Scaling Back Treatments

Good morning. Since we last wrote, there have been a few changes to my health and treatments. 

The surgical incision seems to be healing well. My two HNs (Home Nurses as I jokingly refer to my mom and mother-in-law) have been doing a great job. The wound has to be flushed with saline and “packed” with medicated gauze twice a day. The HNs have worked out a schedule, going so far as to create a calendar that ranges out two months into the future (yes, it’s going to take that long to heal). I see the surgeon tomorrow for a check up. I have very little concern that they will find issues. 

One thing that does slow the healing process is my chemotherapy. At our last chemo update, we told you that I would be receiving chemo infusions of a chemo drug that was new to me. I did get one infusion before the abscess appeared and had to be removed. The second infusion was postponed due to the high risk of secondary infections. The side effects of the first infusion are still lingering, even two weeks after I was supposed to have the second. They aren’t fun - plenty of nausea and increased fatigue are the primary culprits. The fact that they linger so long is worrisome too. The effects of chemo tend to worsen with subsequent treatments.  We have decided that the benefits of chemo/treatments that have overly debilitating side effects are just not beneficial enough. I will not continue with that chemo infusion regime. 

During my appointment with my oncologist yesterday, we made the decision to return to the chemo pills I was taking previously. While the chemo pill does have side effects, they are much more manageable than those of others I’ve had recently and in the past. I am thankful that Dr. Ganjoo listens well and agreed with our request to change again. 

I’ve been having headaches recently so Ganjoo ordered a head MRI for Monday. I’m sure our next update will be after we meet with her to discuss those results. 

With the switch back to the pill chemo I hope to spend a little more time out of bed again. It seems like I’ve slept much of the day during the last six weeks.  I’m looking forward to getting back to a few fun projects I started during the summer. 

On a very good note, I went with Jim and our college renters up to Grant Grove on Monday. I didn’t hike around with them too much, but it was lovely to get up to one of my favorite places.