Monday, May 26, 2008
This past week was session three. Side-effects were the sensitivity to cold, which seems to be getting more pronounced, and the usual fatigue. I still have some of the cold sensitivity today, six days after infusion.
But it's Memorial Day, beautiful weather, son & daughter-in-law are here helping us have fun, so all's well with the world.
This past week was session three. Side-effects were the sensitivity to cold, which seems to be getting more pronounced, and the usual fatigue. I still have some of the cold sensitivity today, six days after infusion.
But it's Memorial Day, beautiful weather, son & daughter-in-law are here helping us have fun, so all's well with the world.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Cycle 4, usual routine - check in, connect to the LifePort in my chest, draw blood, bloodwork, numbers*, ok by Dr, stuff six bags of chemicals into me, connect the pump and its 5FU bag, and depart.
The Dr said all the CBC bloodwork parameters are in acceptable limits, but I'm keeping track for myself and feel I'm going to need help in a few more sessions for low White Blood Cells and Platelets. My CBC bloodwork results are in a .pdf file here, which I've linked (see upper right corner of this page)(the upper link is the CBC spreadsheet pdf and the lower is the Chemistry results, which haven't been taken lately and won't be for a while). Any comments from the medical community on these numbers will be appreciated.
The usual cold sensitivity popped up right away, but the sense of fingertip numbness during the last infusion did not. This is a good thing, says Le Quack, since the cold sensitivity goes away after chemo but if repeated chemo infusions cause nerve damage like numbness at the fingertips that can be or is permanent; this is cause for shifting to another regimen or stopping chemo. The jaw muscle tightening up at the first touch of a cool drink also returned.
There was a couple at chemo that reminded me to count my blessings - this person has had numerous brain tumors removed and is in chemo (and, I suppose, radiation) again because several small ones just showed up again. His wife was there, very actively supporting him.
Cycle 4, usual routine - check in, connect to the LifePort in my chest, draw blood, bloodwork, numbers*, ok by Dr, stuff six bags of chemicals into me, connect the pump and its 5FU bag, and depart.
The Dr said all the CBC bloodwork parameters are in acceptable limits, but I'm keeping track for myself and feel I'm going to need help in a few more sessions for low White Blood Cells and Platelets. My CBC bloodwork results are in a .pdf file here, which I've linked (see upper right corner of this page)(the upper link is the CBC spreadsheet pdf and the lower is the Chemistry results, which haven't been taken lately and won't be for a while). Any comments from the medical community on these numbers will be appreciated.
The usual cold sensitivity popped up right away, but the sense of fingertip numbness during the last infusion did not. This is a good thing, says Le Quack, since the cold sensitivity goes away after chemo but if repeated chemo infusions cause nerve damage like numbness at the fingertips that can be or is permanent; this is cause for shifting to another regimen or stopping chemo. The jaw muscle tightening up at the first touch of a cool drink also returned.
There was a couple at chemo that reminded me to count my blessings - this person has had numerous brain tumors removed and is in chemo (and, I suppose, radiation) again because several small ones just showed up again. His wife was there, very actively supporting him.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Went in and got disconnected from my little pump and bag. No big side-effects, just the usual cold-temperature sensitivity, which will hang on for a few days.
Went in and got disconnected from my little pump and bag. No big side-effects, just the usual cold-temperature sensitivity, which will hang on for a few days.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Just disconnected. Five cycles of the twelve complete now. We're getting there.
The side effects are still no big drama. There's now a tense set of leg muscles the night of chemo infusion, but tylenol seems to handle that. And the platelet count came up slightly, which pleased Le Quack.
Just disconnected. Five cycles of the twelve complete now. We're getting there.
The side effects are still no big drama. There's now a tense set of leg muscles the night of chemo infusion, but tylenol seems to handle that. And the platelet count came up slightly, which pleased Le Quack.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Went in today for infusion. Bloodwork numbers were ok for Le Quack to permit me to go on. He asked if there were any new side effects - I said my taste buds are way off and nothing tastes right. He said they're being destroyed by the chemo, a very normal side effect, and that they'll come back after chemo ends.
