Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma Feb/09 and CHOP+R diary

ChemoMan

Hi

Good is good Laughing

basically it means you won't need injections to boost the white cell count...and that is good cos they hurt your back Crying or Very sad

Actually they hurt your pelvis but it feels like a bad back. Younger people get pain in the long bones of the leg as well but in old codgers like us the marrow in the leg bones has dried up and its the pelvis that cops a beating. They may also get excited about the LDH levels as high readings are a risk factor for resistant lymphoma but its diagnostic accuracy is best when measured before chemo begins. Joepet can tell you all about how excited they get if the levels spike. Actually if you read Joepets posts you should get a good feel for all of this.

keep fighting the good fight I found cycle 2 fairly easy I hope you do too Smile

_________________
Age 52
Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma
Stage 2a
Finished six cycles of R chop 21 26th May 2008
Officially in remission 9th July 2008
Remission confirmed 1st October 2008
Remission confirmed 17 June 2009
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=9620
RULE NUMBER 1.....Don't Panic
RULE NUMBER 2..... Don't forget Rule number 1

SingleDad

Okay thanks - will read through JPs saga.

Lost the headache finally

What was your worst cycle??

Is there any comparative on chemo brain that sets it our from any thing like driving issues etc????

TIA
_________________
Age 61
Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma Stage 2/3
CHOP+R started Feb 26th 2009
Completed 6 cycles June 2009
Diary here http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=12003
Officially in remission July 9th 2009 Wink

Three rounds of Intrathecal completed July 29th
Radiation to come as a prophylactic measure.
1st Radiation Sept 9 - 17 does completed Oct 1.
No more treatments scheduled
Heading to South Africa in January - once the itching stops Mr. Green

ChemoMan

Hi
Cycle 4...... I chucked up for 8.5 hours and towards the end of that I thought I was going to die. Joe also had a terrible time at Cycle 4. Cycle 6 was the next worst, I was so fatigued I stayed in bed for 3 days. Other than that it was easy Smile

I don't know of any research done into "Chemo Brain" it would be interesting to find out. Its a very individual thing from what I have read. Mine has gone now and I have no problems in that regard any more Smile

_________________
Age 52
Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma
Stage 2a
Finished six cycles of R chop 21 26th May 2008
Officially in remission 9th July 2008
Remission confirmed 1st October 2008
Remission confirmed 17 June 2009
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=9620
RULE NUMBER 1.....Don't Panic
RULE NUMBER 2..... Don't forget Rule number 1

SingleDad

Finally lost the headache tho it's lurking again.

Pretty bouncy with steroids.

nothing out of the ordinary - at least I have some tools for headaches now.

Had another question

The chemo is killing the white cells that are doing the wrong signalling is that correct??

Then the cycle waits until new correct white cells build back up ???
_________________
Age 61
Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma Stage 2/3
CHOP+R started Feb 26th 2009
Completed 6 cycles June 2009
Diary here http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=12003
Officially in remission July 9th 2009 Wink

Three rounds of Intrathecal completed July 29th
Radiation to come as a prophylactic measure.
1st Radiation Sept 9 - 17 does completed Oct 1.
No more treatments scheduled
Heading to South Africa in January - once the itching stops Mr. Green

ChemoMan

Hi
Not really. Each chemo drug works in a different way, but basically they interfere with the replication of rapidly reproducing cells, which cancer cells are. Its a bit of a blunderbuss approach which is why other rapidly reproducing cells like hair and mucous membranes get clobbered as well. That's why the doses are so carefully worked out, its to try and limit the damage.
Rituxam is a different kettle of fish and works by putting a marker on your B cells so that your immune system kills them. Its a much smarter approach and signals the way of the future in cancer treatment. Interestingly it was originally developed to fight rheumatoid Arthritis.

Cheers
_________________
Age 52
Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma
Stage 2a
Finished six cycles of R chop 21 26th May 2008
Officially in remission 9th July 2008
Remission confirmed 1st October 2008
Remission confirmed 17 June 2009
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=9620
RULE NUMBER 1.....Don't Panic
RULE NUMBER 2..... Don't forget Rule number 1

SingleDad

I figured it was a shotgun approach - but are the new cells when your count comes up still a product of defective signalling?
_________________
Age 61
Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma Stage 2/3
CHOP+R started Feb 26th 2009
Completed 6 cycles June 2009
Diary here http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=12003
Officially in remission July 9th 2009 Wink

