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Immunotherapy, fatigue and travel: Should I postpone treatment? Trip?

Posted by Donna @stimey60, May 14 7:00am

I have started immunotherapy. I've had one treatment. I'm so tired!
I could not get up out of the chair I was so weak. I have a european trip coming up and I'm going to have to cancel it. I don't want to.
I've been thing about holding off my next treatment till I get back from my trip. My next treatment is in two days. I thought it would give me enough strength to go.
Any thoughts?

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krumpko | @krumpko | May 15 9:58am

Hi Donna,
I have stage 4 lung cancer and have been having 2 types of chemo drugs as well as immunotherapy every three weeks. My pet scan after 4 treatments showed an almost 50% shrinkage of my 4.8cm tumor, a resolution of the lymph node involved as well as a marked improvement in the plura involvement. They stopped one chemo drug, but I still am having 1 chemo drug as well as the immunotherapy drug every 3 weeks. I absolutely hear you as far as the fatigue goes. However, the first 8-9 days are like this, but my strength starts to return after that. I'm certainly not the person I was before all this started last November, but given the results so far, I have taken the negatives of not being able to do some things as payment for keeping the cancer from growing. Talk to your doc about moving your treatment to decide if it's worth it. Good luck.

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2 replies
jessicamc | @jessicamc | May 15 11:00am

I love to globe trot. My last two trips to Europe ended with hospitalization due to bronchial infection and RSV viral infection. The RSV vaccine became available three months after my last trip. I have a history of typical neuroendocrine carcinoids. I love travel, but long international flights are not my friend. I’m 78 and my dr recommends I avoid those long international flights. I was so ill in Venice , I would not have made it home without my son’s help. From now on, I will travel the U.S., Canada.

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Donna | @stimey60 | May 15 2:11pm

I use to do two trips a year
I had to cut down to one
I got sick once on a trip but everyone did.
Im still healthy, but what happened is the steroids they use during chemo shot my blood sugar sky high. That is part of my issue. And the immunotherapy also is screwing with my blood sugar. I'm going on insulin to help control it.
I was out gardening and I could not stand up I was so weak. I just put off my second treatment and will startup again when I get back.

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Mentor
Lisa, Volunteer Mentor | @lls8000 | May 21 1:12pm
In reply to @krumpko "Hi Donna, I have stage 4 lung cancer and have been having 2 types of chemo..." + (show)
@krumpko

Hi Donna,
I have stage 4 lung cancer and have been having 2 types of chemo drugs as well as immunotherapy every three weeks. My pet scan after 4 treatments showed an almost 50% shrinkage of my 4.8cm tumor, a resolution of the lymph node involved as well as a marked improvement in the plura involvement. They stopped one chemo drug, but I still am having 1 chemo drug as well as the immunotherapy drug every 3 weeks. I absolutely hear you as far as the fatigue goes. However, the first 8-9 days are like this, but my strength starts to return after that. I'm certainly not the person I was before all this started last November, but given the results so far, I have taken the negatives of not being able to do some things as payment for keeping the cancer from growing. Talk to your doc about moving your treatment to decide if it's worth it. Good luck.

Jump to this post

Welcome @krumpko, Your results sound like they've been great, 4.8cm is significant, wow. I'm glad that it's working for you. These treatments often come with trade-offs. Sorry that you experience the fatigue.
Is the plan to leave you on this 3 week regimen? Or will they eventually discontinue the chemo or immunotherapy? Which immunotherapy are you on?

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Donna | @stimey60 | May 21 1:55pm

I'm not sure where the 4,8cm is coming from. I don't think that was meant for me
I finished the radiation and chemo several months ago
I will be a year on the immunotherapy
Name? Im not sure
But i think this is the only way I can get my blood sugars under control

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1 reply
Mentor
Lisa, Volunteer Mentor | @lls8000 | May 21 3:03pm
In reply to @stimey60 "I'm not sure where the 4,8cm is coming from. I don't think that was meant for..." + (show)
@stimey60

I'm not sure where the 4,8cm is coming from. I don't think that was meant for me
I finished the radiation and chemo several months ago
I will be a year on the immunotherapy
Name? Im not sure
But i think this is the only way I can get my blood sugars under control

Jump to this post

Sorry for the confusion Donna @stimey60. I was responding to krumpko's comment from a few days ago. Have a good day!, glad that you are managing. 🙂

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snuzq1 | @snuzq1 | May 22 7:37pm
In reply to @krumpko "Hi Donna, I have stage 4 lung cancer and have been having 2 types of chemo..." + (show)
@krumpko

Hi Donna,
I have stage 4 lung cancer and have been having 2 types of chemo drugs as well as immunotherapy every three weeks. My pet scan after 4 treatments showed an almost 50% shrinkage of my 4.8cm tumor, a resolution of the lymph node involved as well as a marked improvement in the plura involvement. They stopped one chemo drug, but I still am having 1 chemo drug as well as the immunotherapy drug every 3 weeks. I absolutely hear you as far as the fatigue goes. However, the first 8-9 days are like this, but my strength starts to return after that. I'm certainly not the person I was before all this started last November, but given the results so far, I have taken the negatives of not being able to do some things as payment for keeping the cancer from growing. Talk to your doc about moving your treatment to decide if it's worth it. Good luck.

Jump to this post

hi krumpko i am doing the same treatment as you so its so nice to hear how your treatment so positive to hear. i have stage 2 so i just had my second treatment and feeling the fatigue more and i made chili today i think my indigestion is from it lol they did mention about holding off on the spices could be true. one step at a time.

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | May 27 1:58pm

@stimey60, after talking with your oncologist, what did you decide? Delay treatment to go on your planned trip? Or postpone your trip?

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Donna | @stimey60 | May 27 5:15pm

It was fine to skip a month
I think my poor old body just needed a break

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