But in the meantime, stuff tastes funny - sorta the same but with a metalic or leathery overtone. A good Pinot Noir tastes like a Cabernet going bad. The only good part is that bourbon tastes like bourbon. I'm going to try new foods that are somewhat spicy to find new things to like. Today's french onion soup and mufaleta (sp?) were ok.
All that said, after disconnect on Wednesday, I'll be half-way thru this treatment and can start the countdown to its end.
We'll go to Atlanta for the Forth of July to play with Bill & Lana and celebrate.
Went in today for infusion. Bloodwork numbers were ok for Le Quack to permit me to go on. He asked if there were any new side effects - I said my taste buds are way off and nothing tastes right. He said they're being destroyed by the chemo, a very normal side effect, and that they'll come back after chemo ends.
But in the meantime, stuff tastes funny - sorta the same but with a metalic or leathery overtone. A good Pinot Noir tastes like a Cabernet going bad. The only good part is that bourbon tastes like bourbon. I'm going to try new foods that are somewhat spicy to find new things to like. Today's french onion soup and mufaleta (sp?) were ok.
All that said, after disconnect on Wednesday, I'll be half-way thru this treatment and can start the countdown to its end.
We'll go to Atlanta for the Forth of July to play with Bill & Lana and celebrate.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Back to LeQuack this a.m for Cycle 7. After reviewing the CBC numbers, with which he was satisfied, he asked for my input. I told him about the beginning numbness in my toes. He said that it is fairly typical to see this after 6 to 8 cycles, and it's due to the oxalaplatin. He told me we should go one more cycle to see what increased numbness (if any) happens. If it gets worse, we'll continue the 5FU+FA parts of the regimen and discontinue the oxalaplatin.
It disappoints me because I wanted to do it all, but perhaps it's enough. If discontinued, a Good Thing would be that the cold sensitivity would also go away.
It's three months ago today I visited the Mayo Clinic in JAX. They recommended a follow-up chest CT scan at this point to survey the stray stuff in the lungs (thought to be no big deal, but ...). So LeQuack wrote up an order to have that done a week from tomorrow. I asked if it would be of any value to look lower in the body; he said he'd wait until the completion of chemotherapy since the last CT/PET (post-op) didn't show anything.
So, we'll unplug the pump and bag on Wed a.m. and head for Jacksonville to have fun with my brother & his wife (there for a ship's reunion), and our son & his wife.
Back to LeQuack this a.m for Cycle 7. After reviewing the CBC numbers, with which he was satisfied, he asked for my input. I told him about the beginning numbness in my toes. He said that it is fairly typical to see this after 6 to 8 cycles, and it's due to the oxalaplatin. He told me we should go one more cycle to see what increased numbness (if any) happens. If it gets worse, we'll continue the 5FU+FA parts of the regimen and discontinue the oxalaplatin.
It disappoints me because I wanted to do it all, but perhaps it's enough. If discontinued, a Good Thing would be that the cold sensitivity would also go away.
It's three months ago today I visited the Mayo Clinic in JAX. They recommended a follow-up chest CT scan at this point to survey the stray stuff in the lungs (thought to be no big deal, but ...). So LeQuack wrote up an order to have that done a week from tomorrow. I asked if it would be of any value to look lower in the body; he said he'd wait until the completion of chemotherapy since the last CT/PET (post-op) didn't show anything.
So, we'll unplug the pump and bag on Wed a.m. and head for Jacksonville to have fun with my brother & his wife (there for a ship's reunion), and our son & his wife.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
The side effects of the Oxalaplatin part of FOLFOX6 are digging in. The numbness in the toes has grown worse and now there is numbness in the fingertips.
I can still type and do all the manual tasks I have to do (button shirt, etc.), but the numbness is a weird feeling. Sort of like touching something through a piece of cellophane. I would not worry about it but for the fact that it takes a long time (maybe never) to re-grow the sensor cells being destroyed.
The others (everything tastes strange, no appetite, tingling fingertips for a while after chemo (but that goes away before the next infusion)), are still present at about the same level.
It's just the numb feeling that continues to worsen, which is what LeQuack said is typical.
We'll see what he says 9 days from now.
