Day + 156

Chemo Day......................

9:00 am

Today we met with Bill's doctor to try and map out the new maintenance  game plan!   We should have a decision today with what to give him in replacement of the oral drug that wiped out not only his immune system but him as well!   The GREAT news is his blood test on Monday showed his IGM level NORMAL.  This is the antibody that fights the cancer so it tells us things continue to move in the right direction and his body no longer is making an abundance of antibodies.   In the meantime he will receive today his Rituxan infusion!  He didn't get much sleep last night having anxiety about a repeat of the last episode.  And I must admit I didn't either. 

10:00 am
So they began today with giving him double the Tylenol, a massive dose if IV Benadryl and a mega dose of a new steroid.  Hopefully all of this will convince his body not to reject the chemo!  Five minutes into it he couldn't stay awake with all of the benedryl.  So we are now waiting for this all to fully kick in before starting the chemo!  His chemo nurses are so amazing!   They are constantly joking with him while reassuring him everything will be fine, both putting him somewhat at ease.  I know I have said this many times before but..............I can't say enough about his chemo nurses. They truly make this journey tolerable! 

10:45 am

Ok........... Rituxan has begun at a VERY slow rate.  Now we wait and see how his body wants to respond.  I have been so fortunate to be able to be with him each and every time he has had chemo.  I now know, more than ever, chemo is never routine so keeping a watchful eye is crucial.  It always brought me a bit of sadness when I would see a patient  going through chemo alone but now I know it is not only important for the patient to not feel  that they are in this alone  but having someone immediately accessible is equally important.

11:00 am

So far so good.................... I will keep you posted

11:15 am

Blood pressure still good so speeding up the infusion a small bit!

11:22 am
Reaction started......blood pressure this time went sky high as he turned completely red.  Team once again jumped into action and took over.

11:31 am 

Blood pressure coming down a bit with the help of more drugs and oxygen.

This is definitely the end of Rituxan for Bill.  

11:40 am

Blood pressure back to normal, coloring back to normal, state of mind..............still has a way to go!



So back to square one on devising a maintenance plan.  Dr. Mehta assured us there are options so we will meet with him again in a couple of weeks to discuss. 

I now look back when this journey first began when I asked............  "what is the plan?"
The answer to me was....."today this is the plan but tomorrow it may change." With cancer the plan is always evolving.  Every one's cancer is different, everyone reacts differently to drugs, and every one's response to chemo is different.  So I now REALLY understand why it is important to be flexible!

So please, keep those prayers coming for Bill and all the millions of people battling this strange disease.  Please add to your prayer  list pharmaceutical companies that they continue research on this rare cancer and they continue to come up with new drug options.  I use to not think very highly of drug companies as I thought they just wanted to make money but now I pray for their success in moving forward.

Kay

Day +140

No news to really report except that Bill is feeling GREAT!  It would be absolutely wonderful if he could remain off any kind of drug but unfortunately the monster would continue to take over!   Friday he will go in for blood tests and maybe the doctors have come up with a new maintenance plan!   We will see......... but in the meantime Bill is enjoying  having energy and feeling good!  His hair is all back but he likes his new short look so much  I took out the trimmer yesterday and buzzed it good!  Will post again after Friday!