A look at Chemotherapy and Tumors based off my Experience(example included)

Sandtrap · April 06, 2015, 09:35:34 PM

For starters, I think it's time that I do something useful with this experience. Explain it. Or at least, share what I've learned since I've spent so much time conversing with the respective doctor who's been overseeing my treatment. I think it's important that I share this, even if some people here are already well aware of things.

So, here we go.

What is Chemotherapy?

Spoiler

Chemo, on a basic level, is the injection of chemicals into various regions of the body with the intent of stopping, slowing, or outright destroying cancer cells or other harmful effects. The chemical compounds injected can disrupt, slow, or destroy the process of cell replication, most of the time being effective on rapidly growing forms of cancer.

However, the compounds injected are indiscriminate. They effect both cancer cells and yours. The term "toxicity" is used when referring to how much potential damage the compounds will do to your own body. The higher the toxicity, the more damage you can expect.

Chemotherapy treatments are referred to as cycles. Cycles are usually time spans of weeks or months, for example, two injections a week for the month was 1 cycle for me. Toxicity levels and cycles are both monitored closely, and can be changed quickly to adapt to something new such as the patient's body being unable to cope with the toxicity levels, the treatments not showing much effect, and in rare cases, the chemicals accelerating the cancer.

There are many different ways to administer chemo, mine falling under the category of regional chemotherapy. With regional chemo, drugs are injected directly into an artery leading to a part of the body containing the cancer. This method concentrates the dosage to one area and helps minimize the spread throughout the rest of the body. But there are other means of dispersion.

There are also a fair number of types of chemotherapy and what they focus on, determining how and why they are administered. Mine is called salvage chemotherapy. The intent of salvage chemotherapy is not curative, but instead, intending to decrease the cancer load by slowing it down, putting it into dormancy, or shrinking it, to increase the life expectancy of the patient.

When someone goes through treatment cycles and can be taken off chemo, having their respective cancer destroyed or slowed, this stage is called remission. Remission, is the time period that a patient goes disease free before eventually having their cancer return and they start more treatment cycles.

Administration and Side Effects

Spoiler

Chemo has two primary ways of being distributed in any form. Liquid injections or pills. There are a variety of ways of administering the liquid form, through simple injections into a vein with a needle alone to something more complicated, a docking device. There are several forms of docking devices, some designed as simple ports to connect tubes to, being embedded under the skin and connected directly to an artery.

Some are more complicated, having to be surgically inserted through bone, or into organs. My port was a simple needle, inserted under the skin on the side of my head through an incision in my skin. The needle and valve connected directly to a vein across the side of my head, the rest of the device being held in place with glue like tape.

In the vast majority of cases involving any surgical procedures you'll be put under.

Chemotherapy of course, comes with side effects. What side effects happen to you, are primarily centered around the delivery region in your body, how high the toxicity content is, your age, your sex, and the chemicals used.

The most known about, or commonly visible effect is hair loss. Statistically speaking women have higher chances of losing more hair then men, but overall, hair loss can be as simple as thinning hairs, to having a higher loss rate, to losing patches, or finally total loss.

In most cases, several weeks or months after chemo is stopped hair will begin to regrow. Some residual damage may occur and hair might not ever fully return to true normal.

Other effects most often include reduced appetite, nausea, skin irritation, skin decolouration, diarrhea, and vomiting, vein discolouring, and sensitivity issues.

More severe effects include damage to nails and teeth, nervous system damage, heart, lung, and kidney damage, and eye damage, along with memory, cognitive functions, and reflexes.

Generally, it's the intent of doctors to avoid such side effects, and in most cases methods are taken to try and reduce damage through either other forms of medication given to simple hot or cold pads that help ease pain if there is any, and reduce damage to parts of your body being affected.

Two types of tumors or cancers

Spoiler

There are two classified types of cancer, or specifically for me, tumors. Benign and Malignant.

Benign tumors, for the most part, are passive. They lack the ability to spread to other parts of the body and infect them like a malignant cancer can. Most benign tumors can generally be left unchecked. However, benign tumors are capable of growing, but do it very gradually. Benign tumors pose less health risks, but are still capable of causing damage or even death over long term if left untreated.

