Yesterday Jen and Al left at 6:15 a.m. for MSK. At 9:15 blood and vitals were taken. At 9:45 doctor’s consultation. They waited until 12 to receive chemo that lasted until 6 p.m. They got home at 8 p.m. From what I am told Jen, she was on edge and talked the whole way home! Maybe it was something that was in the medication she was given. Alan gets kudos for being patience, especially being only 20 years of age!
Jen’s red blood cell count (rbc) was down to 3.6. Dr. Moskowitz informed her that she might need a blood transfusion next week, so thanks to all who donated blood! Especially the 0- ones. Jen will find out next week if she needs a transfusion. But the doctor said if the rbc count were low right now, it would most likely be lower next week due to the chemo. Her white blood cell count is at an all right 8.4. She was worried about this being low, due to having a cold last week. But the cold is gone and the count is still up, so she is relieved.
The doctor mentioned some long-term treatments. They won’t know what long-term treatments will be done until a PET scan is done at the end of the fourth round (another 6 weeks or just before Thanksgiving if all goes planned). At that time he is expecting to go from the Escalated BEACOPP chemo regiment to the less harsh BEACOPP chemo for another 4 rounds or 12 weeks). He also mentioned radiation for whatever may be left of the tumor after treastment. Recent studies are showing there may be no benefit to radiation. So time will tell on this one. In the event you may have more interested in the BEACOPP treatment, the following site explains the “poisons” and program: http://lymphoma.about.com/od/treatment/qt/beacopp.htm
Jen loved Alan’s response after the doctor left. Jen went over the results that the doctor had given to her to make sure she had gotten the details right. Alan's response was, “They’re going to do what they’re going to do. Not much you can do about it. Go along with the flow.” That made her smile and relax.
So Jen is home today feeling O.K. Chemo hasn’t hit, but the steroids have. Today and tomorrow are her days for taking 25-30 pills (18 of those being chemo taken orally). Good chasers are chocolate pudding, ice cream, ice pops, and jello. Although she likes that, these certainly are not the chasers of old!
Jen appreciates all e-mails (especially with pictures of fall, family or other related on-goings that take her mind away from her treatment). She also appreciates the cards, phone calls and visits from friends, family, fellow staff and neighbors.
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