There are MANY different types of chemo drugs. Some make your hair fall out because they kill all fast growing cells, some do not.
Dr. Webster said my fiance would be treated with 3 aggressive drugs - the same regiment as is used in the East. The Chemo Cocktail for my fiance is as follows:
- This little baby causes slow hair loss (apprx 2 weeks till follicle evacuation) - joy!
- People can have an allergic reaction their 1st or 2nd treatment cycle, after that it won't happen
- Premeds include Benadryl to handle possible allergic reaction
- Doesn't cause nausea
- Does cause flu-like symptoms like achiness, but this lasts a day at the most
- This drug will be given with the radiation treatment too
- Given with lots of fluids because it can be hard on the liver
- Can be nauseating, but this lasts 1 week max.
- Patients are given a LOT of anti-nausea pills before this drug
- Typically the only feeling experienced is queasiness
- Please, hold the jokes about the FU
- This drug is given on continuous infusion
- There are no side effects!
The first time you have to be in the hospital so they can monitor you. My fiance will have to stay overnight. Usually it takes 2-3 hours for the docetaxil and Cisplatin, which are given in your vein. For this my fiance will need a vein pick. It's a tube that goes in the vein up to an artery so the doctors don't have to open the vein each time.
The 5-FU takes 48 hours to administer and is given over 2 days. For these days my fiance will get a fanny pack with the drugs in it that is hooked up to his vein pick. The pump in the fanny pack makes sure the right amount of drug goes into the vein at the right time.
Docetaxil has to be administered in the hospital each time.
And that's it for the drugs!
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