My tumor was likely sitting in its place for years before it started putting increased pressure on parts of my head. As the doctor told me. If left unchecked I could have some serious problems in about three months time. Death was tossed around onto the table because the more pressure there was, the more chance there was of a clot forming or something being destroyed.

And as the doctor told me, benign tumors are only ever really caught when they become noticeable. In which case my increased headaches tipped me off.

Malignant tumors are aggressive. They are capable of growing quickly, spreading cancer cells to other parts of your body, and directly attacking and destroying other healthy cells.

It's also noted, that benign tumors are capable of shifting to malignant. And so far, very basic experiments are being done in the scientific community to "trick" malignant tumors into turning benign.

My Personal Experience

Spoiler

After all the scans were done, and my big turn around from the city happened early on, the actual process itself was simple. 1 cycle for me consisted of a stopping by the hospital every week, on thursday, and saturday if I remember correctly, for one month.

I didn't keep track of the dates. But I believe the heavy dosage I was recieving was given to me for roughly two months. The doctor and I agreed that with the estimate I recieved before I really started hurting wasn't something we wanted to push, so they prescribed me heavy chemicals.

Every thursday and saturday I would go in, sit down, and the nurse would fill up bags of stuff on one of these things.

Spoiler

Something resembling a hickman line, although a lot shorter because it was attached to my head, was connected to the tubes coming from the bags and I was IV fed. A hickman line is one of these things.

Spoiler

My symptoms, right off the bat were nausea and weakness. After the hour and a half was up in the hospital I would come home and sleep. Not long into treatments I started getting the shakes.

This was damage to my nervous system. The proximity of the drugs to my head and spine made my nervous system a target. The doc immidiately put me on some counter meds to mediate the damage.

I got chills. I'd be sitting under three blankets next to a heater shivering.

A few weeks after that I started losing hair. Not all of it. It started falling out in little patches.

I started losing weight, and eating less because I couldn't keep complicated foods down. I needed to eat and drink very simple, bland foods so as not to upset my stomach and puke everywhere.

I started losing muscle mass and getting more pale, although some of this was helped along by winter sunlight hours and activity hours.

This continued on for the entire duration and is now just starting to be reversed. Currently, I've been switched off the heavy dosages because I can no longer handle the toxicity levels. But my tumor has visibly shrunken. Now I'm taking low dosage pills just about every day that barely affect me. The rate at which the tumor will retreat will be slower now, but I'm in a state where I can recover, which I have been doing.

The doctor gave me muscle exercises, cardio exercises because my heart and lungs were stressed dangerously last year and by the effects of chemo. Physically, right now, I'm decent. My skin looks healthier, my hair is slowly coming back. But the doc says I'm suffering from what they call chemo brain.

Chemo brain is mental effects. I've got memory lapses, and concentration issues. As far as I am aware, there is no real estimate to when this will wear off. Chemo brain can be a long lasting affair that goes on much longer than chemo itself.

Summary

Spoiler

Chemo, isn't pleasant. I'll leave it at that. It just isn't. While not entirely to blame, I was, and am still in the middle of fighting with depression that rolled up in the wake of this. I appreciate that I'm here now. But I have something important to say on the matter.

Chemo isn't pleasant. But it doesn't need to control your life. It has no power over you no matter how miserable you can feel.

No matter how bad you feel, no matter how down you get, nothing is ever stopping you from enjoying yourself.

So, for all of you who read this, I have something for you. Please note, that I am extremely reluctant to share this. I already hate looking at myself in the mirror normally. This was the last picture of me before starting all this.

Spoiler

And this was a picture I forced myself to take today. I know it's hard to see, and that's because of the crappy quality of my camera and the fact that it's had time to heal for over a month or so now. The red circle highlights the mark where they stuck the hickman line under my skin and into a vein. Resized for a better look.

Spoiler

I'm thankful I didn't go full bald. But I lost some big chunks on top of my head and I shaved most of my beard because the bottom portion along my jaw was starting to fall out in patches. Luckily it's not a heavy scar so in time my hair will cover it all up. But that's all I'm willing to show here.

So, there you go folks.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask. Because I think I did miss some things. But other than that, that's it. I did this because I think it should be shared. I know some of you have already had family members who've been around this before. But one of these days any one of you might have to go through with this in some form.

All I can say to you is what I did before.

