The first cycle of the BEP chemotherapy started on Monday, July 11th 2016 and ended on Sunday, July 31st 2016.
Day 1 (July 11):
Fist advice: Start chemo early in the day!
I got in the hospital around 9 o'clock. They gave me my room and I had time to settle in. After some talks with the nurses they took my blood to see if I could start the chemo cycle.After that they took my weight, temperature and blood pressure. All was in order for the chemo to start. In Belgium it s the case that they first check your blood and then they order the chemo products at there internal pharmacist. This basically means you have to wait for some hours before you can start.
We started at 15h00. I wasn't aware that that was pretty late as I didn't know what to expect. Following was administered using an IV:
- At 15h00 they start you off with two hours of pre-hydration to protect the kidneys.
- At 17h15 I got Zofran + Dexamethasone against the possible nausea.
- At 17h30 I received my first chemo, Cisplatin, which ran for an hour.
- At 18h30 they flushed an extra 15 minutes.
- At 18h45 I received my second chemo, Etoposide, which also ran for an hour.
- At 19h45 they flushed an extra 15 minutes.
- At 20h00 I got Paracetamol which ran for 15 minutes and should counter a fever.
- At 20h15 the last chemo of the day, Bleomycin, was given over a period of 15 minutes.
- At 20h30 the post hydratation started which ran for 2 hours.
- At 22h30 I got Mannitol to increase the fluid secretion of the kidneys.
- At 23h00 I FINALLY got of the IV for the day!
I felt ok at that time and you don't feel anything when the products enter your system so I remained positive and went to bed. I only took an extra Mottilium for my stomack that felt stuffed.
The Mannitol and hydration caused regular visits to the toilet. I think I went every hour or so during that night.
The Mannitol and hydration caused regular visits to the toilet. I think I went every hour or so during that night.
That is why my first advice is to push the nurses to start as early as possible. The earlier you start, the more time you have before going to sleep for those regular toilet visits. Every day you can start the chemo 1 hour earlier (not more due to toxic reasons I believe), so it gets better during the week but if you start your first day late it follows you throughout the first days at least.
As exercise I ran up and down the stairs twice (4 floors) in the hospital.
Day 2 (July 12):
Third advice: Family visits can take place. This is the last day, tomorrow you won't have the energy to participate in the regular family arguments :-)
I felt a bit tired in the morning but for the rest I felt pretty good actually. I was very much alive and in the moment. I had family over in the afternoon and I could handle the company well. The nurses started one hour earlier than yesterday (14h00). But after the 2 hours of pre-hydration the nurse found that it was not the correct hydration that was given... There is one with the addition of magnesium etc. and a standard one without any supplements. The standard one is the one used in between the chemo to flush the IV an extra 15 minutes. But that one was used as pre-hydration for me so basically they made an error. It was not really a big deal but it meant that instead of beginning at 14h00 I actually started at 16h00!
After the Etopiside I started to feel tired and had experienced the nausea.
Next to the standard medication given I also had 2 Motilliums and 2 Liticans to counter the nausea. It was doable with this but not great. I noticed that I lost my appetite but tried to eat bits here and there.
Same night as before with a lot of toilet visits.
As exercise I ran up and down the stairs twice (4 floors) in the hospital.
Day 3 (July 13):
This is the day I noticed I was constipated. I was afraid of diarrhea because I had one just two weeks before due to the antibiotics after surgery. But supposably due to the meds I got constipated.
I got Dufalac to get things going with no result this day.
Also I was more tired then before and my stomach felt full as well.
I started with the treatment again at 15h00 and finished just before midnight.
I started to feel like vomiting. More Motilliums(3) and Liticans(4) came my way but didn't seem to help. I got really close to vomiting but was able to suppress it. It were some difficult hours but eventually it settled and I fell asleep in the night (with the usual toilet visits that became my second nature during this week).
As exercise I walk up and down the stairs once (4 floors) in the hospital. It felt more difficult than before and my body notified me of taking it easy.
Day 4 (July 14):
This morning I immediately got a Medrol and an extra Zofran in order to counter the nausea and vomiting feeling.
It worked wonders!
I felt the hole day like day two. So the new medication set me back to the feeling I got two days ago so I was really happy.
For the rest it was a very uneventful day.
As exercise I fastwalked up and down the stairs twice (4 floors) in the hospital.
Day 5 (July 15):
Also today I got a Medrol and a Zofran (my two new best friends).
Again it felt like the medication was doing wonders because the nausea was under control.
I did get more tired and had a fatigue but I thought:"Hey, if my only side effect is fatigue... I am a happy camper!"
As exercise I fast walked up and down the stairs twice (4 floors) in the hospital.
Fourth advice:Ask for Medrol and Zofran when you feel like it is going to going wrong. Don't wait to long!
Hurray, the first hard week of BEP chemo is finished!
Today I was again tired in the morning and got my friend Medrol to get me going once again.
I had a renewed energy because I was going home today and could leave the hospital behind me.
I needed the extra Zofran as well to get the nausea under control.
