Went for the beginning of my 'new' cocktail today...'new' because it is a different drug. I'm calling it 1-A because I have to go back on Wednesday to have the other 'new' drug administered.
Today I received Irinotecan (or camptosar/ Camptothecin-11, CPT-11) and 5-Fu (which I had before). Wednesday I get Avastin and my pump disconnected (that gives me the 5-FU for 46 hours or until I get 'unhooked'). Today I arrived at 9:30 and began treatment a little after 10...was done by 1 pm. Wednesday I go for 1 1/2 hours for the Avastin. Because this is new to my body, they give it to you in a 'slow drip'. I will go two times on a different day (2 x-week) and then I will be able to get the entire 'cocktail' on one day.
With this Irinotecan they say it makes your white blood count go down so I am also going back on Thursday for the Neupagin shot. So, I will be back and forth from here to Sparta 3 x this week...then skip a week and probably the same the next week. This is the drug that I thought I didn't have to get because I was going to get the Avastin...but I guess with the results of the MRI...finding TWO new lesions....she wants to be aggressive in treating this! With this drug another side effect is diarrhea - oh, lucky me! and possible hair loss....double lucky me! Avastin is the easy one!
I was alone for this treatment...I will tell you why in my next paragraph...and I have experienced a 'new' symptom....my mouth is watering so much! and I was having hot sweats (but not bad) while I was getting the drug. Right now, it's about 2 hours later....my mouth is still watering and no other side affect.
Samantha was home for a long weekend. She had her fall break and knowing that she won't be home for Thanksgiving, she wanted to see (of course) not only us...but her friends too! Plus Adam got married on Saturday and we were all able to attend this 'fun and beautiful' wedding celebration. Charlie brought Sam to the airport this morning...they left at 5:30 am...not to hit traffic and her flight left at 10 am....if they left any later they would have gotten right in the middle of the commuter traffic. Charlie had to be at work at 12:30 too. Paul went to the city to work a catering job. Charlie got home just as I was leaving for the cancer center.
Going to the center on Monday's is good...they have a cart of 'free' food! Sandwiches and snacks! So now I don't have to pack a lunch on Monday's! They do this every Monday and Thursday's. I use to go for bloodwork on Monday's but it was always early in the morning and they don't start serving until noon time. Then going on Wednesday's and Friday's - I missed it all! One really nice thing that the doctors do for their patients!
My oncologist, Dr. May, wasn't there today...Her Dad passed away (from lung cancer) and the funeral was today. I remember her telling me when he was diagnosed with this...he was doing so well and the last time I actually had treatment in March - he was still doing well....when I saw her in late September, she said that he wasn't doing well at all....She always spoke so highly of her Dad and he lived up in Syracuse, NY....always going up on weekends to visit too.
I will 'post' my MRI results in a 'new' post...
Prayers are needed - again...Thank YOU all for your continued support!!! and positive thoughts!
