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Today I beat cancer for a second time.

A

Aztechnology

Member
FUCK YEA, good for you OP. I hope the day comes soon with the ability to utilize new immunotherapy techniques that we can replace chemo and radiation and help kick cancers ass. Enjoy OP, you're a god damn warrior.
 
P

plufim

Member
OP you are a goddam champion. Slaying that dragon twice is inspirational.

Stories like yours really help me and others with loved ones suffering from cancer right now, my mum's in chemo.
 
L

laoni

Member
Patrick Bateman said:
Best wishes OP!

Have the docs ever talked with you about a Port-system instead of the PICC?
Click to expand...

Yeah, they went with the PICC initially because they wanted treatment to start ASAP because of the dangers of it getting any bigger. I did the entire diagnosis -> figuring out type -> staging (bone marrow biopsy and PET) -> baseline heart/lung function tests -> chemo in one week. Our hospitals can't actually handle all the diagnostic tests because we're small so some of my slides and stuff had to be processed in the big hospitals in Melbourne and Sydney

And then they figured out I have tiny-ass shitty veins that can only handle a single lumen at the smallest size XD They failed 3 times, told me if they failed the 4th they'd rush me in for a port, but they managed it that final time (it took them 45min though)

The second time, they again, wanted something quick and easy, because they needed the heavy duty catheters for the stem cell collection and they'd be using that once it was in. They managed to get the PICC in first time without a hitch, but they only had one vein good enough to work with.

Honestly I wish they just gave me a port. The PICCs had the unintended side effect of occasionally tickling my heart which would make me pass out, but they were too afraid to pull it back because my veins would actively try to spit it out if they tried.

plufim said:
OP you are a goddam champion. Slaying that dragon twice is inspirational.

Stories like yours really help me and others with loved ones suffering from cancer right now, my mum's in chemo.
Click to expand...

All the best to her and your family, chemo is a shit ride but, modern medicine's pretty good these days, and they do as much as they can to help you feel comfortable. Make sure to ask about it for the worst of the symptoms, they might have something able to help.
 
P

Patrick Bateman

Member
laoni said:
Yeah, they went with the PICC initially because they wanted treatment to start ASAP because of the dangers of it getting any bigger. I did the entire diagnosis -> figuring out type -> staging (bone marrow biopsy and PET) -> baseline heart/lung function tests -> chemo in one week. Our hospitals can't actually handle all the diagnostic tests because we're small so some of my slides and stuff had to be processed in the big hospitals in Melbourne and Sydney

And then they figured out I have tiny-ass shitty veins that can only handle a single lumen at the smallest size XD They failed 3 times, told me if they failed the 4th they'd rush me in for a port, but they managed it that final time (it took them 45min though)

The second time, they again, wanted something quick and easy, because they needed the heavy duty catheters for the stem cell collection and they'd be using that once it was in. They managed to get the PICC in first time without a hitch, but they only had one vein good enough to work with.

Honestly I wish they just gave me a port. The PICCs had the unintended side effect of occasionally tickling my heart which would make me pass out, but they were too afraid to pull it back because my veins would actively try to spit it out if they tried.
Click to expand...

How weird. But good that it still worked for you.
 
MaulerX

MaulerX

Member
Congrats OP. This is such an incredibly uplifting story in the face of all the tragedy that's going on.
 
B

BlackGoku03

Member
Congrats OP. You're a tough and strong person. Wish you the best.

Question: how bad did your weight fluctuate before and during treatment. How is it now?
 
K

Koppai

Member
So happy to hear this OP, fuck cancer though! You are definitely a fighter. I found out my supervisor had leukemia years ago and that she beat it too. We live in a way better age then 15 plus years ago. I wish you the best and that you never have to deal with it again.
 
L

laoni

Member
BlackGoku03 said:
Congrats OP. You're a tough and strong person. Wish you the best.

Question: how bad did your weight fluctuate before and during treatment. How is it now?
Click to expand...

I was ~175lb before diagnosis, but I'd lost about 30lb in the preceeding 3 months due to the cancer running unchecked

My first chemo came with high doses of steroids, which make you extremely hungry, and I didn't have much nausea, so for those 6 months, I was constantly eating, probably like 3-4x what would be healthy. I'd have like 2 full plates of dinner, a bunch of snacks, and then a midnight 'snack' of another plate of dinner. And for the first few months, I -still- lost weight. I put it back on towards the end, including those 30lb I lost before treatment.

My second type of chemo was a different experience. I still got high doses of steroids, but the chemo completely killed any sense of hunger. Like, I never felt hungry, the smell of food cooking never made my mouth water, everything tasted flavourless. I maintained weight by eating out of obligation, and my meals being high in fats and proteins.

With my transplant, I lost 45lb or so in about 3 weeks. The chemo destroyed my intestinal lining, and my stomach rejected anything sent its way, including water. When I started throwing up blood (I tore around where my oesophagus meets my stomach), they stopped me from eating and started giving me IV nutrition. When I was able to eat again, I couldn't eat large servings.

5 months on, I've kept pretty steady at 170lb. My sense of hunger is still fucked, it took about 3 months post transplant before I felt hungry again, and it's inconsistent these days. I can't eat much still, and some foods I just can't stomach.
 
P

plufim

Member
laoni said:
All the best to her and your family, chemo is a shit ride but, modern medicine's pretty good these days, and they do as much as they can to help you feel comfortable. Make sure to ask about it for the worst of the symptoms, they might have something able to help.
Click to expand...
She's got a scan this week to see how effective it has been so far. Got my fingers crossed.

But again, you're a goddam rockstar.
 
R

RionaaM

Unconfirmed Member
Fuck yeah, OP! You're strong as hell. Treat yourself to a fantastic dinner as celebration for this fantastic news. Or buy a game or music CD or whatever, you've earned it!
 
A

Always-honest

Banned
laoni said:
I was ~175lb before diagnosis, but I'd lost about 30lb in the preceeding 3 months due to the cancer running unchecked

My first chemo came with high doses of steroids, which make you extremely hungry, and I didn't have much nausea, so for those 6 months, I was constantly eating, probably like 3-4x what would be healthy. I'd have like 2 full plates of dinner, a bunch of snacks, and then a midnight 'snack' of another plate of dinner. And for the first few months, I -still- lost weight. I put it back on towards the end, including those 30lb I lost before treatment.

My second type of chemo was a different experience. I still got high doses of steroids, but the chemo completely killed any sense of hunger. Like, I never felt hungry, the smell of food cooking never made my mouth water, everything tasted flavourless. I maintained weight by eating out of obligation, and my meals being high in fats and proteins.

With my transplant, I lost 45lb or so in about 3 weeks. The chemo destroyed my intestinal lining, and my stomach rejected anything sent its way, including water. When I started throwing up blood (I tore around where my oesophagus meets my stomach), they stopped me from eating and started giving me IV nutrition. When I was able to eat again, I couldn't eat large servings.

5 months on, I've kept pretty steady at 170lb. My sense of hunger is still fucked, it took about 3 months post transplant before I felt hungry again, and it's inconsistent these days. I can't eat much still, and some foods I just can't stomach.
Click to expand...

Wow.. i was constantly sick for days after every chemo. Everything smelled and tasted disgusting. Good that they have stuff like this. Later on i also received some extra stuff that made me less nauseous, thank god.

Also, i became allergic (so to speak) for the color red. There was always a red liquid in one of the chemo bags and although i can't be sure that was the sack that made me sick, i still get nauseous whenever i see red fluid. I heard from some nurses that ex-patients get sick when they meet them randomly on the street.... weird pavlovian reaction it seems.

So, how's the energy level right now?
 
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