Scans

Hi Eric, am I right in you are having R-CHOP?…… most people have a mid treatment scan to check how things are going….. although I had the big brother of R-CHOP having 6 cycles of R-EPOCH and did not have a mid treatment scan as it was so obvious as my brick sized growth was on my neck so it was obvious….. but I did have a post treatment scan at 4 weeks but I was going into SCT so this was part of the prep.

Thanks Mike I guess like everything it perhaps comes down to the individuals circumstances. I'm hoping to get my chemo and hopfully scan dates from hospital Monday as they never came in the post in the end. 

Hi Eric, I am going for my 4th R-CHOP today and as per usual am a little nervous of how I will be afterwards.  I had my 3rd R-CHOP 3 weeks ago and my Consultant came to ask how I was getting on and told me that he would arrange a CT scan to see how things were going.  He said I may not get an appointment until after my 4th but not to worry as it was just a 'check' (or words to that effect).  I haven't received an appointment yet.  I wasn't expecting a scan until at least halfway through the 6 rounds but everyone's journey is a little different and maybe hospitals do things a little differently.  I had a very large mass in my armpit which I can tell has shrunk a lot but how much is left I don't know.  I also had about 5 other masses around my body which I didn't know about so I have no idea what's happened with them.  I am half looking forward to the scan so I have a good idea of how well the chemo is working and half dreading it in case the results aren't as good as I am hoping.  I don't think I will be having another CT/PET combined scan until the end of my chemo.

That's really useful to know I think I need to realise I may not have a scan till September as I thought they would be quite frequent but I get the impression there not. I've got large masses two of which they zapped with radiotherapy 4 weeks ago but I never been told how effective it was. But it got rid of mey pain so I assumed it worked.

I know wat you mean about half looking forward to scan results  and half dreading it, either way it's good to know the progress and what needs to happen next. I'm sure your treatment is progressing well and its good that you have noticed a reduction in your mass.

Hi Eric.  How are things with you?  Hope you are OK

Hi smoothie. I'm quite good. Felt normal almost last 3 days but chemo starts Wednesday. I was fatigued for alot longer after chemo last time so need to make sure I get more rest. I'm walking and driving again which is good. How are you managing?

You sound to be coping very well which is really good.  Its good that you are managing to walk and drive.  Have you had 3 chemo treatments now?  I finally got my CT scan, it was 3 days before my 5th Chemo.  My consultant showed me the scan but I might as well have been looking at a scan of the moon for all it meant to me.  It was slices of my body working upwards and not a picture of my whole body (hard to explain lol)  anyway he was happy with it and said that it would appear my lumps, masses or whatever you want to call them have gone.  I am waiting until my PET/CT scan combined which should be about 3 weeks after my last chemo before I get the bunting up and order the brass band though .  That scan will show any slight activity and if its clear then I will be convinced it has definitely gone.  I had my 5th on Friday.  So far so good with me but I never take it for granted, take each day as it comes and just try to remain as positive and upbeat as possible.  

Thats very exciting but I agree no bunting yet. Did you have chemo for 6 sessions or 6 months? I have dates till September which would be 6 but wasn't sure I'd then get more. I have my 3rd chemo wednesday. It's great they shared the scan with you but not sure I'd understand it either. 

I'm so pleased for you, how have you feeling during the later chemo sessions?

Chemo is often 6 sessions which with R-CHOP takes about 4 months as they are 3 weeks apart. Other chemos like R-Benda are usually 4 weeks apart so take about 5 months. 

I'm having 6 sessions, the last if everything carries on OK will be at the end of July.  I haven't really felt that much worse as the sessions have gone on which is a blessing.  I'm not taking it for granted though and am worried before every session that this might be the one that produces every side effect going at full force.  My main problems have been 2 or 3 days of heavy fatigue, really bad constipation after session 3, slight tinkling in fingers and hardly any sleep for the 5 days of steroids after the session which is probably the reason for the ensuing days of fatigue.  I am not complaining at all and feel very lucky to have had only minor side effects so far.  Did your consultant say you may need  more than 6?  I did think that 6 was the norm nowadays.