C-Day Testicular Cancer Chemotherphy BEP

3rd day of chemo in the hospital has hit me pretty hard, sickness and tiredness with hiccups and trapped wind, not a great feeling, but make sure that you take your anti sickness! I should be discharged on the forth day, and looking forward to going home, having some nice food, a bath and bed.

Feeling ok on the second day, I’ve had two lots of chemo, a 1 hour one and a 4 hour one. Then I’ve had 2x4 hr fluids. I had a good sleep but I will say that I’m feeling a little lazy, but that’s to be expected. My face skin is starting to get a little greasy from the steroids and I’ve had a few hiccups. That is all for now. 

In hospital for 3 nights as the second round takes place. First day in and everything seems ok, I managed to get a bed space by 4pm and started my chemo at around 6pm. One two hour bag and then one four hour bag (both chemo drugs) then a 4 hour fluid bag. That’s all for the first day. Before the chemo starts you have some fluids and steroids and anti sickness...usual stuff. Feeling ok at the moment, a lot of getting up and going to the toilet but feeling in general ok at the moment. I recommend some Bose qc35 II noise cancelling headphones, they work a treat with the background moans you hear on the ward from other people.  Will report back tomorrow with second day.

Ok so today was the day that I come to the conclusion that my hair needed to come off.   Over the last few days my hair has been failing out, not bad but bad enough to notice, a little pinch of the hair would see strands coming out easily, and when I woke up this morning, my whole pillow was full of strands of hair. I used a Philips one blade all over, which actually worked a treat. There are a few bald patches but the majority of hair is still visible, so I don’t look like a total slap head.  I feel ok about it, the main thing to remember is at least you know the chemo is working, so even thou you hair no hair, that cancer in your body is being attacked and is getting eradicated from you! A small price to pay! Side effects have been minimal, ringing of the ears have settled down slightly, skin is back to normal (no longer greasy) energy levels are good, in general feeling good. Weekend is approaching then it’s the 3day hospital visit for the three day shot of chemo

Had my second day trip to the hospital for my chemo top up, and had an appointment with my oncologist. The appointment with my oncologist went well, he said my tumour markers are under 1.2 and he’s happy with the progress I’m making, and confident that the chemo will shrink the lymph node and that my body has taken to it well! Promising news! Other then that I’ve been feeling ok, have a sore throat at the moment and my temp is 38.1 degrees today but no shakes or sweats, and the doctor said that the sore throat isn’t a cause for concern. My scalp has been hurting the last few days and today my hair seems to be coming out a bit more then usual, so I believe this is the start of the hair loss part, shavers at the ready.  

So this week has been very positive, I’ve been feeling more like myself and had a lot more energy. I’ve been waking up around 7 and going to bed around 10, and I am able to see the whole day out with no bother.   I still have my hair although it is thinning out (all over body hair also) and growth of my beard has pretty much stopped.   I’ve had cramp in my left calf for a few days, which is painful, after exercising it it does get better but sometimes I still walk like John Wayne. The only side effects that I’m dealing with on a daily basis are having a very oily face, increased spots on my face and upper body, ringing of the ears and cramp in my left calf, oh and the hair in the private region is starting to fall out (this has started today ‘Sunday’)

Tuesday - day for an injection So today has been a tiring day, didn’t sleep great the night before. Still have the ringing of the ears. The day has just dragged, I went to the hospital for some fluids and an injection for the chemo. All went well was in and out under 90mins. Have had a big appetite today, eaten very well, and I’ve also been to the loo! 

ok so Monday is here again, Side effects I notice are:- Ringing of the ears Greasy skin Feeling like a coiled spring Emotionless Not with it Constipation I still don’t have normal motivation but I think this is what I am going to be use too for the whole of the treatment, although I am able to get out and do things, everything feels like a chore. I’ve had trouble sleeping at night yesterday and tonight it seems. Tuesday (tomorrow) I’m in hospital from late afternoon for more chemo treatment.

Saturday, wow what a boost of energy I had, I felt good, and was out most of the day taking full advantage, apart from not feeling 100% I felt independent and good about myself. It lasted pretty much all day and night. Sunday, well I woke up good, then I started to get ringing in my ears which has been coming and going over the course of the whole day, at about 12 midway I started to feel a bit weak, but still managed to have more energy that I didn’t have whilst being administered chemo. I went out for lunch and when I got home I did feel weak, but not bad enough to lay down. As the night has gone on, the ears still ring and I’m glad that I’m in bed. Maybe I went a bit overboard doing too much when I should be resting but it’s hard to sit around when you have energy to move, I mean when I do feel bad then I’ll rest! Not sure if the doctors would agree with that mind. Only symptoms that I feel at the moment are the ringing  of the ears and just a general lowness that your not yourself

What a difference a day without any chemo makes your feel like, I know it still is early days but I’ve had several boosts of energy today where I have been out the house and doing normal day to day tasks. This bursts of energy haven’t lasted hours but enough to feel better and to eat better. I had a little nap this afternoon and for most the day have been resting but getting around the house and acting independent has made me feel a lot better.  Sickness has gone, constipation has gone, still suffering with a few burbs and trapped wind at the moment but are both minor things.