Three rounds of Intrathecal completed July 29th
Radiation to come as a prophylactic measure.
1st Radiation Sept 9 - 17 does completed Oct 1.
No more treatments scheduled
Heading to South Africa in January - once the itching stops Mr. Green

joepet · Senior User Joined: 18 Dec 2008 Posts: 286 Location: Japan

I had thought that the problem was only with the localized cells in the tumors, and that only people with Stage IV involvement in the bone marrow had to worry about continued creation of new cancer cells?
_________________
Age 37 (36 at diagnosis)
Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma
Stage 1AE (localized in colon)
Began six cycles of R chop 21 3rd Dec 2008
Finished R chop 21 Apr 2009
Complete remission as of May 2009

ChemoMan

Hi

We all produce thousands ( if not hundreds of thousands) of cancer cells every single day of our lives. In healthy individuals they are destroyed by the immune system. Its when they are missed and start to proliferate that problems occur. NHL, specifically DLBCL is somewhat different in that the problem lies with the genes that control cell death, the result of which is Lymph cells that do not die and clog up the lymphatics, but please bear in mind this is a gross simplification of what occurs

CHOP drugs are vincristine, Doxyrubicin, Cyclophosphamide and predisone/prednisolone. Cyclophosphamide stops or slows cell growth, Doxyrubicin prevents DNA from replicating, and vincristine stops cells from splitting so they produce the same effects by different means. Predinisolone is also an antitumour drug but its actions are unknown to me.

Rituxam targets B cells and only B cells and is very specific. Once your B cell system builds up, the hope and usual outcome is the genetic problem which caused the Lymphoma is gone.

Luekaemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma are all very closely related. For more info please take a look at the web cast 'LYMPHOMA 101' which can be found here:

http://www.presentme.com/FLASH/41113LRFConnors/

if that link doesn't work find the title 'LYMPHOMA 101' on this page:
http://www.lymphoma.org/site/pp.asp?c=chKOI6PEImE&b=1574367#

The important point I am making is that we produce lots of cancer cells every single day of our lives.

Please take a look at the webcast it should enlighten you all Smile

Cheers
_________________
Age 52
Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma
Stage 2a
Finished six cycles of R chop 21 26th May 2008
Officially in remission 9th July 2008
Remission confirmed 1st October 2008
Remission confirmed 17 June 2009
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=9620
RULE NUMBER 1.....Don't Panic
RULE NUMBER 2..... Don't forget Rule number 1

SingleDad · Last edited by SingleDad on Sat Mar 28, 2009 7:15 pm; edited 1 time in total

Thanks- I understood the attrition aspect - have some reading to do on the lymph system.

Appreciate the links.

Ritux sort of tags the defective cells to alert the immune system - is that correct conceptually?

••

rocky day - steroids acted differently - made me hot all day instead of an energy bounce.
Feeling better now - always rough in the late afternoon - got a nap and perking up now at 8 pm.

Nice day but did not get out on the Silverwing. Sad

too busy and too up and down. )

Trying to do without the anti- nausea - relying on ginger and mint tea for the evening - so far so good. Damn things are expensive.

Shocked

_________________
Age 61
Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma Stage 2/3
CHOP+R started Feb 26th 2009
Completed 6 cycles June 2009
Diary here http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=12003
Officially in remission July 9th 2009 Wink

Three rounds of Intrathecal completed July 29th
Radiation to come as a prophylactic measure.
1st Radiation Sept 9 - 17 does completed Oct 1.
No more treatments scheduled
Heading to South Africa in January - once the itching stops Mr. Green

ChemoMan

Hi

Yes it is.
_________________
Age 52
Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma
Stage 2a
Finished six cycles of R chop 21 26th May 2008
Officially in remission 9th July 2008
Remission confirmed 1st October 2008
Remission confirmed 17 June 2009
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=9620
RULE NUMBER 1.....Don't Panic
RULE NUMBER 2..... Don't forget Rule number 1

SingleDad

Well I can safely say that ONE of my side effects is a tidy and clean jag. Rolling Eyes

The energy swings are hilarious. Crash for 5 hours....you'll laugh at the link below.

http://www.freakingnews.com/Pictures/2/Energizer-Bunny.jpg
_________________
Age 61
Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma Stage 2/3
CHOP+R started Feb 26th 2009
Completed 6 cycles June 2009
Diary here http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=12003
Officially in remission July 9th 2009 Wink

Three rounds of Intrathecal completed July 29th
Radiation to come as a prophylactic measure.
1st Radiation Sept 9 - 17 does completed Oct 1.
No more treatments scheduled
Heading to South Africa in January - once the itching stops Mr. Green

SingleDad

Big time energy today .....kids got new motorcycle so he's thrilled - used the buzz for organizing that.

My pants are getting looser.....yet I've been eating like crazy - is this an "okay" thing ( not like I couldn't use to drop a bunch anyways ).