It's not unbeatable. And no matter how shitty you feel, it's not the end. It may certainly look or feel like it. But it's not. It's worth the trouble to stay alive that much longer.

Do with this as you will. Thanks for your time.

challengerX · April 07, 2015, 04:01:51 AM

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Flee · April 07, 2015, 06:20:09 AM

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Sandtrap · April 07, 2015, 10:39:53 AM

Quote from: Flee on April 07, 2015, 06:20:09 AM

Really good read Sandy. How are you feeling now?

Like shit and shit accessories. There's other worries going on for me right now. The little pills make me tired and occassionally nauseous. Most of any damage done to me is internal. My hands can still be a bit shaky from time to time. I get twitches up in my neck. Hair is brittle. Physical related stuff is no fun like all those exercises. And the memory and focus issues are pissing me off.

Happy to be still around. But not happy.

Sandtrap · April 07, 2015, 10:41:50 AM

Quote from: challengerX on April 07, 2015, 04:01:51 AM

Sheesh. Good read.

This is exactly why we need to professionally research cannabis to make some really powerful pills to combat tumors and other forms of cancer, and to help alleviate effects of chemo.

You know I wouldn't be surprised if chemo became more effective with the use of nano machines to deliver it specifically to just bad cells.

challengerX · April 07, 2015, 10:43:21 AM

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Sandtrap · April 07, 2015, 12:07:55 PM

Remembered something I missed. About tumors.

Usually, in most cases, chemotherapy can be used to weaken a tumor before its removed. And normally, standard procedure for dealing with tumors is targeted radiation treatment. My tumor is embedded too deep into my brain tissue to be taken out in an operation without permanently damaging something, and the doctor and me talked a lot about radiation treatment.

We both agreed that I likely couldn't handle radiation treatment, not in my current state of health. Chemotherapy is less effective in regards to the brain than other parts of the body because of what they call the blood-brain barrier.

The brain has a natural defense system in place to keep most toxins and other bad things out of circulation in the veins and artery's across the skull. The barrier doesn't let certain sized objects pass which limits things only to generally beneficial things.

So, in a lot of cases, the drugs injected into the brain will never fully reach their intended target. The only way to maximize the delivery would be if the tumor was closer to the surface.

Incision in the skin, a surgical cut through the skull and an implanted dock to deliver the medication directly.

There are also many different kinds of tumors classified under many various categories and I know what mine counts as. But it's a large word. Don't remember it. So, that's what I forgot for now.

Turkey · April 07, 2015, 01:16:40 PM

I appreciate you writing all that out. If you're comfortable answering, what's the prognosis?

Sandtrap · April 07, 2015, 02:07:17 PM

Quote from: HurtfulTurkey on April 07, 2015, 01:16:40 PM

I appreciate you writing all that out. If you're comfortable answering, what's the prognosis?

It's a benign, very slow growing tumor. Eventually we'll hit a point were my treatments shrink it down enough to almost nothing. Then remission.

It's a ballpark guess on how long it'll take for it to grow to the state again that affected me as much as it did several months ago. But when that happens, I'll be hit with more chemo. Doc figures I'll go for checkups every few months to keep track of its growth rate so that we don't wait for it to reach such a critical state again.

Esentially, assuming nothing else puts me down or it doesn't convert to malignant I can live a long life. The only reason I was put in danger was because of pressure. The tumor had grown to such a point that it was suffocating and crushing parts of my head.

So. Prognosis.

Push tumor as close as possible to being destroyed. Live normally for a decent chunk of time. Go back on the pills I'm taking now when we see that it's coming back to say hello again. If things go smoothly, no trouble, no bullshit, and no malignant shift.

It's another mark on the clock to keep track of.

Turkey · April 07, 2015, 02:08:53 PM

That's awesome, man. I'm glad to hear you're going to be okay.

Sandtrap · April 07, 2015, 02:31:05 PM

Quote from: HurtfulTurkey on April 07, 2015, 02:08:53 PM

That's awesome, man. I'm glad to hear you're going to be okay.

I wouldn't place any bets on "okay."

But it is better news than the available alternatives. And that's acceptable.

Sandtrap · April 07, 2015, 03:27:29 PM

I suppose beyond the OP I'll talk about various things when I think of them. For starters. Hair shaving.

