Follicular lymphoma

FormerMember
FormerMember
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Hello All, I also have FNHL and have had both CET scans and MRI. I curently have what feels like  half a tennis ball buried under my left armpit, most I expect as its the site for my biopsy and its has to calm down, I've had various lumps and bumps over the last 2.5 months that have appeared then vanished, but now I have swollen glands in both sides of my groin, with the right hand side being the worst as I also have a hernia. I am currently on watch and wait and having spoken to a specialist we have decided not to do anything else as from what I understand theres a limited amount that can be done as a lot is non repeatable.

In the past I have had bowel cancer and fortunately I was on a trial where they used chemo pre-op, rather than after, with alarming results as I had  cardiac arrests caused by the chemo drug Fluorocil 5, so in some respects I don't think chemo is available to me this time round. I'm starting to get used to how I feel day to day with most days being ok with the odd one chucked in where I am jst to tired to do much.

Anyway I look forward to reading what everyone else does to cope, Keep Fighting. Slight smile

  • Peter yes its ok to share where treatment is bing given and if its the Marsden then they know what they are doing, its just we have never come across the 2 regimes being combined, though the are a number of trials looking at alternative combinations to see if they improve outcomes.

    will be interesting to hear how it goes

    john

    we all know this is a roller coaster ride, where we ride blind, never knowing where the highs and lows are
  • FormerMember
    FormerMember in reply to johnr

    Hello John,  didn't realise that I'd put all the information on my profile as well, but there you go, shows how forgetful I am and sometimes get things mixed up. I am happy though that they found these lumps in a routine scan as to be honest if they'd appeared and I'd had to go through my doctor where appointments seem to take 3 to 4 weeks to get, this wouldn't be where it is now!

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember in reply to FormerMember

    Tuesday 9th October I go to have blood tests again and also see my doctor pre starting the chemo, which is set for next Friday 12th October. Mus admit now its set in stone I feel far more relaxed about it all, I'm gaining weight as well because of the steroids but anything spicy seems to upset my stomach somewhat, so they are off my diet.

    All the best to you all.

  • Peter it could be the steroids causing the upset rather than the spices alone, have they given you omeprazol 30mg? often they do when patients are on steroids, may be worth asking about them if you don't have them

    john

    we all know this is a roller coaster ride, where we ride blind, never knowing where the highs and lows are
  • FormerMember
    FormerMember in reply to johnr

    Hello John, No I'm just on Prednisolene and Allopurinol, I'll ask them on Tuesday when I go.

    Cheers :)

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember in reply to FormerMember

    1st cycle completed, started at 10.20 this morning and I left at 17.00. the course was Obinutuzumab 1000 mg, Vincristine 2 mg Cyclophosphamide 1600 mg .

    My take home drugs are Prednisolone 100 mg once a day, Lansoprazole 30 mg once a day, Allopurinol 30 mg, Metoclopramide 10 mg 1 tablet 3 times a day for 3 days then whenever I feel sick, Aciclovir 400 mg 1 tablet twice a day and  Co-Trimoxazole 480 mg taken Monday, Wednesday and Friday twice a day.

    Must admit I feel fine, but they had to turn it down a bit as my bp went up to nearly 150, but dropped to 132 after 30 mins so not a difficult time and I am so pleased as I was getting just a bit jumpy beforehand lol.

  • Peter good to read it was reasonably straight forward, thats a big dose of steroids so watch for the crash when the stop and don't be surprised if sleeping becomes an issue. 

    John 

    we all know this is a roller coaster ride, where we ride blind, never knowing where the highs and lows are
  • FormerMember
    FormerMember in reply to johnr

    Yes its 20 5mg tabs a day for day 2-5 then day 6 4, day 7 3, day 8 2 and day 9 1, then I come off them until my next cycle, they've done it this way as I've been on them 2 weeks already and with one more to go can't just stop. I'm also happy that my weight is increasing as they say at some point I will start to lose it with the effects of the drugs. Sleep has been an issue for the last 30 years, the only time I slept properly was after my bowel cancer for 18 months, I think it runs in the family. Yet I have sleeping pills, but rarely use them, my last 28 tabs lasted 18 months.

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember in reply to FormerMember

    Nice work Peter,

    you did well to get out within 7 hours on your first infusion, I think mine ended up 9 hours.

    reactions are quite common with O apparently and often for that first one I think the dose escalation needs to be modified accordingly.

    like you, i was terribly nervous when that first infusion went in as you really don’t know what to expect when you are taking something new.

    sounds like you got up to the maximum dose though which bodes well for next time.

    i hope the next week or so aren’t too bad for you.

    im back in Tuesday next week for my cycle 2.

    paul

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember in reply to FormerMember

    Hello Paul,

    Yes my nurse said the same, I got to I think it was 135 before I started to suffer a bit, got very hot and bp soared from about 128 to the 147 or so before they reduced then increased again, after that was fine all to the max dosage by which time my bp had dropped again.

    I'm off for a walk after lunch as I hated yesterday my knees ached through lack of use. Did they put you on high dose of the prednisolone for days 2 to 5?

    One other thing the steroids really muck up my sleep which isn't that great anyway, last night was 3 hours then cat naps for 2 more, if its the same tonight then tomorrow I'll have a sleeping pill, which I'm told are fine to take.

    Oh  and food lol I want to eat all the time, terrible I don't want to wind up being 20 stone Flushed .

    Good luck on Tuesday, I'm told its easier.