The side effects of the Oxalaplatin part of FOLFOX6 are digging in. The numbness in the toes has grown worse and now there is numbness in the fingertips.
I can still type and do all the manual tasks I have to do (button shirt, etc.), but the numbness is a weird feeling. Sort of like touching something through a piece of cellophane. I would not worry about it but for the fact that it takes a long time (maybe never) to re-grow the sensor cells being destroyed.
The others (everything tastes strange, no appetite, tingling fingertips for a while after chemo (but that goes away before the next infusion)), are still present at about the same level.
It's just the numb feeling that continues to worsen, which is what LeQuack said is typical.
We'll see what he says 9 days from now.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Results came back from the 7/22 CT Scan of the thorax (upper body), which was compared with the CT scan at Mayo Clinic on 4/14, which was compared with the CT scan after the colon resection.
Radiologist Findings (partial)(edited):
Aorta demonstrates normal caliber with scattered calcifications predominately in the arch. Three nodules in right middle lobe are unchanged. Subcentimeter low-attenuating lesions in the superior kidneys are not significantly changed and statistically represent cysts.
Radiologist Impression:
No interval change in small right middle lobe pulmonary nodules. No evidence for progressive nodule or lymphadenopathy. Consider three to six month followup CT thorax.
My impression: Sounds good to me.
Infusion day for Cycle 8. CBC numbers look ok, platelets holding their own, white blood cells ok, etc.
LeQuack persuaded me to take one more cycle including oxalaplatin. Then we'll finish the treatment in cycles 9 thru 12 with only 5FU and FA (flourouracil and folic acid).
A wild thunderstorm in the night screwed up my sleep, so I took a long nap after returning home. Dolores made a cake from mix using a local red raspberry wine instead of the water in both the cake and icing - it came out really well and my screwed-up taste buds like it. Yay!!
Typical side-effects so far - I'll post more if they get more severe. It does affect typing slightly in that it's hard to gauge the pressure you're putting on a key. My old IBM clunk-a-banger keyboard (dated 7 October 1987) is no problem - lots of tactile feedback - but the MacBook is worse since it's not as stiff a keyboard.
Results came back from the 7/22 CT Scan of the thorax (upper body), which was compared with the CT scan at Mayo Clinic on 4/14, which was compared with the CT scan after the colon resection.
Radiologist Findings (partial)(edited):
Aorta demonstrates normal caliber with scattered calcifications predominately in the arch. Three nodules in right middle lobe are unchanged. Subcentimeter low-attenuating lesions in the superior kidneys are not significantly changed and statistically represent cysts.
Radiologist Impression:
No interval change in small right middle lobe pulmonary nodules. No evidence for progressive nodule or lymphadenopathy. Consider three to six month followup CT thorax.
My impression: Sounds good to me.
Infusion day for Cycle 8. CBC numbers look ok, platelets holding their own, white blood cells ok, etc.
LeQuack persuaded me to take one more cycle including oxalaplatin. Then we'll finish the treatment in cycles 9 thru 12 with only 5FU and FA (flourouracil and folic acid).
A wild thunderstorm in the night screwed up my sleep, so I took a long nap after returning home. Dolores made a cake from mix using a local red raspberry wine instead of the water in both the cake and icing - it came out really well and my screwed-up taste buds like it. Yay!!
Typical side-effects so far - I'll post more if they get more severe. It does affect typing slightly in that it's hard to gauge the pressure you're putting on a key. My old IBM clunk-a-banger keyboard (dated 7 October 1987) is no problem - lots of tactile feedback - but the MacBook is worse since it's not as stiff a keyboard.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
This was the first infusion cycle without the drug "oxalaplatin", which had caused progressively worse numbing of feet and hands. It was also the cause of the "tingling" nerves when touching cold items, so it's nice that *that* is gone. I hope it did what it is intended to do.
Other than that, it was a normal cycle - wear the bag with pump for two days. No other effects to report. CBC numbers (upper right link) are up to date.
This was the first infusion cycle without the drug "oxalaplatin", which had caused progressively worse numbing of feet and hands. It was also the cause of the "tingling" nerves when touching cold items, so it's nice that *that* is gone. I hope it did what it is intended to do.