The forth day, had my last set of chemo for the week, next time I’m in will be on Tuesday afternoon for one Shot then home again until the week after.  Feeling better then yesterday, I only had one bag of chemo last night, not sure if it’s because I only had the one bag or if it’s because I’m going home.  Only things I can say at the moment is that constipation is still with me, have taken more pills for it yesterday night and a another pill of something else last night, I have passed a few stools but nothing satisfactory, so hopefully today I can get prescribed something a bit stronger to get things moving. The hiccups come and go but not as bad as yesterday.....it’s only 8am. Was discharged at 12pm, after an ultrasound scan in my other working testicle which is normal. I had this done as a precaution to make sure it hadn’t spread there as I have been getting a strange burning sensation from that area. Since I’ve got home I’ve had a mc’ds and a bath, straight into bed for a couple of

OK so, I had a much better night sleep while the chemo was pumping in.  I manage to get 4 hours sleep straight and then was up for an hour then slept until 8.  The thing your find If doing chemo through the NHS at a hospital, every morning the light go on very brightly before 8, you have to get up get your bed made have breakfast so it's all go go go. Felt OK when I got up, was quite perky had breakfast, brushed my teeth then continued my Netflix box set, at about 11ish I started to feel lazy, possible the start of the chemicals in my body. Had dinner at 12 which was quite nice, chicken korma and jelly. I'm hoping the jelly might perk me up a bit, sugar, however I feel a bit better after having the lunch, now I will spend the rest of the day bed surfing as I don't have that much energy to do much.  On my last saline solution which sound be finished in an hour then a rest until later for my third load of chemo treatment. This afternoon and onwards to the night I've had h

Second day, felt a weird day. Tired and sick at times, make sure you keep asking for the anti sickness tablets, they do work! I didn’t exactly sleep well in the night on the first night in the hospital so that could be why I was tired throughout the second day. Still meausring my unrine samples to put On my chart and going for little walks to stop getting cabin fever.  Once I’ve finished the saline drip I’m free for 6/7 hours before round two of the chemo, however before the second lot I need to have a chest X-ray. Feeling slightly groggy and have notice a slight energy lost, went outside to get some fresh air, it’s was a cold day with a chilly wing and my head felt as though it was getting a headache, my body must be started to feel the cold more.  I did perk up in the evening a bit,  9pm the second lot of chemo starts. 

D day or shall I say C DAY! On the morning of my Chemo starting I woke about 6.30am, layed in bed and called the ward just after 8.  First time they didn’t answer, second time they did and told me to ring back at 1130am and then they would tell me what time my bed was available.  They said my bed would be ready by 4-5pm, however there was a few tests that I had to do before I could start my treatment so I got to the hospital for 3pm, parking was an absolute Nightmare and we parked where we could, not in a space! I come to the ward where I would be starting my treatment, they weighed me and I put my overnight bags in the office. I then went on to get my lungs checked and then my ears checked. Then back to the ward for just after 5pm, I then had a cannula put in my arm and had my bloods taken, then I was asked a series of questions by a student nurse, about well being, if anyone is at home to look after me etc. I then asked to go and have some food which i called the 'last suppe

It was just before Xmas and i went for a follow up appointment, i was called in the office and was told straight away 'im afraid its not good news, you need to have Chemo'.  My mind went blank and i took in all of the commands the doctor was saying, i was in shock.  The cancer had spread to one of my lymph nodes in my torso which was 3cm x 4cm.  There was not any psychical sign it was there, it was only visible from a CT scan, i did start to get the odd twinge in the area nearer the time of my chemo start date but nothing that was totally uncomfortable.  I enjoyed Xmas and new year living life without a care in the world, trying to stay as positive as i could until my Chemo was to start at the being of January 2019.

A quick intro, i was diagnosed with Testicular Cancer in late 2016, 32 year old, fit and healthy non smoker doest take drugs....yes it can affect anyone.  Symptoms i had were night sweats, a bigger testicle that ached a lot and a feeling that something is not right.  I first went to the GUM clinic thinking that i have a infection, they prescribed me tablets and said that it would go down in a week or two time, after a week the lump was still there so i went back and they told me to keep taking the medicine for another week.  I wanted a second opinion and i went to the Doctor at a walk in centre. As soon as i see the doctor, i was told to have an ultrasound on the same day, and a few days later after seeing a lot of doctors i had the op to remove it and have a false one put in place.  The lump was just on the limit in size, but once removed the cancer would go.  i was offered Chemo but decided against it as at the time as it hadn't spread and as time went on after my two year point