My boyfriend finished his chemotherapy sessions two months ago. Until now we've been having unprotected sex because the chemo drugs destroy the sperms completely. But now, when should I start with my birth control again?
While it is true that chemotherapy reduces the fertility, it is also true that a man is not 100% non fertyle while o chemotherapy. What chemotherapy does, though, is making the sperm cells (or the ova) highly prone to mutations which, in case there is a conception (although unlikely) produces most commonly non viable foetuses that need to be aborted, or malformed babies with relevant dissabilities. This is why when one of the partner is undergoing chemotherapy it is usually suggested that the couple takes extra care in using reliable birth control to ensure no pregnancy starts. You should have made sure to continue taking your birth control throughout the whole therapy. As you have not done so, I suggest you start using condoms right away, wait two weeks after the last unprotected intercourse and have a pregnancy test. If the pregnancy test is negative, resume immediately your birth control of choice but contiue using condoms until you have taken the pill for at least one week (better if until you complete the first box of birth control pills) before stopping to use condoms. Good luck.
A few questions about side-effects after chemotherapy is finished?
hi i am 17 years old and about to undergo my 8th out of 8 cycles (last cycle) of chemotherapy. I have hodginks lymphoma, and i have been taking beacopp for the first 6 cycles, and for the last two cycles, a similar dose except for a new drug called cysplatin. Now that my chemotherapy is about to finish, there are a few questions I wanted to ask, hopefully from a professional (I don't feel comfortable asking my doctor these questions, and would rather ask anonymously). 1. I have a LOT of stretch marks ranging from my arms, chest, and stomach, and skin discoloring. My doctor said this is caused by the steroid prednesone i am taking. Question: Will they be able to be removed after the therapy is all over? And if so, Will it go away by itself, or will I have to take some kind of lotion of some sort for it? 2. My hair has obviously fallen off, and I was wondering how long after I have stopped chemotherapy will it start growing back (hair on my head) My eyebrows have already started to grow back but slowly. 3. I have gotten really fat (Big Stomach and a double chin) way fatter than i was before I started, and apparently was also caused by the steroid, prednesone. After stopping taking this medication which i already have, will the excess fat that I got caused from the drug disappear on its own, or will I have to exercise to get rid of it? And if so, what exercise do i do to get rid of a double chin I know i am male and I shouldnt be so conscious about my appearance, but I wanna look as I was before I started this treatment. Hopefully somebody knowledgeable in this could reply or someone who has gone through it as well. Thank you so much in advance!
What was chemotherapy like the first time, ladies?
If anyone who has been through chemo, can tell me about their experience, I would love to hear. I am really interested in knowing how long it took for the first treatment. Then, I would also like to know about your hair loss. Was it all at once, the first week, later on? Mine starts tomorrow and I am very nervous. Thanks for any input.
Why is chemotherapy given in cycles?
Chemotherapy refers to medicines used to stop or slow the growth of cancer cells anywhere in the body. In most cases, chemotherapy includes a combination of two or more drugs, most often given intravenously (IV). These combinations are referred to as regimens.Chemotherapy is not given every day but instead is given in cycles. A cycle of chemotherapy refers to the time it takes to give the chemotherapy and then allow the body to recover. A cycle of chemotherapy typically ranges from two to four weeks.Most anticancer agents have a steep dose response relationship and a narrow therapeutic index. Small variations in the administered dose can lead to severe and life-threatening toxicity in some individuals and underdosing in others, which may compromise cancer outcomes. Proper dose selection is of great importance, particularly in individuals with potentially curable diseases such as lymphoma or testicular cancer, and in the setting of adjuvant treatment (eg, breast and colon cancer). Selection of the right dose is complicated by the fact that individuals have a highly variable capacity to metabolize and eliminate drugs.
What actually happens in chemotherapy? How does one suffer in cancer?
I will answer according to my personal experience. Chemotherapy is a group of drugs that kill fast growing cells. Since cancer cells divide fast, it is the only characteristics based on which cancer cells can be targeted. So basically the treatment plan for a patient is combination of either of the three or sometimes all the three :1. Chemotherapy 2. Radiation therapy 3. Operation While chemo therapy targets the cancer cells and shrinks the tumor, radiation or surgery is done to make sure that the last traces of the tumor is removed. In chemotherapy, basically there are a combination of drugs that are injected through veins (intravenous drugs). The chemo is divided into cycles, and each cycle can be of 1-5days, (I had received 5 days and single days chemo). After each cycle a gap of generally 3 weeks is given, for the body to recover. The body to recover means, as I have already stated chemo targets fast growing cells and in our body there are many cells which divide fast beside cancer cells like blood cells, hair, some cells of stomach, etc. So in the process chemo also destroys the good cells, hence the patient suffers from low blood counts, constipation, diarrhea, hair loss, nerve pains and also low immunity system. Hence a cancer patient should be kept in a hygienic condition, food should be fresh and should use a protective mask while on chemotherapy. And whenever there's a spike of fever of more than 100F, the patient should report to the hospital immediately as there is a risk of infection and there are many cases where patients have died due to infections rather than the disease itself. So the gap between the chemo cycles is given for the body to recover to take yet another dose. And this is the reason why chemotherapy lasts for months. Chemotherapy is draining not only physically but mentally too. There is a aphorism that cancer treatment Offers the option of slicing, burning or poisoning unless you opt for "watchful waiting" and I can't agree more to it.