On 03.17.2009, I went to the doctor's office and had my regular biweekly Avastin treatment, along with a combination of the chemotherapy drugs - Etopiside and Taxol. Taxol is the one that I have to get pretreated with IV benadryl to prevent any possible allergic reaction and I always need a ride to and from treatment for that one. They don't want me driving home after that.
My mother was visiting and offered to take me. My platelet count had been dropping the past couple weeks and started rising again, but the level wasn't where my nurse wanted it to be. I told her that today was the best time for chemo since I had someone with me who could take me home and she consulted with the doctor and I was approved to have chemotherapy.
The Etopiside is what they are using to replace the Camptosar/Irinotecan/CPT11. My nurse said I should not experience nausea and vomiting from it. It has been several hours since I had the treatment and I don't feel sick, but I don't feel great either. I am experiencing a general malaise.
I knew that if I had chemo this morning, I wouldn't want to run on the treadmill this evening, so I ran when I woke up. I hope I will feel good enough to lift weights tomorrow night and then run again on Thursday night. It doesn't look like there is hair growth in my immediate future with all these drugs. Oh, well, I don't mind the bald look.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
03.03.2009 - Perhaps More Chemo?
On 03.03.2009, I had a MRI and a PFT (Pulmonary Function Test). The PFT was because BCNU can adversely affect your lungs. The MRI showed that the residual tumor tissue was stable and unchanged, which is the way it was the last time, the time before that, and the time before that. That is good. It means that the tumor isn't growing.
Despite that, my doctor asked me if I would do more chemo. He said that since I tolerated it so well, perhaps we could hammer another nail in the tumor's coffin. I thought chemo was over and done with. That sucks! We are considering following his advice, but how long will this go on for? Needless to say, it could have been a better day.
Despite that, my doctor asked me if I would do more chemo. He said that since I tolerated it so well, perhaps we could hammer another nail in the tumor's coffin. I thought chemo was over and done with. That sucks! We are considering following his advice, but how long will this go on for? Needless to say, it could have been a better day.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
02.06.2009 - IV Chemo Is Done
On 02.04.2009, 02.05.2009, and 02.06.2009, I had my last round of chemo. It was my sixth round of BCNU and the neurooncologist had asked me if I could do six rounds of that drug. He told me that it was the most they had ever given to a patient. All three days I felt fine. I have to take Temodar - an oral chemotherapy drug - for five days as well, but I do that with every round of IV chemo.I started treatment back on 10.25.2007 when I had surgery followed by radiation therapy and then chemotherapy. I will still continue to have Avastin every couple of weeks and will likely take some regimen of low dose Temodar. Both have virtually no side effects. I will continue to have MRIs regularly to monitor my progress.
As you can see, I took some photos during my last day of chemo. The photos include everyone at my doctor's office that has helped me the past 16 months. They include the office reception staff, Dave (one of Mary's medical assistants), Mary (my devoted chemo nurse who is more dedicated to her job than anyone I have ever met), Dr. Arenson (my neurooncologist and the mastermind of my treatment plan), Cynthia (a brain cancer survivor herself and a volunteer for the Colorado Neurological Institute), Tusdae (who used to be Mary's assistant, but not assists another doctor in the office), and Wade (the staff chaplain).
Friday, January 23, 2009
01.23.2009 - Scheduling the Last Round of Chemo
On 01.23.2009, I went to my doctor's office and had my blood counts checked and received Avastin via IV. My blood counts were all excellent and we scheduled the next round of BCNU a week and a half from now. This will be the sixth round of BCNU and should be my LAST chemotherapy session. I am very excited about that!
Saturday, January 10, 2009
01.09.2009 - One Hard Day
On 01.09.2009, my wife drove me to my appointment for a round of Avastin, Taxol, and Camptosar. I was there for about five hours or so. Once the benadryl went in the line, I took a nap for a couple hours or so. I brought my laptop to occupy my time while I was awake because the hospital has a wireless network for patients and visitors. That night was hard too. Diarrhea, vomiting, and all-around discomfort. It really sucked. I couldn't eat anything. It was just me, my laptop, and a gallon of Gatorade at my side by the bed.
On 01.10.2009, I was feeling better. I expected it to be a morning reprieve only. Usually, things are okay in the morning and get worse as the day goes on. I was able to hold out until now - 17:30 hours - and was even able to take two of my kids to the Museum of Nature and Science in Denver for a couple hours. Let's see how the rest of the night goes and the next day.
