Karen's sister, Jen took her to chemo today whilst Sarah stayed over and scored huge points minding the kids. This allowed daddy to go to work. Thanks guys.
The chemo regime has not changed, still 5FU, Avastin, Oxalyplatin. This time they changed up the nausea and "supporting" medications. I haven't gotten the full rundown but I'll post it when I do. One thing I know is they switched from an oral to a IV administration of Atavan. By giving the drug through the IV it enters directly into your blood stream and hence has the maximum effect. It's not easy but Karen is amazing and withstood it all with flying colors.
They also re-introduced Compazine as an anti-nausea combined with Benadryl. The Compazine is the drug which caused Karen's tongue to go nuts [LINK]. The Benadryl will act as an instant antidote and we will be watchful for a recurrance.
Needless to say, Karen is sleeping soundly after a very long day.
2 comments:
Hi Francis,
You wrote a lot about the Chemo session but did not write much about the pace of recovery after it..... Hopefully Karen must have started eating like a normal human being.... Eating and taking rest is the key..... Medicines are merely catalysts, the main healer is your own will power which I know is huge in your family..... Hope to read something better in your next post....
Greetings,
Some Chemo Notes From 2005
Food, not much tasted familiar or at all. A little Wasabi, Tabasco or Pickled Ginger cut through the waxed taste bud sensation and added some flavor. Even these extreme spices didn’t taste the same during chemo. They real just help make the eating experience a little more interesting.
Treatment, Chemo seemed different each time, not very predictable same for recovery period. Once a chemo secession slipped into the next shift. I had become very comfortable with the oncology staff but when they all left, and I found myself in the care of strangers, I became ridiculously sad.
Nausea, I got to a point where dealing with, and occasionally giving into, the nausea seemed easier than perpetually trying to drug it away. Typically I’d just have a dry heave or two… to start my day. It seemed like that having had its chance; the nausea then left me alone.
Experience
2005 Stage III colon cancer with bowel resection and follow on chemo (5FU +Oxaliplatin) treatment.
2007 Stage IV Metastatic colon cancer tumors on liver. On June 5th I had four secondary liver tumors ablated at Bingham & Women’s Hospital in Boston. One of the tumors had put the resection option beyond the surgeon’s comfort level.
Hold Fast
Don MacLeod
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