Today I started on my second (of three) rounds of induction chemotherapy. This is the chemotherapy regimen I’m receiving before I start my 7 weeks of radiation treatments, which also include one weekly chemo treatment.
May 5, 2010 Chemotherapy
The photo above is me seated comfortably in an easy chair as I receive my chemo drugs and some other drugs to treat the potential side effects, which lasted about 5.5 hours once they got started. The “side-effect reducing medications” helped minimize the side effects from then first round of chemo, so I expect that they will do the same for this second round.
Speaking of side-effects. Based on what happened during the first round of treatment, I’ve been taking a few prescription medications for the past several days to help minimize (let’s say, “eliminate”) some of the more painful side-effects.
It was great having Mary, my wife, accompany me for my treatment today. She goes with me on all my treatments and oncology doctor appointments. In addition to being a great wife, Mary is also a very knowledgeable nurse. And if she does not know, she will look it up or ask the doctors and nurses. I am a very lucky guy!
So what did I do for 5.5 hours sitting in that easy chair? Mostly, I read “Making Miracles” by Paul Pearsall, PhD. Also, Mary brought me lunch from the cafeteria. And, Mary and I talked.
Bottom line, today went well. Drinking lots of water tonight to keep the chemo drugs flushed through my kidneys. So I may be up and down a few times tonight visiting the bathroom 😉
Hi Dick,
Thanks for the update – glad to hear that round two started out okay. Have you named your infusion device yet? Seems like that if it has to stay w/ you for 72 hrs that you should be on a first name basis. Matt named his IV pump “George” during one of his hospitalizations. George went everywhere w/ him for several days.
We’ve also been watching the news for word on Nashville. I had a notice earlier this week from the learning management software system company (used by the hospital and based in Nashville) that customer support would be limited because hardly anyone could get to work.
Hope today finds you well. You are as always in our thoughts and prayers.
Love,
Sue
Hi Sue,
I had not thought about giving my IV pump a name, but that’s a good item. I consider all the chemo drugs and the equipment to administer them to be my “friends.” And friends should have a cool name.
Hummm… I think I will call him Perley, the pump. Perley is my fraternal grandfather’s name. We lived next to each other when I was growing up in Towanda so I saw him every day. He was always good to me and I could always count on him to encourage and support me. So Perley feels like a good name!
Fortunately, we did not have any major damage from the flooding. Just some water in the crawl space that drained in a couple of days. However, there are many very hard hit areas in the Nashville area and throughout middle Tennessee.
Love to my sister-in-law and the rest of your family.
Dick
Hi Sue,
I had not thought about giving my IV pump a name, but that’s a good item. I consider all the chemo drugs and the equipment to administer them to be my “friends.” And friends should have a cool name.
Hummm… I think I will call him Perley, the pump. Perley is my fraternal grandfather’s name. We lived next to each other when I was growing up in Towanda so I saw him every day. He was always good to me and I could always count on him to encourage and support me. So Perley feels like a good name!
Fortunately, we did not have any major damage from the flooding. Just some water in the crawl space that drained in a couple of days. However, there are many very hard hit areas in the Nashville area and throughout middle Tennessee.
Love to my sister-in-law and the rest of your family.
Dick