Post treatment

December 24 - 25: Leg cramps started early this time with my left calf and foot letting off some pretty intense pain. So, I've been trying to load up on the potassium (bananas and other foods). Other than that issue, things are going really well.

Cycle 3, last day

December 23: Treatment went well again today. We were done in a little less than five hours. I iced the veins when I got home as they were fairly swollen and that seemed to help calm them down. Just a shot left to do on Sunday and then some time off.

Cycle 3, day 4

December 22: This was another good day of treatment. Only hitch was they had trouble getting the port into the vein. So, they went back to the arm used for the first three days and found another vein. After that, it went well. I was there about five hours. Later that evening, I was very tired but that seems to happen on each cycle about the fourth day of treatment. One more day of treatment and a shot on Sunday.

Cycle 3, day 3

December 21: Another good day of treatment. Not much to report. We were there just about five hours which is the average. We were lucky to get a bigger room this time but had to sacrifice the windows. Sunny blue skies when we went in and heavy rain when we left. Only two more days this week.

Cycle 3, day 2

December 20: Treatment went well today. We were done in about five hours. I'm feeling fine at this point. It's usually about 3 - 4 days after the treatment ends that it hits me. The doctor tells me that is when the cancel cells are killed and the body is getting rid of them. So, three more days this week and a Nuelasta shot on Sunday. Then I'm good until the CT scan on Jan. 5th and the last cycle Jan 9 - 13th.

Cycle 3, day 1

December 19: This ended up being a long (6 hour) day in treatment. Everything went well, just slow. They took the tumor marker blood draw and one of the markers they were watching was normal. We met with the doctor and talked about some of the side effects of the chemo and other drugs. She thinks the muscle pain is from the chemo and suggested eating foods high in potassium and magnisum or using supplements. She wants me to get another Nuelasta shot on Sunday to keep the white blood cell count up when the chemo is in my body at full strength. A CT scan was also scheduled for Jan. 5th to see if and by how much the tumors are shrinking. Part of what added to the length of the day was one of the nurses started the hydration at half the correct rate. We realized this about 30 - 45 minutes afterward and flagged another nurse to change it. I'm finding that we need to watch everything that's going on and ask a lot of questions.

Halfway

December 18: This marks the halfway point in the 12 week treatment schedule. The past week, I've been feeling fairly well - just a slight cold. I had a blood draw to check the white blood cell count. It has to be high enough to start the next cycle. Late in the day I heard from the nurse that it was at 7,500 which is well over the 4,500 minimum. So, that means that I'll be on schedule to start the third treatment cycle. Good news is always welcome!

Cycle 2 post treatment

December 5 - 10: It's been going pretty well this week. The last four days brought a lot of ear ringing - maybe it's the right season - but feels more like a torture treatment. Saturday brought a new issue that I didn't expect. Back pain and muscle spasms to an intense degree. These are on the list of many side effects of the chemo treatment. Sunday, the pain had eased considerably.

The shot

December 4: Today I received a shot of Neulasta which helps the bone marrow produce more white blood cells. It works over a longer period of time than the Neupoen shot I received last week - which was designed to get me through the treatment. Out of curiousity I searched the internet for the cost of the Neulasta shot. Average price for one shot came up around $3,000. I'm very thankful for insurance. Still feeling good - just a little tired.

Cycle 2, Days 5 - 6

December 2 - 3: Treatment went really well for the last two days of this cycle. There are less patients on Saturday and Sunday so the nurses can get the treatment going sooner. Sunday was a new record at 4 hours and 22 minutes! The self-portrait shown is the IV set-up. He's my walking buddy when I need to use the rest room. They don't allow me to walk up and down the hallway as some of the chemo drugs can be caustic if the bag ruptured. So, I'm confined to the room for the duration. So far, no back pain from sitting for 4 - 5 hours - which is nice.

Cycle 2, Day 4

December 1: Treatment went well today for the most part. The nurse forgot to open the valve on the first hydration bag so the saline solution went in instead. The delay was made up later by increasing the flow and I was done in five hours. No travel problems today as the weather has gotten warmer. Not looking forward to two more days - but after that, I'll be halfway through the treatments.