Once you make decisions, there are plans

It seems like yesterday everything fell into place for plans. Here is what is up on the schedule.

1. Friday at 1400: PET scan.
This is a fancy CT scan where they give you special medication that lights up cancerous areas. The doctor really wants to see how bright a specific lymph node is. https://www.healthline.com/health/pet-scan

 2. Monday the 12th 0645.: Port installation. 
They will write me for local pain relieving cream (lidocane), dexamethasone (steroid) and anti-nausea medication (compazine)to take before installation.

 3.  Tuesday the 13th 0900-1100: Chemo class, topics are:
  • Preparing for your treatment day
  • Blood counts
  • Infection
  • Anemia
  • Bleeding
  • Fatigue
  • Nutrition during treatment
  • Appetite changes
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Mouth and throat changes
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
  • Hair loss
  • Skin and nail changes
  • Reproductive and sexual changes
  • Nervous system changes
4.  Tuesday the 13th 1130:
Review of PET scan

5. Tuesday the 13th 1330:
Meet with radiation oncologist

6. Wednesday the 14th 0900:Start chemotherapy
(Here is what I understand at this point)
Night before they give me some anti-nausea medications and steroids to take orally
The inter-venous process is a 5 hour process of giving me medications in the office.
They hook me up to additional medication when I leave
I have additional medication injected overnight
I get disconnected the next day

Treatment in the office is  FOLFOX: it includes a cocktail of three drugs

The first and second prevent cancer cells from dividing and growing. They also can cause the cancer to shrink and die. The last one up the effectiveness of the first I was told that there is WiFi in the office.

I think the overnight medication is Taxotere (http://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/drug-info/Taxotere.aspx) . This drug damages RNA and DNA in fast growing cells. Since they can't divide, they die. The faster the cells are trying to divide they more likely that it will kill the cells. Is also induces cell suicide (apoptosis). It works by inhibiting microtubule structures within the cell.  Microtubules are part of the cell's apparatus for dividing and replicating itself.  Inhibition of these structures ultimately results in cell death.

There is a whole list of side effects to this treatment. Yes, hair loss is one. Also, I will be immuno-compromised so no wild parties. The steroid is to counteract edema (swelling) due to this drug. I will be also drinking a lot of water to flush all of this out of my system so yay for water bottles.

7: Thursday  the 15th Time 1430:
Get disconnected from pump

8: Friday the 16th 1530:
Second opinion in Georgetown. Don't yet know if I will make this appointment as I don't know how I will react on Wednesday.

In the future, the "battle rhythm"  until last week in December is the following 
Every two weeks: 
 Monday: Blood work to test labs
 Tuesday Chemo session
 Wednesday: Disconnection session
Right now it looks like 4 months of chemo pre-surgery. 

Comments

  1. Rose MartiniNovember 13, 2018 at 4:24 PM

    Made another 6 lb. of pototes for you with Lucianna's Lactate Milk. I do not have white paper. I will buy it tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing you.

    ReplyDelete

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