How long is chemo in the body?

Pastor Rich · Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2005 8:34 am Post subject: How long is chemo in the body?

Hello folks;

First, Cathy is doing GREAT! She had chemo #4 of 6 last Friday. The doc looked at her blood counts and said they were SPECTACULAR. His words!

My question: the doc said Cathy could take Vitamin E for her hot flashes (she is also on other meds for that). When we questioned him about that and anti-oxydants, he said NOT to take them within a few days of the chemo. She is on FEC100.

I guess this is just for my own knowledge, but how long does it take for the chemo drugs themselves to clear through the body? Are they sort of mixed in with the blood for a few days, or weeks, or what?

Thanks and blessings,
Pastor Rich
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"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Phil 4:6-7

Muttsmom

HI Pastor Rich.
I'll let someone who knows a more definate answer, respond but I was told the reason that they want us to drink 8 glasses of water a day, but the 1st 3 days, including chemo day is to flush out the chemo. As you know, I had the FEC also, but I'm not sure if the chemo latches on to cancer cells and won't let go and we're flushing out the chemo that is just going through our blood stream or what. I'll be interested in hearing the answer to your question as well.
Hugs to you and Cathy
Nancy
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Nancy
2/14/02 ILC 43 - 5.5 cm 9+/16 nodes
Stage IIIA er/pr+ Her2-
2/02 MRM
FECx6 radsx33
Tamoxifen - Arimidex (chemo induced menopause)
4/03 SM w/bilat. recon.
9/03 expanders removed
5/04 repair reconst. disaster
10/04 Actonel for bone/joint pain from Arimidex
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In memory of Kim 12/1/04

leo · Site Admin Joined: 23 Sep 2004 Posts: 1574

Hello

Different drugs have different half-lives (the average time it takes to get the levels to lower 50%). Some can take days, and some a few hours. The advice to drink water is to keep yourself hydrated and to increase the urine output so that the kidneys do not suffer much.

regards,
Leo
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Leonardo F - Webmaster Cancer Forums
Disclaimer: this information is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice.

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