On 01.10.2009, I was feeling better. I expected it to be a morning reprieve only. Usually, things are okay in the morning and get worse as the day goes on. I was able to hold out until now - 17:30 hours - and was even able to take two of my kids to the Museum of Nature and Science in Denver for a couple hours. Let's see how the rest of the night goes and the next day.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
12.30.2008 - Good MRI
On 12.30.2008, I went to work for a bit and then left for the hospital for my MRI. I always go to see my chemo nurse first because she starts my IV lines painlessly. The MRI staff could care less if you suffer while they poke and/or prod. You need an IV for the kind of MRI that I get because I get a MRI scan with and without contrast. First, the regular MRI without contrast. Then, the MRI scan with contrast solution added to your blood stream. The contrast is a metallic compound that is harmless - gadolinium. If any part of your body that they are scanning is using more blood than the rest of the area, it will light up in the scan because there will be more metal in that area. MRI means Magnetic Resonance Imaging. There isn't radiation involved.
I met with my doctor and he reviewed my scans with me after the radiologist reviewed them. They showed no change - all was stable and unchanged. My neurooncologist was pleased with the scans. There has been no new disease since I had the surgery a little over 14 months ago. That is good when you are dealing with a grade four tumor. We'll do a blood test next week to see if my counts are good enough and then schedule chemo that same week if all is well.
My chemo nurse wanted me to give myself a Neupogen shot that afternoon and in another 48 hours. I had two shots left in my refrigerator. Hopefully, that will be enough to raise my white blood cell count for next week.
I met with my doctor and he reviewed my scans with me after the radiologist reviewed them. They showed no change - all was stable and unchanged. My neurooncologist was pleased with the scans. There has been no new disease since I had the surgery a little over 14 months ago. That is good when you are dealing with a grade four tumor. We'll do a blood test next week to see if my counts are good enough and then schedule chemo that same week if all is well.
My chemo nurse wanted me to give myself a Neupogen shot that afternoon and in another 48 hours. I had two shots left in my refrigerator. Hopefully, that will be enough to raise my white blood cell count for next week.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
12.23.2008 - Platelet Count Rising
On 12.23.2008, I went in for what I thought was just lab work, but my chemo nurse added Avastin treatment in addition to the blood counts. I get Avastin via IV every couple weeks. It doesn't have any side effects that I can tell. I have a MRI in a week and perhaps we'll schedule chemotherapy a week after that. They could have scheduled chemo for the same day as the MRI, but it is treatment that I would need a ride for and I am not going to subject Carissa to finding a babysitter for all three kids or taking them all to the appointment to see if I can do chemo. We will wait for a blood test that guarantees that I could do chemo before we schedule the next round. My platelets were still low, but rising from what they were last time. My white blood cell count was low, but not low enough to require any treatment for it.
There isn't anything like learning how bad someone else's situation to let you know that you aren't so bad off. A guy and his wife sat down in the same chemo room that I was in and were chatty. They told me about his situation. He has the same sort of tumor that I had and in the same general location - R Temporal Lobe. He was older than me and I learned retired from the US Army. He was on long term disability and can't return to work, he is taking BOTH Avastin and Thalomid, he had aggressive regrowth that grew substantially in only a month, and they live in Colorado Springs, so they have to travel 64 miles to get to the hospital. I drive about half that - 33 miles - to get to the hospital. He and his wife wanted to know all about my situation and since I was stuck doing Avastin, which only takes a half hour now, I thought I would chat with them. Usually, I don't enjoy chatting about cancer stuff with other patients, it can be depressing.
There isn't anything like learning how bad someone else's situation to let you know that you aren't so bad off. A guy and his wife sat down in the same chemo room that I was in and were chatty. They told me about his situation. He has the same sort of tumor that I had and in the same general location - R Temporal Lobe. He was older than me and I learned retired from the US Army. He was on long term disability and can't return to work, he is taking BOTH Avastin and Thalomid, he had aggressive regrowth that grew substantially in only a month, and they live in Colorado Springs, so they have to travel 64 miles to get to the hospital. I drive about half that - 33 miles - to get to the hospital. He and his wife wanted to know all about my situation and since I was stuck doing Avastin, which only takes a half hour now, I thought I would chat with them. Usually, I don't enjoy chatting about cancer stuff with other patients, it can be depressing.
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