My first Daratumumab treatment, nine hours long, was not at all what I had feared it might be. Before administering the drug itself, I was bombarded with drugs which included steroids and Benadryl, enough Benadryl that I was able to spend much of the day sleeping, which suited me just fine. I experienced very little in terms of side effects, maybe a tiny bit of shortness of breath, and I was a bit wobbly and ready, after the adventure, for a long night’s sleep. The next day, perhaps because of the steroids, I had more energy than I have had in a long time. Unfortunately the following day I was back to my usual exhausted self.
Having dreaded this treatment, it was a relief to find it so innocuous and so unlike any chemotherapy I have experienced in the past. I guess it really isn’t chemo, in that it is not a poison, but I do not understand the mechanism. Next Thursday it will again take 9 hours, but subsequent treatments might go more quickly, which would be nice.
I just thought I’d write in case others have as much apprehension as had plagued me. It might very well not be as bad as you had expected. Quite a pleasant surprise to find so little to complain about. In a month or so, we will find out if it is working.