I suspect it's the lining cells shed and don't absorb as much nutrients so I feel hungry - I find a bunch of small rich meals more satisfying.

Anyone else with diet issues/weight loss over chemo?
_________________
Age 61
Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma Stage 2/3
CHOP+R started Feb 26th 2009
Completed 6 cycles June 2009
Diary here http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=12003
Officially in remission July 9th 2009 Wink

Three rounds of Intrathecal completed July 29th
Radiation to come as a prophylactic measure.
1st Radiation Sept 9 - 17 does completed Oct 1.
No more treatments scheduled
Heading to South Africa in January - once the itching stops Mr. Green

SingleDad

Buzzy all day - even the book keeper noted it. Put it to good use for a happy kid plus it's incredibly busy - keeps me distracted. Erratic sleep is annoying but not crashing so hard - swings are less.

Put the energy to good use

My son is Type One diabetic and had some confidence problems ( long story - dragged around country by peripatetic ex ) So for the past 2 years he's motorcycled first off road then off road - huge change in confidence.

Now he's got a part time job...kid graduates to real bike for the road instead of the scooter.

He played hooky, we went downtown got all the paperwork done in one shot stuffed the new bike in the van ( barely ) and drove it home.,

He was all insured, plated all in a couple of hours..finally staff came back and we got it out the van and off he went for a bit - it was horrid cold - he came back for some more gear and we went riding a little bit together then I got a chance on it too.

It's cold right now minus one out but into double digits on Wedesday. Spring is getting here.

http://www.motorcycle.com/images/content/Review/08_feb_kawi250_01.jpg

What a sweet machine.....250 cc feels and looks much larger tho handles very light. Lots of gear stirring tho. 6 speed makes you work but decent torque even down a gear from optimum.

Tame on the street - mild like a scooter then just howls when it gets wound up.
Damn thing is in MPH so have to be aware.

Nice review here

http://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/kawasaki/review-2008-kawasaki-ninja-250r-75782.html]2008 Kawasaki Ninja 250R Review - Motorcycle.com

Now does THAT look like 250??! Surprised

Clever marketing too ....no 250 badge - just the Ninja logo so very hard to tell it's not one of the big guns.

http://www.motorcycle.com/images/content/Review/08_feb_kawi250_03.jpg

Our first Kawasaki. Impressive value for money and cheap insurance.
It would have to be wicked cold today but he's out on it anyways. Tight fit into the van but wrestled in in. Looking good for kid and dad riding later this week.

Update. much fun to ride but damn cold with no windshield.

Sort of glad it's cold....I'm not 100% confident that the steroids aren't judgement altering a bit so I'll be off them by the time the weather breaks Thursday.
_________________
Age 61
Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma Stage 2/3
CHOP+R started Feb 26th 2009
Completed 6 cycles June 2009
Diary here http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=12003
Officially in remission July 9th 2009 Wink

Three rounds of Intrathecal completed July 29th
Radiation to come as a prophylactic measure.
1st Radiation Sept 9 - 17 does completed Oct 1.
No more treatments scheduled
Heading to South Africa in January - once the itching stops Mr. Green

SingleDad

There is NOT enough food in the world to satisfy steroid munchies..... Shocked

Glad I popped my last one today.

Can already feel the wind down......

Used to have tingling from nerve damage in my palms from too many years riding - something seems to be healing that up .
Woke up with palms itchy on the inside and very good extension when I stretch my fingers and hand wide.

TIP - if you are going bald - do it all the way......bare is much better than a short bristle....should have shaved it in the first place......

Took a long time for my infusion sites to heal this time around. Still bruised a week later.

Spring is here tho....yay - really felt it today and some trees popping buds. Bird going nuts and pigging out at the feeder.....still light at almost 8 pm.

My fav time of year is spring.
_________________
Age 61
Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma Stage 2/3
CHOP+R started Feb 26th 2009
Completed 6 cycles June 2009
Diary here http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=12003
Officially in remission July 9th 2009 Wink

Three rounds of Intrathecal completed July 29th
Radiation to come as a prophylactic measure.
1st Radiation Sept 9 - 17 does completed Oct 1.
No more treatments scheduled
Heading to South Africa in January - once the itching stops Mr. Green

joepet · Senior User Joined: 18 Dec 2008 Posts: 286 Location: Japan

How does your munchies manifest itself? I tend to get a vague feeling of queasiness that goes away when eating, which is pretty funny because queasiness usually works the other way around.
_________________
Age 37 (36 at diagnosis)
Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma
Stage 1AE (localized in colon)
Began six cycles of R chop 21 3rd Dec 2008
Finished R chop 21 Apr 2009
Complete remission as of May 2009

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