Most of you know that I've completed two of eight rounds of Rituximab + Hyper CVAD. I haven't mentioned that the protocol consists of alternating courses of "A" and "B." For my friends who are addicted to "Discovery Health," ER and every medical show on TV (you know who you are), I'm going to do something uncharacteristic and list the drugs in each course. If this level of detail makes your eyes glaze over, simply skip this post.
Course A is as follows:
* Rituximab (aka Rituxan, a monoconal antibody) at 375 mg/m2 on day 1 of each cycle
* Cyclophosphamide at 300 mg/m2 IV over 3 hours every 12 hours for 6 doses on days 1, 2, and 3
* Methotrexate at 12 mg IT on day 2
* Doxorubicin at 40 mg/m2 IV on day 4
* Vincristine at 2 mg IV on days 4 and 11
* Dexamethasone (steroid) at 40 mg/d PO/IV on days 1-4 and 11-14
* Cytarabine at 70 mg IT on day 7
Course B is as follows:
* Rituximab at 375 mg/m2 on day 1 of each cycle
* Methotrexate at 1000 mg/m2 IV over 24 hours on day 1
* Leucovorin at 25 mg/m2 IV, 24 hours after the completion of the methotrexate infusion, every 6 hours for 6 doses
* Sodium bicarbonate at 600 mg PO (starting day before methotrexate) 3 times day for 4 days
* Cytarabine at 3 mg/m2 IV over 2 hours every 12 hours for 4 doses on days 2 and 4
This listing doesn't include the "pre-meds," such as Benadryl, which is administered as a drip prior to receiving Rituximab, or any of the anti-nausea medictions, such as Atavan. All of these, by the way, send me straight to slumber land.
Dr. Forman and I have both come to the same conclusion: Course "B" has been much tougher on my body than Course "A."
Course A is as follows:
* Rituximab (aka Rituxan, a monoconal antibody) at 375 mg/m2 on day 1 of each cycle
* Cyclophosphamide at 300 mg/m2 IV over 3 hours every 12 hours for 6 doses on days 1, 2, and 3
* Methotrexate at 12 mg IT on day 2
* Doxorubicin at 40 mg/m2 IV on day 4
* Vincristine at 2 mg IV on days 4 and 11
* Dexamethasone (steroid) at 40 mg/d PO/IV on days 1-4 and 11-14
* Cytarabine at 70 mg IT on day 7
Course B is as follows:
* Rituximab at 375 mg/m2 on day 1 of each cycle
* Methotrexate at 1000 mg/m2 IV over 24 hours on day 1
* Leucovorin at 25 mg/m2 IV, 24 hours after the completion of the methotrexate infusion, every 6 hours for 6 doses
* Sodium bicarbonate at 600 mg PO (starting day before methotrexate) 3 times day for 4 days
* Cytarabine at 3 mg/m2 IV over 2 hours every 12 hours for 4 doses on days 2 and 4
This listing doesn't include the "pre-meds," such as Benadryl, which is administered as a drip prior to receiving Rituximab, or any of the anti-nausea medictions, such as Atavan. All of these, by the way, send me straight to slumber land.
Dr. Forman and I have both come to the same conclusion: Course "B" has been much tougher on my body than Course "A."
1 comment:
Susan,
Much glazed eyes indeed! That's a listful of unmentionables.
I say, Course A + Course B deserves a Dessert Course.
I'm home waiting for a security repairman. Just sewing and online in the meantime..
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