Now, technically, there is nothing that forces you to shave your entire head or face when you go under chemo. But for the sake of convenience, since you might have a bald patch on your head that would look awkward, most would go for a total shave to equalize things.

I chose not to. Don't know why. Maybe because of some sense of prideful stubbornness. I'll say this. I talked with the doctor for a while after we pinned down what was causing my headaches of increasing pain. Chemotherapy was discussed, for some time.

But it didn't hit me until I walked into the hospital and a nurse comes up with a shaver and started lobbing every last piece off where they were going to make the incision.

And I think, for a lot of people, for some reason, it's the hair that bugs them the most.

For me, sitting down in that chair, and realizing that I was essentially submitting myself to this willingly.... Looking at myself in the mirror with part of my head exposed with no hair. It was a finality.

And it was still one that I rejected. So I said no. Don't lob off all my hair.

Evidently. That may have been a mistake. Don't let pride call the shots. Because for the sake of pride ever since then, I've been waking up every day to stare at patches on my head and face falling out.

That's distressing. Enough that I've hidden all the mirrors in my house. I wore, and continue to wear a hat at almost all times because

A) My head was and is cold
B) I hid my condition effectively from everybody in town

And. I was going to say more on this. But I'll leave off on that for now.

Turkey · April 07, 2015, 05:36:27 PM

Quote from: Sandtrap on April 07, 2015, 02:31:05 PM

Quote from: HurtfulTurkey on April 07, 2015, 02:08:53 PM
That's awesome, man. I'm glad to hear you're going to be okay.

I wouldn't place any bets on "okay."

Well if the prognosis is that it's manageable and you'll be able to achieve remission, I'd say that's okay. But yeah, I didn't mean to diminish the struggle you have had to go through in any way.

Sandtrap · April 07, 2015, 09:56:59 PM

Quote from: Nuka 'Kal Vargun on April 07, 2015, 09:52:56 PM

I've never really known much about the chemo process, so this was pretty educational. Thanks for sharing.

Told ya I did something useful with myself.

Sandtrap · April 07, 2015, 10:25:06 PM

Quote from: Nuka 'Kal Vargun on April 07, 2015, 10:11:00 PM

Quote from: Sandtrap on April 07, 2015, 09:56:59 PM
Quote from: Nuka 'Kal Vargun on April 07, 2015, 09:52:56 PM
I've never really known much about the chemo process, so this was pretty educational. Thanks for sharing.

Told ya I did something useful with myself.
Honestly, you should look into publishing. I think you'd do pretty damn well.

Apparently that's what folks say about my stories as of late as well. I don't think I've the temperment anymore to deal with that step process. Besides. Getting stuff for free is always nice.

If I do anything interesting or lob my leg off with a chainsaw I'll make sure to write an article here.

Sharin' stuff is good.

Sandtrap · April 07, 2015, 10:45:12 PM

Quote from: Nuka 'Kal Vargun on April 07, 2015, 10:30:45 PM

Quote from: Sandtrap on April 07, 2015, 10:25:06 PM
Quote from: Nuka 'Kal Vargun on April 07, 2015, 10:11:00 PM
Quote from: Sandtrap on April 07, 2015, 09:56:59 PM
Quote from: Nuka 'Kal Vargun on April 07, 2015, 09:52:56 PM
I've never really known much about the chemo process, so this was pretty educational. Thanks for sharing.

Told ya I did something useful with myself.
Honestly, you should look into publishing. I think you'd do pretty damn well.

Apparently that's what folks say about my stories as of late as well. I don't think I've the temperment anymore to deal with that step process. Besides. Getting stuff for free is always nice.

If I do anything interesting or lob my leg off with a chainsaw I'll make sure to write an article here.

Sharin' stuff is good.
A lot of writers aren't exactly sociable, and they do just fine.
I don't know what your step by step process would be but you could always...you know...invent a new one.

I did. It's called putting stuff out and creating content. And that's that.

Raw Sugar · April 07, 2015, 11:25:09 PM

Shit there's no way I can keep my eyes open long enough to read all this. Did you have to get a "port"?

Sandtrap · April 08, 2015, 12:35:08 AM

Quote from: Raw Sugar on April 07, 2015, 11:25:09 PM

Shit there's no way I can keep my eyes open long enough to read all this. Did you have to get a "port"?

