Chemo side affects and fertility questions

[bmcd]

It's me again with the 15 yr. old daughter with cancer.  I have some questions about the possible side affects of chemo and how often/severe the are.  She is being treated with BEP chemo.  She gets 3 1/2 hours of it a day for 3 straight days with two wks. in between for rest. She will have this done 4 times. The side affects described to me were as follows:  Internally there will be hearing loss, kidney damage, lung damage, pulmonary damage, liver damage, bone (marrow) damage and the rare chance of another cancer predominately lukemia. The damage can range from minimal to severe depending on how each persons body processes the chemo.  Other side affects discussed was hair loss (this is a definate), bruising (already happening), brown finger nails, brown lines on the skin, mouth, throat, and lip sores, numbness in hands and feet, whites of eyes and skin turning yellow, sickness (of course, already happening), fatigue, skin peeling around finger nails and toes...and some I may have forgotten at this point.  Of course,again, these can be moderate to severe depending on how one's own body processes the chemo. Any experiences with this or information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again in advance for your help in all this!

Bob

--Oh by the way, I hope I'm not getting annoying with all the questions.  It's just that I'm only 37 yrs. old and have never delt with cancer in any of my family members or friends, so this is all very new and scary to me. If I'm posting too many questions, please somebody tell me to lay off and I will.

Again thanks a million!

[scoutshadow]

You could try www.planetcancer.org which is a website for young people with cancer.  I think they have a forum for women/girls who have the same cancer type as your daughter.

[bmcd]

Sorry, I forgot to inquire the affects of BEP on fertility.  Of couse this is very important for my daughter and selfishly it is also important to me as she is my only child. So if anyone can address the fertility issue after chemo this would also be a significant in helping me to understand what is going on and what to expect. Hearing facts and opinions from people who have experienced this type of stuff is as important to me as searching the web on it.  The web only seems to give case studies in language I sometimes barely understand, so asking questions here gives a more personnal touch and helps me out tremendously.

Thanks for everything everybody is doing to help me understand how to cope with this fight.

[gail47]

When my niece was 15 when we found out that she had cancer.  It was called Ewing's sarcoma.  A tumor started to grow on her pelvic bone.  She was at St Jude and had chemo treatments for about a year.  Tumor was so big that it destroyed part of her pelvic bone and she had to have a hip replacement and part of her pelvic bone replaced also.  He doctor told my sister that she would never have children. She is 24 and doing very well and has never had a recurrence.  Well last month we found out that she was pregnant and having twins.  God is Good.

[SimplyStar]

As a Mother I can understand your concerns for your daughter. First you need to help her through the present crisis, then know that the doctors will do everything possible to ensure a future for her. Child bearing for her is a few years away, but her present problem has to be dealt with first. Advances in cancer treatment is coming along and I am sure that your daughter will benefit from its progress, so just keep the faith and give her the support she needs now.  Daughters are very precious, although mine is older than yours, I can hear your pain and worry in your posts. My daughter went and had her long hair cut prior to the chemo and then purchased a wig that looked just like her own hair. She has returned to work now and wears a baseball hat, decorated with colorful felt cutouts. I ran across 4 women shopping the other day, all bald, with T shirts that read, Bald is beautiful. Explain to your daughter that now people everywhere know about chemo and its effects of hair loss, and that it will grow back. Instill in her a pride that she is special and is loved. If she can remain the fun girl she was before this, then her friends will look past the hair. Hair does not a person make.  Attitude does.

[GlendaS]

I do remember one doctor telling me that he would put me on bc pills to protect my ovary during chemo, if I chose to have it. Another doctor said he would put me on Lupron during chemo, which shuts the ovary completely down. I would definitely talk to her gyn/onc about it. Of course you and your daughter are concerned about her fertility. That has always been a major concern with me. I know that I have one son, but I never imagined myself as an only child type of parent (no offense). I have always wanted at least 3 children. Out of everything, the possible loss of my fertility is what I have taken the hardest so I can identify with your daughter's feelings in that way. I was told by the gyn/onc in OH when I was considering chemo, that they have had great success with fertility for those with immature teratoma having BEP. I am hoping and praying that your daughter and I will both be able to share in that success. :)