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Starting BioChemo

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  • Post
    • January 5, 2011 at 12:01 am
    nicoli
    Participant

      I'm starting biochemo ( the University of Colorado cocktail) Thursday the 6th. Will be in the hospital for one week, home for two weeks then back in for one week, etc. for a total of 3 months. I would really appreciate prayers and I will try to keep in touch to let you know how it's going and what others can expect if they choose this treatment.

      Nicki, Stage 3b

      I'm starting biochemo ( the University of Colorado cocktail) Thursday the 6th. Will be in the hospital for one week, home for two weeks then back in for one week, etc. for a total of 3 months. I would really appreciate prayers and I will try to keep in touch to let you know how it's going and what others can expect if they choose this treatment.

      Nicki, Stage 3b

    Viewing 23 reply threads
    • Replies
        • January 5, 2011 at 12:08 am
        Linda J
        Participant
          Wishing you all the best!
          Beat that MM to the curb!
          You’ll be in my prayers

          Linda J

          • January 5, 2011 at 12:08 am
          Linda J
          Participant
            Wishing you all the best!
            Beat that MM to the curb!
            You’ll be in my prayers

            Linda J

            • January 5, 2011 at 12:13 am
            lhaley
            Participant

              Wishing you a 100% response!!

              Linda

              • January 5, 2011 at 12:13 am
              lhaley
              Participant

                Wishing you a 100% response!!

                Linda

                • January 5, 2011 at 12:17 am
                KevinM
                Participant

                  Nicki,

                  I wish you the best as you go into battle! It is tough…no getting around that…..BUT You Will Kick Mel ass!

                  I am a Bio-chemo graduate…class of 2006 (Stage 3 NED since)

                  Just a couple of tips…

                  1. tell the nurses how you are feeling and take all of the meds they offer!! They have something for any side affect.

                  2. Stay hydrated! water tasted awful but was much better with crystal light.

                  3. Try to get a little exercise each day…even if is only dragging your IV pole around the unit you will be in.

                   

                  Hang in there…reach me by email if you have any questions or want to vent!!

                  All my best!

                  Kevin

                  [email protected]

                  • January 5, 2011 at 12:17 am
                  KevinM
                  Participant

                    Nicki,

                    I wish you the best as you go into battle! It is tough…no getting around that…..BUT You Will Kick Mel ass!

                    I am a Bio-chemo graduate…class of 2006 (Stage 3 NED since)

                    Just a couple of tips…

                    1. tell the nurses how you are feeling and take all of the meds they offer!! They have something for any side affect.

                    2. Stay hydrated! water tasted awful but was much better with crystal light.

                    3. Try to get a little exercise each day…even if is only dragging your IV pole around the unit you will be in.

                     

                    Hang in there…reach me by email if you have any questions or want to vent!!

                    All my best!

                    Kevin

                    [email protected]

                    • January 5, 2011 at 1:41 am
                    dian in spokane
                    Participant

                      Nicki,

                      I'm just curious what exactly IS the U of CO biochemo cocktail?

                      • January 5, 2011 at 1:41 am
                      dian in spokane
                      Participant

                        Nicki,

                        I'm just curious what exactly IS the U of CO biochemo cocktail?

                        • January 5, 2011 at 3:59 am
                        nicoli
                        Participant

                          Oh, I plan on taking any drugs they give me……"just give me drugs and knock me out" for the week.

                          The University of Colorado biochemo is a mixture of DTIC, Cisplastin, Vinblastine, Interleukine 2 and Interferon. This is given around the clock via iv (except I think the interferon is a shot). My spelling may not be accurate. I'm not actually at the University of Colorado but live one hour north. My onc is in touch with the doctors there and this is what they strongly recommend for me. We will do the treatment at a local hospital.

                          I don't have tumors right now but have mel cells in my lymph system and on my scalp. Biochemo destroys tumors so I hope that it will kill melanoma cells even better.

                          Excited!

                          Nicki

                          • January 5, 2011 at 3:59 am
                          nicoli
                          Participant

                            Oh, I plan on taking any drugs they give me……"just give me drugs and knock me out" for the week.