Aye. Up on the side of my head. Just a needle stuck into a vein really.

aREALgod · April 08, 2015, 02:35:23 AM

Cancer is for the weak.

A salt rifle · April 08, 2015, 09:07:16 AM

Quote from: ANGER on April 08, 2015, 02:35:23 AM

Cancer is for the weak.

You're cancer.

Sandtrap · April 08, 2015, 11:22:10 AM

Quote from: ANGER on April 08, 2015, 02:35:23 AM

Cancer is for the weak.

Even though you're joking and you don't particularily take anything seriously. That's insulting. By all means you can insult me all you want because I've dragged my mess all over this fucking site for the past year like an idiot.

But don't insult the dead. Don't insult the other people who've gone through something like this or continue to go through something like this. You know, the entire reason I decided to make this was because I ran odds in my head.

One day somebody else here might have to go through with this. It would be good, if they had a general idea of what they were getting into.

Or even, an understanding so that if they ever deal with somebody going through something like this they can show a little more sympathy.

Raw Sugar · April 08, 2015, 11:49:22 AM

Quote from: Sandtrap on April 08, 2015, 12:35:08 AM

Quote from: Raw Sugar on April 07, 2015, 11:25:09 PM
Shit there's no way I can keep my eyes open long enough to read all this. Did you have to get a "port"?

Aye. Up on the side of my head. Just a needle stuck into a vein really.

ahhh okay. My friend had hers going into her chest. I think it went either right into her heart or one I've the arteries next to the heart.

Sandtrap · April 08, 2015, 11:52:18 AM

Quote from: Raw Sugar on April 08, 2015, 11:49:22 AM

Quote from: Sandtrap on April 08, 2015, 12:35:08 AM
Quote from: Raw Sugar on April 07, 2015, 11:25:09 PM
Shit there's no way I can keep my eyes open long enough to read all this. Did you have to get a "port"?

Aye. Up on the side of my head. Just a needle stuck into a vein really.
ahhh okay. My friend had hers going into her chest. I think it went either right into her heart or one I've the arteries next to the heart.

I'm assuming your friend's okay? Or better now? If you don't mind me asking, do you know what kind of cancer she had to warrant something near her heart?

aREALgod · April 08, 2015, 02:35:55 PM

Quote from: Sandtrap on April 08, 2015, 11:22:10 AM

Quote from: ANGER on April 08, 2015, 02:35:23 AM
Cancer is for the weak.

Even though you're joking and you don't particularily take anything seriously. That's insulting. By all means you can insult me all you want because I've dragged my mess all over this fucking site for the past year like an idiot.

But don't insult the dead. Don't insult the other people who've gone through something like this or continue to go through something like this. You know, the entire reason I decided to make this was because I ran odds in my head.

One day somebody else here might have to go through with this. It would be good, if they had a general idea of what they were getting into.

Or even, an understanding so that if they ever deal with somebody going through something like this they can show a little more sympathy.

I'm not insulting the dead, don't worry. But maybe you'd be interested in one of my posts on cancer then: http://sep7agon.net/index.php?topic=33960.0

Sandtrap · April 08, 2015, 02:42:02 PM

Quote from: ANGER on April 08, 2015, 02:35:55 PM

Quote from: Sandtrap on April 08, 2015, 11:22:10 AM
Quote from: ANGER on April 08, 2015, 02:35:23 AM
Cancer is for the weak.

Even though you're joking and you don't particularily take anything seriously. That's insulting. By all means you can insult me all you want because I've dragged my mess all over this fucking site for the past year like an idiot.

But don't insult the dead. Don't insult the other people who've gone through something like this or continue to go through something like this. You know, the entire reason I decided to make this was because I ran odds in my head.

One day somebody else here might have to go through with this. It would be good, if they had a general idea of what they were getting into.

Or even, an understanding so that if they ever deal with somebody going through something like this they can show a little more sympathy.

I'm not insulting the dead, don't worry. But maybe you'd be interested in one of my posts on cancer then: http://sep7agon.net/index.php?topic=33960.0

I did actually read that post, some time back. Apologies that I don't have much to say or didn't say anything. Progress in study is a good thing.

aREALgod · April 08, 2015, 02:44:55 PM

Quote from: Sandtrap on April 08, 2015, 02:42:02 PM

Quote from: ANGER on April 08, 2015, 02:35:55 PM
Quote from: Sandtrap on April 08, 2015, 11:22:10 AM
Quote from: ANGER on April 08, 2015, 02:35:23 AM
Cancer is for the weak.

