemo, I learned well how to manage the protocol. Yeah after 36 sessions you had plenty of time to find your own method ;)
I won't lie to you, at the beginning there was a bit of panic on board. I like to keep things under control and chemo wasn't clearly yet my field, but little by little I learned.
Protocol for (my) ovarian cancer:
CARBOPLATIN / TAXOL / AVASTIN (6 courses, courses 1 = 3 sessions)
My famous 3 sessions :
I had for three weeks one session per week, then a break of two and the same again:
1st week: 1 session: CARBOPLATIN / TAXOL / AVASTIN (2:45)
2nd week: 1 session: TAXOL (1:30)
3rd week: 1 session: TAXOL / AVASTIN (2h)
then 2 weeks off
It lasted, in total I had 24 sessions
On May 2014 , I had "only" every 3 weeks Avastin . In September 2014, I reached 36 sessions, tadaaaam!!
(Sorry for the technical terms and the lack of lightness in the beginning of the post. Don't forget that each cancer is different, and so the chemo is!)
You will have to test every cocktail and see what are the effects on your body☺
In brief, I continue for those who have the courage to read until the end and especially for those who want to find good advice for their K.
Please note that I will not develop the compounds of each cocktail, because I am not a doctor;). I'll just give you my feeling about the effects they had on me at that time (no I'm not talking about drugs #)
First of all:
Once you are seated on the (drug) chair, the nurses will first inject you the anti nausea (ZOPHREN *) - and cortisone (SOLUPRED **)
* ZOPHREN: ask to pass it slowly (over 30 minutes), even if the nurses seem to be bothered. It's better for you, if it goes too fast you could get a headache
** SOLUPRED (cortisone): try making your chemo not too late if possible. They were often after 3 p.m. The cortisone could keep you awake. I was full of energy afterwards, but also insomniac…
CHEMO in the starting blocks:
I'll begin with the weakest (at least for me) to finish with the hardest, describing each product and effects 1 by 1:
1: AVASTIN (20 min of injection)
Side effects:
may increase tension, giving headaches, nosebleeds
> Few side effects for me
Days after effects:
I especially had a headache (for while after the injections & still today) and I tried not to over hit me because it leaves large hematomas ☹
My Tips against side effects:
as it slightly affected me, I only took an Advil when I was getting a headache
2: TAXOL (injection: 1h15)
Side effects:
Normally it makes your hair falling, it alters your nails, dizziness, tiredness, mucositis / canker sores, pricking or no more feeling in the extremities: feet and hands
Days after effects:
Primarily tiredness, tension decreases, a little mucositis on the gums, but above all permanent obsession with hair loss
> Note that I chose the option Mister Freeze (ice helmet), during my treatment ( see post 4 ), which ended up working for ME - you will find a much more detailed topic in the next post ( HAIR OBSESSION )
My Tips for side effects:
Tiredness:
homeopathic cocktails to boost me (I will devote a post for "well-being" very soon – “parallel” specialists must be specialized in Carcinoembryonic) my oncologist prescribed me vitamins: LERO BASE // GERIMAX / / * SARGENOR bulb
*The Sargenor is made of Arginine, which is downright disgusting! I was taken it as a shot with some syrup and a little of water
Low pressure:
unfortunately I haven't found the miracle cure, my best pieces of advice are: rest/ Heptamyl (prescribed by my oncologist of course // self-medication should be avoided!!) or I drank Ayurvedic infusions with Ginkgo from Yogi Tea, you can find it at a bio store (boosting infusion prescribed by my homeopath made by herbal and natural spices. Careful not to be taken by people who suffer from Hypertension)
Mucositis - canker sori:
ACUPUNCTURE!
I almost didn't have mouth ulcers, except mucositis on the gums. For that my oncologist prescribed me a mouthwash: a mix of eludril with liquid bicarbonate injectable and some Fungizone or Daktarin gel, which could be drunk. What worked the best for me: LORAMYC 50mg (pills to put on the gums).