                            The University of Colorado biochemo is a mixture of DTIC, Cisplastin, Vinblastine, Interleukine 2 and Interferon. This is given around the clock via iv (except I think the interferon is a shot). My spelling may not be accurate. I'm not actually at the University of Colorado but live one hour north. My onc is in touch with the doctors there and this is what they strongly recommend for me. We will do the treatment at a local hospital.

                            I don't have tumors right now but have mel cells in my lymph system and on my scalp. Biochemo destroys tumors so I hope that it will kill melanoma cells even better.

                            Excited!

                            Nicki

                            • January 6, 2011 at 3:52 am
                            Jim in Denver
                            Participant

                              Hi Nicki,

                              Sending thoughts and prayers your way.  Please let us know how you are doing, and keep the positive attitude.

                              Best Wishes,

                              Jim

                              • January 6, 2011 at 3:52 am
                              Jim in Denver
                              Participant

                                Hi Nicki,

                                Sending thoughts and prayers your way.  Please let us know how you are doing, and keep the positive attitude.

                                Best Wishes,

                                Jim

                                • January 6, 2011 at 4:01 pm
                                Sherron
                                Participant

                                  Nicki, wishing you the very, very best outcome.  Please keep us posted as you can.  Prayers definitely being sent your way.

                                  Tale Care.

                                  Sherron, wife to Jim FOREVER

                                  • January 6, 2011 at 4:01 pm
                                  Sherron
                                  Participant

                                    Nicki, wishing you the very, very best outcome.  Please keep us posted as you can.  Prayers definitely being sent your way.

                                    Tale Care.

                                    Sherron, wife to Jim FOREVER

                                    • January 7, 2011 at 2:34 pm
                                    Rocklove
                                    Participant

                                      Praying for you to have a successful treatment Nicki. Keep up the positive attitude.

                                      Rocky (Stage IV Liver Mets)

                                      • January 7, 2011 at 2:34 pm
                                      Rocklove
                                      Participant

                                        Praying for you to have a successful treatment Nicki. Keep up the positive attitude.

                                        Rocky (Stage IV Liver Mets)

                                        • January 11, 2011 at 7:49 pm
                                        ShariC
                                        Participant

                                          Nicki – You might not read this until you've recovered for a week or so, but, I want to offer some encouragement,.  I just finished Round 3 at UCCC last Friday.  I'll be finishing with Round 4 at the end of the month.  Home recovering, now.  Everybody seems to have difference experiences, so I don't have anything specific…just know it will pass and you'll feel like yourself again.   I have had a very good response (tumor totally shrunk before removal).  I think its a good program.  I will be at UCCC again Jan. 24th.  If you can, look me up on Monday.  All the other days, its not worth a visit as I am pretty out of it.  Good luck!  – Shari

                                          • January 11, 2011 at 7:49 pm
                                          ShariC
                                          Participant

                                            Nicki – You might not read this until you've recovered for a week or so, but, I want to offer some encouragement,.  I just finished Round 3 at UCCC last Friday.  I'll be finishing with Round 4 at the end of the month.  Home recovering, now.  Everybody seems to have difference experiences, so I don't have anything specific…just know it will pass and you'll feel like yourself again.   I have had a very good response (tumor totally shrunk before removal).  I think its a good program.  I will be at UCCC again Jan. 24th.  If you can, look me up on Monday.  All the other days, its not worth a visit as I am pretty out of it.  Good luck!  – Shari

                                            • January 25, 2011 at 11:29 pm
                                            nicoli
                                            Participant

                                              It took me this long to respond after my first biochemo experience. I went into the hospital for my first week of treatment on Jan 6th. Pretty out of it that week, I think I slept most of the time but I really can't remember.

                                              NO nausea, NO vomiting, just diarrhea and fatigue. NO appetite, but my husband brought smoothies of protein powder, banana and rice milk and I forced them down. Lost 6 pounds which I can readily afford to lose. Some skin itching but they gave me lots of benadryl.

