Day 2, Cycle 4. Chemo Drugs 101

Well, the Aloxi/Decadron, anti nauesa drugs went in, now the Mesna, helps prevent damage to the bladder is going in, then the Methylene Blue, suppose to help the side effects of the Ifosfamide.

When I first went through Chemo in 2003 I had an interesting chat with my Doctor.  Both he and I agree on this over simplified version of an explaination:  Chemo therapy is feeding the body poisons while trying to protect some other organs, killing the body's cells off slowly, basically killing you slowly to kill the cancer, to bring you back from the low depths the chemo brings you too.

Basically it is true, you slowly begin to feel like crap, your hair falls out, your immunial system is compromised at times,  your blood production is slowed.  By the time chemo ends, at least it is for me, I feel like crap, look like crap and don't want to eat.

I figured that it my help if I list my drugs, and what they treat, with some of the side effects.  What may it help?  It may help those who know someone going the chemo, watching the effects wondering why it is happening.

So here is my list with what they do and side effects.  There are many more drugs and side effects.  These are just what I get.  Need more information?  www.chemocare.com

• Aloxi - anti nausea medication.  Helps prevent the nausea the day of, up to 24 hours after the chemo treatment.  Side efftects:  Allergic reaction.  Headache, constipation, tiredness. 
• Decadron - anti-inflammatory medication, anit nauea.  Relieves inflammation in various parts of the body. It is used specifically to decrease swelling  associated with tumors of the spine and brain, and to treat eye inflammation. Treat or prevent allergic reactions. As treatment of certain kinds of autoimmune diseases, skin conditions, asthma and other lung conditions.  As treatment for a variety of cancers, such as leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma.  Used to stimulate appetite in cancer patients with severe appetite problems.  Also used to replace steroids in conditions of adrenal insufficiency (low production of needed steroids produced by the adrenal glands). (OK so this wasn't super simple explanation)
• Emend - Anti nausea med, blocks chemicals that cause nausea.  If you already are nauseated, it doesn't work.  Side effects: headache, flushing, allergic reactions, shortness of breath.
• Mesna - Protects the bladder from damages from the effects of chemo therapy drugs.  Side effects:   bad taste in the mouth, diarrhea or soft stools, headache, nausea, vomiting, fatigue.
• Methylene Blue - Treats methemoglobinemia, vasoplegic syndrome, ifosfamide-induced encephalopathy, cyanide poisoning. 
• Ifosfamide - Used to treat:  Recurrent testicular cancer and germ cell tumors, Sarcomas (soft-tissue, osteogenic sarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma), Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, Non-small cell and small cell lung cancer, Bladder cancer, Head and neck cancer, Cervix cancer.  Side effects:   Low white blood cell count. (This can put you at increased risk for infection.)  Low Platelet count. (This can put you at increased risk for bleeding.).  Hair loss, Nausea and vomiting, Poor appetite.   These side effects are less common side effects (occurring in about 10-29%) of patients receiving ifosfamide:  Central neurotoxicity (including sleepiness, confusion and occasionally hallucinations).  Yes I fall into the 10-29% category.  Delayed effects:  There is a slight risk of developing a blood cancer such as leukemia.  Yes even chemo therapy drugs can cause cancer down the road.  Ironic isn't it?
• Epirubicin - Breast cancer.  No I do not have breast cancer, or any symptoms of it.  Side effects:  Pain along the site where the medication was given   Nausea or vomiting.  Urine will appear red for 1-2 days (the Methylene Blue does the same thing only blue, and it over powers the pink or red) Low blood counts, both red and white.  Mouth sores.  Hair loss on the scalp or elsewhere on the body (the hair doesn't have a chance with these drugs I am taking),  Nausea and vomiting (see a trend here?).  Fatigue.  Amenorrhea (loss of menstrual cycle).  Darkening of the skin where previous radiation treatment has been given. (radiation recall).  Diarrhea, Infection,  Darkening of the nail beds, Conjunctivitis.  Problems with fertility. A serious but uncommon side effect of epirubicin can be interference with the pumping action of the heart. You can receive only up to a certain amount of epirubicin during your lifetime.

That is the complete list, well not counting the pills, compozene, and Zofran.  Anti nausea, it is really interesting all the anti nausea drugs they use now, and it does help.  As long as you take them at the first sign of queasiness, cause once it gets going, just get out the puke bucket.

A good place to go for drug information is www.chemocare.com .  Where I got most of my information.

The Ifosfamide is next, where troubles begin if there are any.  Last time on day 2 I got a ride to the hospital in an ambulance.

Hope this is better this time.