Happy Chemo Days for Mesothelioma Patient

When I first had Pemetrexed (Alimta) and carboplatin for chemotherapy back in 2004/2005 I suffered greatly. My insides erupted to the point for four days every cycle, and I was unable to eat or drink. The very touch of water in my stomach felt like raw vinegar on open sores. Not only did I have itching and tiredness, and the low blood counts we all suffer during mesothelioma treatment, but side effects of chemotherapy were just unbearable. When I could eat, nothing tasted good; I lived on milk shakes and the occasional chicken soup. It was a great worry, but I bounced back, thankfully, as I always have.

In 2007/2008 the dose was reduced to 80% for the combination, but once again my stomach erupted after just the first cycle. I guess my body remembered what the poison had done and copied every side effect again. I had to drop the carboplatin, as we thought that was the culprit, but it turned out to be the Pemetrexed.

In 2012, I went in at 50% of each and for the first time ever suffered from no eruption, my stomach hurt, but it didn’t explode. Unfortunately, I had a reaction to the carboplatin (we think) so all chemotherapy was stopped during the second dose. I was gutted, but I guess being alive to try again is much more important.

Here I am now on something entirely different. Here in the UK we call it Vinorelbine (Navelbine in the USA).  It is taken via a tablet, and the relief of not having something infused into my body takes away so much stress. In fact, I can actually feel the tension leave as I pop the pill knowing, or hoping, it will do the job but without the stress.

It is strange how our minds can see a tablet so differently from an infusion. First, we don’t think it is dangerous – stupid but true. Second, we aren’t stressing a couple of days before. And, the best thing of all, is that it seems the side effects, for me anyway, haven’t been there at all. Okay, food tastes disgusting, but overall I have tolerated this one drug as if I am taking a remedy for a cold.

I have to admit I have only taken two so far, but overall the thought of tablet versus needle is much better.

My only concern is because it isn’t going straight into the blood does the killer dose know it has to kill the mesothelioma that is currently growing inside my body?  Well, time will tell.