Other than that, it was a normal cycle - wear the bag with pump for two days. No other effects to report. CBC numbers (upper right link) are up to date.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Wow!! Now I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Today was infusion day for cycle 10 of 12. Only *two* to go after this week. Wahooooooo!
This was the second infusion cycle without the drug "oxalaplatin", which had caused progressively worse numbing of feet and hands. The numbing continued to get worse during the week after the last infusion, but seems to have steadied this week just past. I can type, but I tend to hammer the keys so I know I'm putting on enough pressure. Buttons are sometimes a problem, but not often.
It was also the cause of the "tingling" nerves when touching cold items, so it's nice that *that* is gone. I could drink a beer if I found one that tasted like it should - actually, I've tried a few I'd never normally drink (PBR, etc.) in hopes I'd find something that was bad is now good. Nope. Everything tastes strange, but red meat and red wines are the worst. White wines and chicken taste "off" but tolerable. Sweet things are least affected.
LeQuack today said the symptoms I have will wear off with time, some longer than others and totally dependent on my body - which is different from all others.
Other than that, it was a normal cycle - wear the bag with pump for two days. No other effects to report. CBC numbers are up to date and look adequate if not good.
Wow!! Now I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Today was infusion day for cycle 10 of 12. Only *two* to go after this week. Wahooooooo!
This was the second infusion cycle without the drug "oxalaplatin", which had caused progressively worse numbing of feet and hands. The numbing continued to get worse during the week after the last infusion, but seems to have steadied this week just past. I can type, but I tend to hammer the keys so I know I'm putting on enough pressure. Buttons are sometimes a problem, but not often.
It was also the cause of the "tingling" nerves when touching cold items, so it's nice that *that* is gone. I could drink a beer if I found one that tasted like it should - actually, I've tried a few I'd never normally drink (PBR, etc.) in hopes I'd find something that was bad is now good. Nope. Everything tastes strange, but red meat and red wines are the worst. White wines and chicken taste "off" but tolerable. Sweet things are least affected.
LeQuack today said the symptoms I have will wear off with time, some longer than others and totally dependent on my body - which is different from all others.
Other than that, it was a normal cycle - wear the bag with pump for two days. No other effects to report. CBC numbers are up to date and look adequate if not good.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Now it's getting close. I ended the 11th cycle of chemo today, and had a chance to help someone.
As I was being disconnected, nurse Dawn asked me to talk with a young lady sitting next to me about side-effects and feelings. She looked to be about 30, and was undergoing her first infusion.
So I told her what had happened to me and how I worked with it. We chatted for quite a while after I was disconnected. I hope I helped her overcome her fear of the chemotherapy. I don't know how to tell her to guts-it-out with cancer at her age. I wish her the very best.
One more cycle. Wow. Praise God.
Now it's getting close. I ended the 11th cycle of chemo today, and had a chance to help someone.
As I was being disconnected, nurse Dawn asked me to talk with a young lady sitting next to me about side-effects and feelings. She looked to be about 30, and was undergoing her first infusion.
So I told her what had happened to me and how I worked with it. We chatted for quite a while after I was disconnected. I hope I helped her overcome her fear of the chemotherapy. I don't know how to tell her to guts-it-out with cancer at her age. I wish her the very best.
One more cycle. Wow. Praise God.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
That's it! Done! All twelve treatments have been administered.
Now we wait and watch. I'll see LeQuack again in four months to begin blood-work monitoring to look for changes.
I have an appointment to see the surgeon to schedule removal of the LifePort. It's handy, all right, and indispensible for 48-hour infusions, but it is a little distracting and I find myself fidgeting with it.
...and of course, frequent colonoscopies (annual to start) are scheduled.
That's it! Done! All twelve treatments have been administered.
Now we wait and watch. I'll see LeQuack again in four months to begin blood-work monitoring to look for changes.
I have an appointment to see the surgeon to schedule removal of the LifePort. It's handy, all right, and indispensible for 48-hour infusions, but it is a little distracting and I find myself fidgeting with it.
...and of course, frequent colonoscopies (annual to start) are scheduled.
