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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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How Would Heavier Doses Of Chemo Affect The Body?

I have taken 7 chemo treatments,once a week along with radiation 5days a week. this ended 3 weeks ago and now I am taking heavier doses of chemo every 3 weeks ,it started yesterday. I was diagnosed with stage 3b lung cancer.I am 5ft. 8in. tall and right now weigh 153 lb's. These heavier doses are meant to kill remaining cancer cells.I forgot to ask my Dr. how this treatment would affect me compared to the other treatments I received. I am 61 years old and in good health except for the obvious cancer I have. Thank you for your reply.
Mon, 6 Apr 2015
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Oncologist, Radiation,  's  Response
The chemotherapy you received with radiation would have been low dose chemo. The chemo dose is reduced during radiation so that you tolerate the treatment well without much of side effects.

This chemo you will be receiving now will be heavier doses and they will be giving you combination of drugs also. Also ask the treating doctor the drugs he will be using to treat you. the side effect profile will be different for different drugs.

In general the fatigue will be little more. You have to be careful about the possiblity of neutropenia. As the chemo dose is more there is more chance for you to get neutropenia in which the WBC count is low and you are vulnerable to infections. You may have to closely monitor your blood counts.
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How Would Heavier Doses Of Chemo Affect The Body?

The chemotherapy you received with radiation would have been low dose chemo. The chemo dose is reduced during radiation so that you tolerate the treatment well without much of side effects. This chemo you will be receiving now will be heavier doses and they will be giving you combination of drugs also. Also ask the treating doctor the drugs he will be using to treat you. the side effect profile will be different for different drugs. In general the fatigue will be little more. You have to be careful about the possiblity of neutropenia. As the chemo dose is more there is more chance for you to get neutropenia in which the WBC count is low and you are vulnerable to infections. You may have to closely monitor your blood counts.