Good afternoon everyone
I was due to have my 4th gem/cis cycle yesterday. My blood tests were within acceptable levels, but during cycle 2 & 3, the gemcitabine has been agonising. For cycle 3, the nurses slowed the drip, but that only gave me 40 minutes of agony instead of 30 minutes. Since after cycle 2, I have been developing superficial thrombophlebitis in the veins of both hands & wrists. I discussed this with my oncologist who cam to see me when I was being prepared for the 4th cycle. During our discussion, he could see that I was in some pain, even with the initial hydration infusion. We then discussed my options, aparantly there is no point intaking only cisplatin as it only works as part of a cocktail with gemcitabine. He instead receommended that either I start the gemcitabine & he would instruct the nurses to stop the procedure if I exhibited any pain, or his preferred recommendation that I miss cycle 4 in order to build my strength for the radical Cystectomy in December or January. He explained that for many reasons, patients often skip cycle 4. I agreed to stop the procedure, but I was very upset, I felt that dropping treatment will allow the cancer to spread. Yet I am sitting here with ibuprofen gel on my hands because of the pain. This means that I have only had 3 gem/cis cycles, when I was inisitally prescribed 4 cyles, plus an 8th day gem cycle each time. I have never had an 8th day cycle because of my days 4-7 have always been very bad. I had attemnded my first 8 day cycle & nearly fell off the weighing scale & had lost a lot of weight.
Has anyoneone else had this issue with only taking 3 cycles & vein problems?
Hi Coojee. Really sorry to hear you have been having a tough time with the chemo. If it is so bad, it does sound like sense to not have the 4th cycle in order for you to recover fully and build up your strength and fitness before the big op. I hope you pick up soon. Best wishes.
