Surgery Monday Then BioChemo
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Surgery Monday Then BioChemo

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Surgery Monday Then BioChemo

  • Post
    • November 3, 2012 at 2:33 pm
    thrashter
    Participant

    After this surgery going to Oncolist and starting biochemo therapy. I read it is tough but doable. Having done at Kaiser. Would like to get a gage as to how tough it will be. Thanks

    After this surgery going to Oncolist and starting biochemo therapy. I read it is tough but doable. Having done at Kaiser. Would like to get a gage as to how tough it will be. Thanks

Viewing 17 reply threads
  • Replies
      • November 3, 2012 at 5:59 pm
      Phil S
      Participant
      My husband completed six rounds of biochemo at MDAnderson in Houston last November to March 2012. One week hospital stay each round. It was tough, but MDAnderson nurses are trained very well, and know how to anticipate every side effect. Phil was comfortable in hospital for the most part, the first week back home was always the hardest, he had delayed stomach problems, most likely from the Cisplatin. Try to stay ahead of the stomach issues with the meds they send home with you! Phil has done high dose IL2 and TIL, and he would say biochemo is the hardest, the chemos in biochemo do make you feel sick. But, he survived, did 6 rounds, and worked his job the third week each cycle. Good luck to you, you can do it!! Valerie (Phil’s wife)
        • November 3, 2012 at 8:38 pm
        thrashter
        Participant
        Thank you for the encouragement
        • November 3, 2012 at 8:38 pm
        thrashter
        Participant
        Thank you for the encouragement
        • November 3, 2012 at 8:38 pm
        thrashter
        Participant
        Thank you for the encouragement
      • November 3, 2012 at 5:59 pm
      Phil S
      Participant
      My husband completed six rounds of biochemo at MDAnderson in Houston last November to March 2012. One week hospital stay each round. It was tough, but MDAnderson nurses are trained very well, and know how to anticipate every side effect. Phil was comfortable in hospital for the most part, the first week back home was always the hardest, he had delayed stomach problems, most likely from the Cisplatin. Try to stay ahead of the stomach issues with the meds they send home with you! Phil has done high dose IL2 and TIL, and he would say biochemo is the hardest, the chemos in biochemo do make you feel sick. But, he survived, did 6 rounds, and worked his job the third week each cycle. Good luck to you, you can do it!! Valerie (Phil’s wife)
      • November 3, 2012 at 5:59 pm
      Phil S
      Participant
      My husband completed six rounds of biochemo at MDAnderson in Houston last November to March 2012. One week hospital stay each round. It was tough, but MDAnderson nurses are trained very well, and know how to anticipate every side effect. Phil was comfortable in hospital for the most part, the first week back home was always the hardest, he had delayed stomach problems, most likely from the Cisplatin. Try to stay ahead of the stomach issues with the meds they send home with you! Phil has done high dose IL2 and TIL, and he would say biochemo is the hardest, the chemos in biochemo do make you feel sick. But, he survived, did 6 rounds, and worked his job the third week each cycle. Good luck to you, you can do it!! Valerie (Phil’s wife)
      • November 3, 2012 at 9:30 pm
      RMcLegal
      Participant

      Rough but doable pretty much sums it up.  They'll probably have you pretty sedated in the hospital, and that's a blessing.  Best wishes to you.

      Rich

      http://www.hotelmelanoma.blogspot.com

      • November 3, 2012 at 9:30 pm
      RMcLegal
      Participant

      Rough but doable pretty much sums it up.  They'll probably have you pretty sedated in the hospital, and that's a blessing.  Best wishes to you.

      Rich

      http://www.hotelmelanoma.blogspot.com

      • November 3, 2012 at 9:30 pm
      RMcLegal
      Participant

      Rough but doable pretty much sums it up.  They'll probably have you pretty sedated in the hospital, and that's a blessing.  Best wishes to you.

      Rich

      http://www.hotelmelanoma.blogspot.com

      • November 3, 2012 at 9:44 pm
      JerryfromFauq
      Participant

      Tell the nurses at the first sign of chills/Rigors or nausea so they can bring meds to counter them.  Don't try to "man them out".  Much easier to control if attacked early

      • November 3, 2012 at 9:44 pm
      JerryfromFauq
      Participant

      Tell the nurses at the first sign of chills/Rigors or nausea so they can bring meds to counter them.  Don't try to "man them out".  Much easier to control if attacked early

      • November 3, 2012 at 9:44 pm
      JerryfromFauq
      Participant

      Tell the nurses at the first sign of chills/Rigors or nausea so they can bring meds to counter them.  Don't try to "man them out".  Much easier to control if attacked early

