So whatcha wana know? I know the stuff pretty well! Had chemo about 10 years ago to treat Nephritis......it worked wonders! I had quite a few very good years after that, and then nephritis returned a couple of years ago. More Cytoxan, and it took care of the problem again.
A fairly normal treatment schedule (and the schedule I had the first time) is once a month for 6 months and then once every three months for a total of 12 treatments. First time I had 10 treatments and my Docs. saw no reason to continue, I had responded to it very well (even my Docs. were surprised). Second time my Nephrologist was very careful about the treatments. I only had four treatments, he wanted to give me as little as possible due to the risk of it causeing cancer. I had to go to the hospital at 8am, got fluids, streroids, nausia med, Cytoxan, and then fluids till MIDNIGHT. Then I got to go home with strict orders to keep drinking fluids and pee often. You don't want this stuff sitting in your bladder. My max dose was about 1500. Got kinda sick afterwards but mainly was just very tired (I always had chemo on Friday and was back at work Monday). Things will taste kinda funky, metallic. there's some foods I just couldn't eat, they tasted horrible! Your white cells will most likely take a dive a week or two after treament, you should get your blood checked very regularly afterwards (I had to go in every other day!). I caught a cold and ended up hospitalized, isolated, feeling horrible, when my count was down...AVOID GERMS!
Are you going to be getting this stuff? What are they treating you for? My sister also has Lupus and has had Cytoxan to treat her troubles (but not Nephritis). It didn't help her much the first time, but the second it did.
My Doc say the next time Nephritis returns we'll be trying Cellcept, it's more commonly used to treat Nephritis these days and not as hard on the body. He feels I've had enough Cytoxan, doesn't want me on it any longer if it can be avoided.
Any questions just let me know. Chemo isn't fun, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be....and it worked! The second time I was actually relieved when we started chemo! I may not be in here this weekend but during the week I tend to pop in a couple of times a day, but sometimes forget or miss topics I've posted, so feel free to PM me.
Best Wishes,
Eric