So now that you know how we got to chemo, I though I'd go back and provide an update as to how the last 6 weeks have went. I promise these posts will get smaller but I had a little catching up to do.
Chemo treatment regiment - 16 weeks recommended:
Premeds every week for nausea and inflammation and blood balancing
Erbitux - dose and a half first week, a dose each week after
Carboplatin - a dose every week
Taxotere - A dose week 1 and every 3rd week after
Week 1 (June 9):
Went off without a hitch. A little red faced (side effect) from the Erbitux and a bit tired over the weekend but other than that so far so good.
Week 2(June 16):
Anyone who knows Mom knows she walked in there as if all was well with the world. Surprised by her upbeat, healthy feeling self doc said well lets go ahead and give her all three again...whoops.
She made it until Sunday morning, woke up with extreme burning in the throat, unable to swallow water, and a fever. A call to the nurse initiated a trip to the Christ Hospital ER where she was promptly admitted with a white blood count (ANC) under under 150 (Neutropenic), acute Mucositis, an infection somewhere and her previously radiated cells from a year before became ulcerated as a direct result from the Taxotere which apparently has the ability to re-inflame radiated cells....who knew?!?!
Doc said less than 10% of the time do they actually find out where the infection comes from so they basically pump you full of antibiotics and anti-fungals until it goes away. He said looked like someone stuck a torch in her mouth and lit it.
She said they had 1 day to fix her cuz she was goin home.
Week 3 (June 23):
How many days was that again Ma?
Sill in the hospital, no chemo today so I went down to watch the US's World cup game with mom that ended with Donovan's goal in extra time. Even mom got a little excited - "They got it!" she said...then proceeded to say. "Wait, who got it?" HA!
Anyways, yesterday Doc finally convinced mom into a feeding tube since she wasn't able to get any nutrition through her mouth. That's going in this afternoon.
We've got a pretty good routine down though Heather comes down in the morning for a bit then I come down for a couple hours around lunch Heath stops in after work for a bit and the George comes down for a couple hours in the evening. So she's getting plenty of company, and as i look around starting to acquire a lot of stuff up in here.
(June 24)
Still in the hospital starting out the window, Feeding tube in, Erbitux anyways...kick her while she's down I thought. However she seemed strangely excited to be getting chemo.
(June 28)
Momma's in the house!!! Mom came home tonight followed by a nurse with a feeding contraption and a whole bag of goodies. Show n tell ensued with some instruction about a dog and a doghouse and a Christmas tree?! I think this nurse was in pediatrics before this.
Week 4 (June 30)
Well since the spell in the hospital and until mom can get her nutrition up Doc said he's going to give her another week of only Erbitux since I guess it seems to be bothering her the least and the medicines seem to be working as she hasn't been feeling any of the "cancer pain" only the pains caused by all the meds to get rid of the cancer pain if you're following me.
Mom's spirit's are high because Erbitux hasn't bothered her much since the first week for one day and this coming weekend is her birthday July 4th! Last year she was in the hospital from her surgery.
Week 5 (July 7)
After a great 4th weekend and a very happy birthday celebrated with friends and neighbors - "Bring on the Chemo!" she says! I think the meds are getting to her. She's getting all 3 today! Yay!
Doc did say today though that next week she's only get the Erbitux and then the week after she will have off!!! Sweet.
(July 11)
Minor setback, temps flirting with 100, infection around the feeding tube. cleaning of it stepped up a bit and temps taken about hourly. She's going to sleep this day away, hopefully she heals up during her nap.
(July 12)
Much better today - Neosporin and George's new gauze wrap thingamajig helping the infection clear up, temps back to normal and feeling much better.
(July 13)
HELLOOO ERBITUX!!! Well, he did say to use this cream twice a day every day. Here's the situation, Erbitux has a pretty nasty side effect. It will cause you to have a puffy swollen face and a nasty pimply rash sort of like acne all over your face which can be, well, yuck and painful. So Doc prescribes this cream that pretty much super dries out your skin so that the rash and acne can't develop (no oil) problem is mom's been using this cream for about 4 weeks so her face skin is already super dry and she's just been hit by the puffy swollen cheeks, get the picture? Dry skin doesn't stretch so much, it cracks. Ouchie, and more Erbitux tomorrow.
Week 6 (July 14)
Doc pretty much said sorry for ya cheeks. But it could be worse! He said had she not been using the cream given the swelling that's there even with it she would be broken out like crazy and in much worse pain. But he's giving her a break, she's off altogether next week and the following week she'll get the 2 big guns but no Erbitux to try to allow her to heal up from it. Compassionate little fella that Doc!
Mom's sat on the deck tonight with a big sigh of relief saying, "I don't have to go back for 2 weeks." Big smile on her face, cheeks and all she said, "Doesn't that sound nice?"
Next chemo date, July 28th! time to build up her strength until then.
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