r/sarcoma • u/RainS__ Synovial • 26d ago
New Diagnosis Needing help and insight about chemotherapy (Male 27)
Hi, I'm Male (27 years old) reasonably fit and healthy until I got diagnosed with synovial sarcoma about a month ago. I underwent surgery to remove the tumor located at my left armpit. Luckily highly local and no found metastasis from the scans.
My chemo treatment is starting in a few weeks time and will be given daily for 4 days and repeated every 21 days for 5 times. I'm receiving Doxorubicin + Ifosfamide + Mesna. I've searched it's also called the "AIM" protocol.
This is not something I know a lot about and would like to know more before my treatment. Has anyone done a similar protocol? How have you managed the side effects? A quick search online shouts that it's a hell of treatment and I'm bound to have the worst time; making me worried. Any chemo tips, heads up/what to expect, or personal experience with recovery is greatly appreciated.
Update: Thank you all for the generous response. I now get that it would be tough but not impossible especially with your valuable insights. I’ll keep this post updated as i move towards a cancer free life. Stay healthy, take care.
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u/campnix 21d ago
I hate this for you. These treatments are very effective and the people who administer them find them very routine. Don't be scared. I think I did my husband a favor by always being in his face. So he slept when it was night, and my chatter kept him awake in the day. He even created a home office, did work and meetings. Maintain normalcy as much as possible.
Avoid narcotics.
The worst thing was constipation apparently from anti nausea meds. Sepsis from him trying to deal with it almost killed him.
So do what your mother (and nurses)would advise and take your stool softener and senna. Prune juice. Patience, gonna be tough, but it will be OK.
Oh and, my husband just tossed the head rags. You're just going to be bald, but alive. (Grows back) Much love.