                                              My blood counts all went really low but bounced back within a week of release. My doctor is awed at my "easy" first week and recovery. However, after two weeks at home , I am still extremely fatigued so much so that she ordered more tests and just found out my thyroid is now very low. That is easy to fix so it is good news.

                                              I go back in this Thursday for "round 2". Kinda disappointed cuz I have sub q mets on my scalp and by observation, they don't seem to have shrunk after the first round of biochemo. I cried but am now encouraged that further treatment will kill those suckers.

                                              We keep fighting. "Cancer picked the wrong bitch this time."

                                              Nicki, Stage 3b, surgery, SLNB, full neck disection 23 nodes, biochemo

                                              • January 25, 2011 at 11:29 pm
                                              nicoli
                                              Participant

                                                It took me this long to respond after my first biochemo experience. I went into the hospital for my first week of treatment on Jan 6th. Pretty out of it that week, I think I slept most of the time but I really can't remember.

                                                NO nausea, NO vomiting, just diarrhea and fatigue. NO appetite, but my husband brought smoothies of protein powder, banana and rice milk and I forced them down. Lost 6 pounds which I can readily afford to lose. Some skin itching but they gave me lots of benadryl.

                                                My blood counts all went really low but bounced back within a week of release. My doctor is awed at my "easy" first week and recovery. However, after two weeks at home , I am still extremely fatigued so much so that she ordered more tests and just found out my thyroid is now very low. That is easy to fix so it is good news.

                                                I go back in this Thursday for "round 2". Kinda disappointed cuz I have sub q mets on my scalp and by observation, they don't seem to have shrunk after the first round of biochemo. I cried but am now encouraged that further treatment will kill those suckers.

                                                We keep fighting. "Cancer picked the wrong bitch this time."

                                                Nicki, Stage 3b, surgery, SLNB, full neck disection 23 nodes, biochemo

                                                • January 26, 2011 at 12:02 am
                                                washoegal
                                                Participant

                                                  Good luck to all of you doing Bio Chemo my prayers and best wishes are with you.

                                                   

                                                  Mary

                                                  Stage 3

                                                  • January 26, 2011 at 12:02 am
                                                  washoegal
                                                  Participant

                                                    Good luck to all of you doing Bio Chemo my prayers and best wishes are with you.

                                                     

                                                    Mary

                                                    Stage 3

                                                    • January 26, 2011 at 12:31 am
                                                    jag
                                                    Participant

                                                      Hang in there Nicki, it's rough, but it's doable.

                                                        • November 2, 2011 at 5:43 am
                                                        Timfishing2011
                                                        Participant

                                                          Hi- My husband is starting BIO Nov 14th, scared of the unknown but reading this blog helps us and we get some encouragement from all of you. I'll update after his first week there. he has Stage 3, no tumors, in blood cells, LNSD in between weeks 2 and 3.

                                                          we are going to be at UCCC under Dr Lewis' care.  any advise to help us through the first week is appreiated.. thank you

                                                          Tim and Shannon

                                                          • November 2, 2011 at 5:43 am
                                                          Timfishing2011
                                                          Participant

                                                            Hi- My husband is starting BIO Nov 14th, scared of the unknown but reading this blog helps us and we get some encouragement from all of you. I'll update after his first week there. he has Stage 3, no tumors, in blood cells, LNSD in between weeks 2 and 3.

                                                            we are going to be at UCCC under Dr Lewis' care.  any advise to help us through the first week is appreiated.. thank you

                                                            Tim and Shannon

                                                            • November 2, 2011 at 5:43 am
                                                            Timfishing2011
                                                            Participant

                                                              Hi- My husband is starting BIO Nov 14th, scared of the unknown but reading this blog helps us and we get some encouragement from all of you. I'll update after his first week there. he has Stage 3, no tumors, in blood cells, LNSD in between weeks 2 and 3.

                                                              we are going to be at UCCC under Dr Lewis' care.  any advise to help us through the first week is appreiated.. thank you

                                                              Tim and Shannon

                                                            • January 26, 2011 at 12:31 am
                                                            jag
                                                            Participant

                                                              Hang in there Nicki, it's rough, but it's doable.

                                                          Viewing 23 reply threads
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