Leigh's Journey With Bladder Cancer

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Mon, 31 Mar 2008 08:14:34 +0100

Dear Rocky,

Thank you for your message and taking the time to support me even though you too are having trying days to content with and make sense of.

For me I see myself on the last leg with 6 chemo's to go and early May will be my appointment for my CT scan which will set me up for the next steps. I do hope and pray that it will be a positive outcome and that they will not be confirming the crossover to Stage 1V.

These thoughts are a constant burden and pray on me and drag me down often. It certainly is not all doom and gloom though as I have experienced so many happy and glorious days with my family and friends.

It is just a waiting game and to follow procedures set up by the medical institutions.

Kind Wishes
Leigh

- Leigh

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Sun, 30 Mar 2008 22:48:45 +0100

Hi Leigh, Thankyou for sharing with us your road down chemo. You write the details well ,which is somthing I wouldn,t be very good at. They havn't explained very much about the chemo for my husband yet so reading what you wrote helps to tell me alittle something about chemo. I hope all goes well with you this spring and you continue to do ok on the chemo. Maybe show up your chemo nurse and be a little different by doing ok. love from Rocky - Rockyiss

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Wed, 05 Mar 2008 11:47:19 +0100

Dear Holly,

Thank you for your messages.

I have never been offered the option to go back for extra IV fluids. On the Gemz days I was offered IV Zofran for sickness which did keep it at bay.

The Cisplatin is the slap in the face for me but it is offered with a one night stay and lots of IV Fluid. Although the last time recovery was much longer and the feeling of nausea remained for a week. They did prescribe Emmend for three days after but will ask for more on the next one.

I can relate to the chemo brain as I cannot focus on anything and I feel like I am in a daydreamy state all the time. I love reading but this is just impossible presently as my mind wonders and I end up reading the same page several times.

Thank you for your kind support....

Leigh
- Leigh

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Wed, 05 Mar 2008 10:29:05 +0100

Leigh,

Cisplatin is hard - my family called it SPLAT because it laid me out hard. Please see if you can get additional IV fluids a few days after - it really helped. It has effects that ticked me off too, and the cumulative ones bite. Mentally - chemo brain is real. I struggled to play word games, remember stuff, my ears rang real loud.My feet hurt as did my hands - I dropped stuff (like cups of coffee) all the time. Sleeping and not sleeping. It really gets to be a lot to adjust. Remember it is temporary. And treat yourself with the compassion you would extend to a friend in your situation.
God Bless, Holly - mznoregrets

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Wed, 05 Mar 2008 10:17:40 +0100

Hi Leigh,

Sounds like you are doing well getting through the "ick' of chemo. Just thought I would mention a few thoughts...My labs were always done just before chemo. First they access port & do labs, get a once over from the nurse and then the Dr then off to the infusion room. From what I have been reading, I think I was blessed with outstanding chemo facilities. They have 30 or so recliners all with a little table and maybe 6-8 televions. They had aroma therapy and massage folks every day too. And a few rooms with beds. Anyhoo,
As for the anti nausea...I noticed you only go to the place for chemo once a week. Most weeks I went back to infusion room 3-4 days after the chemo just for a bag or 2 of IV fluids. What a difference it made. Has anyone offered that to you? Maybe if you could try it once you could see if it helps - just a thought :)
God Bless and you are in my prayers, Holly (Ann Athena )
PS Take care with upcoming surgery ;) - mznoregrets