Ok, the chemo treatments (gem/tax) they've been administering are not getting the hoped for results. Time to change gears and try a different set of drugs. This time it will take 3 days (7 am to about 4 pm) in a row to administer this series of drugs. This will be a cocktail of 3 drugs referred to as AIM (Adriamiacin, Ifosfamide and Mesna). Since it has often taken us 3 or more hours driving one way to or from MSKCC depending on traffic and these drugs have a much greater risk of unpleasant side effects, particularly nausea, we were trying to figure out how to handle this.
Dr. K understood the difficulty the long drive presented and gave us the names of some oncologists who have worked with other patients from south Jersey. Their practice is about 1/2 hour from us. She's comfortable with their level of experience in dealing with this type of cancer and treatments. We'll probably still be going to MSKCC in Basking Ridge for CT scans and all of his results and care will be coordinated through MSKCC.
Today's results were not what we were hoping to get. I have a horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach but at the same time, I'm hopeful that these other drugs are the ones that will work.
Showing posts with label gem/tax. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gem/tax. Show all posts
Friday, November 13, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
1st Chemo Down, More to Follow - August 13, 2009
The first chemo treatment, an IV infusion of gem/tax (Gemcitabine and Taxatore aka Gemzar and Docetaxel) is done. All went well, he has had no adverse reaction, but the doctors had said that he should not have any problem until perhaps after the second, and even then it may take several treatments before he notices anything unpleasant.
He's got a full calendar of appointments. Chemo on Tuesdays at MSKCC in the city, and then Thursdays there will be CT scans and white blood cell monitoring at their satellite in Basking Ridge, NJ. He was told that this would most likely go on for the next 6 months, so surgery is on hold until then.
My biggest concern is his breathing. We don't really know for sure whether the difficulty is associated with the cancer in his lungs or is it anxiety/weather related since we've had such miserable humid conditions. I'm hoping it's the second.
We switched rooms around. It was good, since it gave all of us something to focus on and keep our minds and hands occupied with something other than the treatments and wondering how things would go, etc.
Since we had to pack up the "computer room" first, store everything from there in the family room, paint what was going to become the "new computer room" and reassemble everything, we've been without internet access for a few days. I have to say the whole thing went very smoothly. The dogs were a bit confused, especially Scrat. I spent quite a bit of time on the floor taking apart and putting back together the computer furniture (too big to fit through doorways otherwise) and poor Scrat kept trying to snuggle up to me or get in my lap or lick my face every chance he got.
But it's done and I'm back to tracking my meals and exercises and spinning the wheel for my points. I just wish everything else in my life was back to normal.
He's got a full calendar of appointments. Chemo on Tuesdays at MSKCC in the city, and then Thursdays there will be CT scans and white blood cell monitoring at their satellite in Basking Ridge, NJ. He was told that this would most likely go on for the next 6 months, so surgery is on hold until then.
My biggest concern is his breathing. We don't really know for sure whether the difficulty is associated with the cancer in his lungs or is it anxiety/weather related since we've had such miserable humid conditions. I'm hoping it's the second.
We switched rooms around. It was good, since it gave all of us something to focus on and keep our minds and hands occupied with something other than the treatments and wondering how things would go, etc.
Since we had to pack up the "computer room" first, store everything from there in the family room, paint what was going to become the "new computer room" and reassemble everything, we've been without internet access for a few days. I have to say the whole thing went very smoothly. The dogs were a bit confused, especially Scrat. I spent quite a bit of time on the floor taking apart and putting back together the computer furniture (too big to fit through doorways otherwise) and poor Scrat kept trying to snuggle up to me or get in my lap or lick my face every chance he got.
But it's done and I'm back to tracking my meals and exercises and spinning the wheel for my points. I just wish everything else in my life was back to normal.
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