Before I left the hospital I got the Neulasta injection to counter the low white blood cell count which was going to take place in a few days and which is an important factor in catching deceases. Catching deceases is, as you can imagine, an absolute no-go.
As exercise I rode my home trainer for 18 minutes.
Day 7 (July 17):
Today I thought:"Hey, I'm a man, I can do without the medication!"
I guess I am not that man ;-) cause I felt really tired and also a bit nauseated.
In the afternoon I took a half Medrol and by the evening it got better.
I did stay in bed most of the day as my bones felt heavy.
As exercise I rode my home trainer for 18 minutes (which was about all the energy I got today).
Day 8 (July 18):
Hurray, I have to go to the hospital ! I almost missed my newly second home!
Today I received my shot of Bleomycin again.
First my blood was taken to check the blood cell count etc. to see if you can start today.
The blood results came back positive.
There are four things I got today (all through IV):
- Dexamethasone for 15 minutes (for the nausea)
- Paracetamol for 15 minutes (to counter the fever of the Bleomycin)
- Bleomycine for 15 minutes
- Post hydration for 15 minutes
Day 9 (July 19):
A day of feeling very tired and also a bit nauseated. Stayed in bed for most of the day.
My body just said no to anything but okay it was to be expected no?
I tried to ride my home trainer today but didn't get very far. Five minutes was all I could do but I didn't push it.
Day 10 (July 20):
Another day of feeling very tired but I din't feel sick anymore so that was a relief. Feeling tired is not pleasant but I felt really lucky that that was the only side-effect I got at that time.
Day 11 (July 21):
In the morning I felt ok, but then after an hour or so it hit me again and I felt tired so back to bed.
Stayed in bed until 15 o'clock I believe and then I got back downstairs and ate some healthy foods.
I was able to stay out of bed until later that evening.
Day 12 (July 22):
Today I got the feeling that things are going better.
I was able to stay downstairs all day, so no more laying down in my bed for hours and hours.
I watched TV and passed some time researching things on the internet.
I also got my appetite back which was a great feeling as well.
Day 13 (July 23):
Today is the first day I got my energy back. I was 'active all day (meaning not in bed) and made lunch and dinner. Me and my wife also went for a bicycle ride in the evening. Not a big one but man did it feel great. The reason was that I finally got out of the house and apart from that due to the fact that my left testicle was removed I couldn't ride a bike for weeks so it was the first bike ride after my operation from 6 weeks ago!
Day 14 (July 24):
Hurray, second week of chemo is done and I feel great again... I don't experience any side-effects of the chemo meaning of course none that are visible or that I really feel.
Again a bike ride with a friend and assisted in some chores around the house. I pushed myself into realizing that any day like this was a day I won during this dark period in my life. And as you all know, winning days always make you feel better.
Day 15 (July 25):
Almost the same day as day 8, that is why I copy/pasted that part:
Today I received my shot of Bleomycin again.
First my blood was taken to check the blood cell count etc. to see if you can start today.
The blood results came back positive.
There are four things I got today (all through IV):
- Dexamethasone for 15 minutes (for the nausea)
- Paracetamol for 15 minutes (to counter the fever of the Bleomycin)
- Bleomycine for 15 minutes
- Post hydration for 15 minutes
Day 16 (July 26):
A bit nauseated in the morning so I took a Litican and felt fine throughout the remainder of the day.
Lots of energy and did some chores around the house and used the laptop to plan and research some home improvements that got postponed during the last two years.
Day 17 (July 27):
Fifth advice: Make sure you have things to do. I mean you get bored easily and squander your days watching a bit of TV here and there, checking the news sites on the internet, eating bits and peaces here and there and so on. After a while you will become really bored with this kind of life and want some interesting and meaningful things to do but at the same time your physical condition is not at it's peak so it cannot be just anything.
What did I do to keep me occupied and to get my mind focused?
I kept a list of things that we 'needed' to have and that needed some research on the internet:
- I wrote this blog.
- My wife needed a new bicycle so I searched and compared bikes and prices and investigated in Shimano gears etc. It kept me going for a few days (not all day of course) but comparing bikes etc. made me feel useful and gave me a bit of meaning. After a visit at our local bikedealer he gave me a good price and a great bike plus having a local bike dealer is always handy and better than buying online I believe as long as there is no price gap.
- My googledrive was full so I took the time to reorder it and took some extra backups.
- Our little monster 'Lena', my one and a half year old daughter, broke our telephone (fixed line) so I researched and bought a new telephone.
- I organised a weekend for our close friends (4 couples and 5 children). The date was set 4 weeks after my last chemo.
- We wanted an extra door with a flyscreen for our garage so we could ventilate our house better during hot summer. Again research and contact with someone who could help us with that.
- We wanted to sandblast our wooden staircase. So again research and mails to companies that could help us with that. Took me quiet some time.
Day 18 (July 28):
Hurray,
Day 19 (July 29):
Hurray,
Day 20 (July 30):
Hurray,
Day 21 (July 31):
Hurray,
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