Medical Protocol

As we waited to find out the full results of my pathology report in August 2010, my hubby and I discussed in depth what we would do if it was really bad news.  One of them was to get the results and go home and think about it.  But something in you goes into survivor mode as soon as you hear 'terminal ' and 'incurable'.  Then and there we decided to go for the chemotherapy route and do everything we can to fight this thing that has invaded my body.  How dare it! I didn't invite it in! But then again, who does?

CURRENT PROTOCOL

This protocol started in May 2011.  The first protocol that was used is below.  It worked to reduce my tumours for about 8 months and then things started changing.  The tumours size were increasing, but only some and they found a new on my ovaries.  So it was decided that we should change to try another protocol to see if we can get things decreasing again.  Here is the new protocol.

Its called UGIFLFOX

U = Undesignated

GI = GastroIntestinal

FOLFOX = FOLinci Acid, Fluorouracil, OXaliplatin

• I go in every 2 weeks for about 4 hours
• they are giving me my nausea medicine by IV before I get the chemo drugs
• they are also giving my magnesium before and after the chemo IV to help with neuropathy side effects
• I also have a port-a-cath in my chest now so the IV's can be easily be done
• The port also allows me to take the chemo drugs for an additional 46 at home
• I wear a little belt that holds the chemo drug in what looks like a baby bottle
• I remove the needle from the port and the temperature sensor on my chest at home, yep at home!

So that's the new routine.  I will be getting a CT scan in August to see if it is working.  My blood tests are showing a high white blood count and everything else is also in the normal or above zone.  So my energy level for this protocol seems to be better.


FIRST PROTOCOL

Below you will find details about my chemotherapy protocol that was administered from September 2010 to  May 2011 which includes my medications and how I deal with the wonderful side effects.  This protocol seemed to be decreasing the size of my tumours until April.  We now have a new protocol which you will find above.

They call my protocol UGICIRB at the chemotherapy clinic.  What does that mean?

U - Undesignated

GI - GastroIntestinal

CIRB - Capecitabine, Irinotecan, Bevacizumab

• Every 3 weeks I go into the Cancer Clinic to get 3 hours of IV. 
• I also get a double shot of Atraphene for diarrhea when I am there.
• I then go home and take 3 - 1500 mg pills of Capecitabine every 12 hours with my breakfast and dinner
• I take Ondansetron for 2 days for nausea
• and Dexamethasone/Steroids for 5 days for nausea as well.
• a bottle of Domperidone is available for me to breakthrough nausea.  I haven't needed much of this.

After I take my chemotherapy pills, to help with the digestion of the pills, I walk or exercise for 15 minutes.  After the 15 minutes I take 2 teaspoons of Maalox.  This seems in my mind to help me with the acid in my stomach after I take the pills and even though its probably only psychological for me it works.  Family and friends always say...there she goes again, doing her laps!

Dealing with the side effects of chemotherapy:

I do a lot of home remedies to help with the side effects. Before I started my chemo I researched how to deal with the following comma issues:

• Nausea
• Mouth Sores
• Feet and Hand Numbness, Tingling and Blisters [neuropathy]

Under the 'Kitchen Therapy' tab on my blog I give you the details on how I use my kitchen to help me in many ways with the side effects of chemotherapy.  At least it seems to work for me.

To help with my Neuropathy in my hands I used a recommended cream and put it on a few times today and then cover my hands with gloves. I first had some gloves from the Body Shop but my daughter found some at the dollar store so I can wash and change them as much as I need to.  My hands were peeling quite bad and I kept trying different creams to get the one that works for me.  Its called Eucerin - Aquaphor.