      • November 4, 2012 at 1:25 am
      kylez
      Participant
      If you’re going to Kaiser Riverside then Dr. Gailani and his nurses and pharmacists and staff are great. I can’t speak to but , I went to him in Riverside in 2010 for 4 cycles of IL-2 and always felt like I was in great hands. Good luck and hang in there with the treatment.
        • November 4, 2012 at 1:27 am
        kylez
        Participant
        (…I cant’t speak to biochemo but…)
        • November 4, 2012 at 1:27 am
        kylez
        Participant
        (…I cant’t speak to biochemo but…)
        • November 4, 2012 at 1:27 am
        kylez
        Participant
        (…I cant’t speak to biochemo but…)
      • November 4, 2012 at 1:25 am
      kylez
      Participant
      If you’re going to Kaiser Riverside then Dr. Gailani and his nurses and pharmacists and staff are great. I can’t speak to but , I went to him in Riverside in 2010 for 4 cycles of IL-2 and always felt like I was in great hands. Good luck and hang in there with the treatment.
      • November 4, 2012 at 1:25 am
      kylez
      Participant
      If you’re going to Kaiser Riverside then Dr. Gailani and his nurses and pharmacists and staff are great. I can’t speak to but , I went to him in Riverside in 2010 for 4 cycles of IL-2 and always felt like I was in great hands. Good luck and hang in there with the treatment.
      • November 4, 2012 at 3:57 pm
      Mymomsafighter
      Participant
      My mom underwent 4 rounds of biochemo. Agree with previous posters, alert nurses at onset of any symptoms as they can provide meds for almost all to provide comfort. My mom was sedated for the majority of her hospital stay. Once home, the first week was the toughest. The red, burning skin was the most uncomfortable side effect – we used lots of moisturizers and 100% aloe gel.
      • November 4, 2012 at 3:57 pm
      Mymomsafighter
      Participant
      My mom underwent 4 rounds of biochemo. Agree with previous posters, alert nurses at onset of any symptoms as they can provide meds for almost all to provide comfort. My mom was sedated for the majority of her hospital stay. Once home, the first week was the toughest. The red, burning skin was the most uncomfortable side effect – we used lots of moisturizers and 100% aloe gel.
      • November 4, 2012 at 3:57 pm
      Mymomsafighter
      Participant
      My mom underwent 4 rounds of biochemo. Agree with previous posters, alert nurses at onset of any symptoms as they can provide meds for almost all to provide comfort. My mom was sedated for the majority of her hospital stay. Once home, the first week was the toughest. The red, burning skin was the most uncomfortable side effect – we used lots of moisturizers and 100% aloe gel.
      • November 5, 2012 at 4:48 am
      Zan
      Participant

      A family member just completed six rounds of Biochemo at Kaiser Riverside with Dr. Gailani. The biochemo was challenging, but Dr. G and the nursing staff really knew what they were doing and were well prepared for every symptom. WIshing you the best.

      • November 5, 2012 at 4:48 am
      Zan
      Participant

      A family member just completed six rounds of Biochemo at Kaiser Riverside with Dr. Gailani. The biochemo was challenging, but Dr. G and the nursing staff really knew what they were doing and were well prepared for every symptom. WIshing you the best.

        • November 5, 2012 at 2:54 pm
        thrashter
        Participant

        Thanks that is the staff I will have.

        • November 5, 2012 at 2:54 pm
        thrashter
        Participant

        Thanks that is the staff I will have.

        • November 5, 2012 at 6:11 pm
        Zan
        Participant

        You are in good hands. If you want to check out a blog that gives a lot more info about the biochemo at Kaiser Riverside from a patient's perspective, it might help you to know some of what you will be experiencing. Her situation is different than yours in that she is younger (17) and her cancer was spreading quickly and made it to her liver, which is why biochemo was the recommendation. Here is the blog address, and you can search the blog from there. The biochemo discussion starts on May 30, 2012. Hopefully hearing one patient's story will help remove some of the unknown for you. As Dr. G says, though, every patient's experience is different and depends on many factors. Hope your surgery goes well.

        http://madeleineblogger.blogspot.com

        • November 5, 2012 at 6:11 pm
        Zan
        Participant

        You are in good hands. If you want to check out a blog that gives a lot more info about the biochemo at Kaiser Riverside from a patient's perspective, it might help you to know some of what you will be experiencing. Her situation is different than yours in that she is younger (17) and her cancer was spreading quickly and made it to her liver, which is why biochemo was the recommendation. Here is the blog address, and you can search the blog from there. The biochemo discussion starts on May 30, 2012. Hopefully hearing one patient's story will help remove some of the unknown for you. As Dr. G says, though, every patient's experience is different and depends on many factors. Hope your surgery goes well.

        http://madeleineblogger.blogspot.com

        • November 5, 2012 at 6:11 pm
        Zan
        Participant

        You are in good hands. If you want to check out a blog that gives a lot more info about the biochemo at Kaiser Riverside from a patient's perspective, it might help you to know some of what you will be experiencing. Her situation is different than yours in that she is younger (17) and her cancer was spreading quickly and made it to her liver, which is why biochemo was the recommendation. Here is the blog address, and you can search the blog from there. The biochemo discussion starts on May 30, 2012. Hopefully hearing one patient's story will help remove some of the unknown for you. As Dr. G says, though, every patient's experience is different and depends on many factors. Hope your surgery goes well.

        http://madeleineblogger.blogspot.com

        • November 5, 2012 at 2:54 pm
        thrashter
        Participant

        Thanks that is the staff I will have.

      • November 5, 2012 at 4:48 am
      Zan
      Participant

      A family member just completed six rounds of Biochemo at Kaiser Riverside with Dr. Gailani. The biochemo was challenging, but Dr. G and the nursing staff really knew what they were doing and were well prepared for every symptom. WIshing you the best.

Viewing 17 reply threads
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