Even though you're joking and you don't particularily take anything seriously. That's insulting. By all means you can insult me all you want because I've dragged my mess all over this fucking site for the past year like an idiot.

But don't insult the dead. Don't insult the other people who've gone through something like this or continue to go through something like this. You know, the entire reason I decided to make this was because I ran odds in my head.

One day somebody else here might have to go through with this. It would be good, if they had a general idea of what they were getting into.

Or even, an understanding so that if they ever deal with somebody going through something like this they can show a little more sympathy.

I'm not insulting the dead, don't worry. But maybe you'd be interested in one of my posts on cancer then: http://sep7agon.net/index.php?topic=33960.0

I did actually read that post, some time back. Apologies that I don't have much to say or didn't say anything. Progress in study is a good thing.

All you need is to contract polio now you sick fuck

Sandtrap · April 10, 2015, 03:17:18 PM

Quote from: ANGER on April 08, 2015, 02:44:55 PM

Quote from: Sandtrap on April 08, 2015, 02:42:02 PM
Quote from: ANGER on April 08, 2015, 02:35:55 PM
Quote from: Sandtrap on April 08, 2015, 11:22:10 AM
Quote from: ANGER on April 08, 2015, 02:35:23 AM
Cancer is for the weak.

Even though you're joking and you don't particularily take anything seriously. That's insulting. By all means you can insult me all you want because I've dragged my mess all over this fucking site for the past year like an idiot.

But don't insult the dead. Don't insult the other people who've gone through something like this or continue to go through something like this. You know, the entire reason I decided to make this was because I ran odds in my head.

One day somebody else here might have to go through with this. It would be good, if they had a general idea of what they were getting into.

Or even, an understanding so that if they ever deal with somebody going through something like this they can show a little more sympathy.

I'm not insulting the dead, don't worry. But maybe you'd be interested in one of my posts on cancer then: http://sep7agon.net/index.php?topic=33960.0

I did actually read that post, some time back. Apologies that I don't have much to say or didn't say anything. Progress in study is a good thing.

All you need is to contract polio now you sick fuck

I've had enough fun with contracting various ailments.

Raw Sugar · April 10, 2015, 07:20:14 PM

Quote from: Sandtrap on April 08, 2015, 11:52:18 AM

Quote from: Raw Sugar on April 08, 2015, 11:49:22 AM

Quote from: Sandtrap on April 08, 2015, 12:35:08 AM
Quote from: Raw Sugar on April 07, 2015, 11:25:09 PM
Shit there's no way I can keep my eyes open long enough to read all this. Did you have to get a "port"?

Aye. Up on the side of my head. Just a needle stuck into a vein really.
ahhh okay. My friend had hers going into her chest. I think it went either right into her heart or one I've the arteries next to the heart.

I'm assuming your friend's okay? Or better now? If you don't mind me asking, do you know what kind of cancer she had to warrant something near her heart?

leukemia. She's been cancer free for 3 years now.

Sandtrap · April 10, 2015, 07:22:48 PM

Quote from: Raw Sugar on April 10, 2015, 07:20:14 PM

Quote from: Sandtrap on April 08, 2015, 11:52:18 AM
Quote from: Raw Sugar on April 08, 2015, 11:49:22 AM

Quote from: Sandtrap on April 08, 2015, 12:35:08 AM
Quote from: Raw Sugar on April 07, 2015, 11:25:09 PM
Shit there's no way I can keep my eyes open long enough to read all this. Did you have to get a "port"?

Aye. Up on the side of my head. Just a needle stuck into a vein really.
ahhh okay. My friend had hers going into her chest. I think it went either right into her heart or one I've the arteries next to the heart.

I'm assuming your friend's okay? Or better now? If you don't mind me asking, do you know what kind of cancer she had to warrant something near her heart?
leukemia. She's been cancer free for 3 years now.

Good! Good to hear! Give her a high five from me will you?

Pastafarian · May 09, 2015, 10:25:55 AM

Nice to hear your doing well remember you gave a farewell on bnet then never posted back good luck on your recovery