Hate:
As you can understand, it's a long story (find the post on this subject - you can already see my first tricks in post 3 and 4 post)
Pricking in feet / hands
ACUPUNCTURE!
I never had these symptoms and I can almost say that it is thanks to acupuncture;) – in the contrary my mother had these symptoms, she overbalanced due to losses of sensitivity in the feet
Nails:
The famous dark varnish to keep at all time on your feet and hands (see post 3) – again my Mom didn't keep the varnish until the end of her chemo, therefore her toenails didn't resist the shock...
3: CARBOPLATIN (injection: 45 min)
Last but not least... The one against which I most fought!
Side effects:
Worn out, Nausea
Days after effects:
Very painful effects: Nausea / disgusted by everything, exhausted for 4 days,
How to make it better:
A. I realized after a few sessions that, in the evening after my CARBO session, I wasn't feeling bad... Weird / Why...?
Well, because the day of your chemo they inject you ZOPHREN & Cortisone! I said it to my oncologist, I told him that when I was taking ZOPHREN + Cortisone tablets I was KO for 4 days, while the evening after chemo I was quite ok! So I asked him to prescribe me the same doses to inject for 4 days!
All this required an organization (first thing: the doctor had to accept it) because:
1)You have to keep the needle inside your skin for 4 days. You have to be extremely careful with it, the package mustn't be in any way in contact with anything non sterilized; for example, do not wash this area, which is a 100% sterile
2) find a specialized oncology nurse, who comes home to you every morning, for 4 days. (injections (for me) of ZOPHREN * and ** Solumedrol
* ZOPHREN: please note that some people don't tolerate ZOPHREN – the drug last about 8 hours- in the evening when I felt that the ZOPHREN wasn't working anymore, I took some tablets of Primperan
3) find nice and wide clothes to hide the bulges: needle sticking out of the pack on the shoulder haha (and sleep on your back ;))
4) buy the right plaster not aggressive to the skin, because after four days it can tear the first layer: I found thanks to my great nurses, one called Mepitel Film 10.5cm x 12cm from Safetac (ask prescription for reimbursement, you should order it because it is a rather special plaster)
5) buy some anti nausea bracelet (which are usually used for seasickness – you can find it in pharmacies)
You will be very "Sexy" ;)
OF COURSE MAKE SURE YOUR ONCO IS FAVORABLE TO THIS OPTION ;)
B. have your fridge filled with things that don't give nausea (my post 3) & that you like!
C. ask your relatives not to wear any perfumes!!! Avoid home fragrances and scented candles for 5 days, believe me, the smell drove me mad haha
D. acupuncture again and again
E. AURICULOTHERAPY (really good for nausea -I will speak about it in an upcoming post ... patience)
THINGS TO BUY:
Unreimbursed ones:
- Food shopping haha (see post 3)
- Varnish (see post 3)
- Mild shampoos
- Homeo pills (see next post devoted to "alternative medicine" // welfare)
- GINKGO infusions from Yogi Tea from Naturalia
- From the pharmacy (need a prescription): LERO BASE (more natural), GERIMAX, SARGENOR
- Anti nausea bracelets (for sea sickness)
Reimbursed ones (in France), but need a validation and an order from the oncologist:
- SOLUPRED and injectable ZOPHREN for 3, 4 or 5 days depending on the time of your effects
- Mepitel Film 10.5cm x 12cm from Safetac
- EMLA Anesthetic Patch to apply 1 hour before chemotherapy
- Heptamyl
- Mouthwash: Eludril + injectable bicarbonate + drinkable Fungizone
-Daktarin mouth gel
- LORAMYC 50mg (pills to put on the gums).
And since I'm in REMISSION:
My oncologist told me it would take me 1 year to eliminate all the treatments. In fact I have recurring headaches and frequently drops of pressure, but still, I'm fine ;). I finally started working over again since September. For me, it is the best medicine.
Urgent: I have to workout (very little motivation)!!! this is my next challenge! and quit smoking ☹ (that's downright difficulty ...)
Thank you for having once again taken the time to read my post.
The next one will be: HAIR OBSESSION
See you soon
Charlotte <:>
