Chemo Round 2C: Getting the game plan

We have been diving deep into prayer for answers, wisdom, and discernment for our treatment. Well everyone, prayers were answered! Our choices were to stop the Carbo and not replace it with another chemo. We could continue the weekly Taxol but wasn't safe to add a different chemo because it would have issues with toxicity levels. The other option was to try the desensitizing in the hospital, once every 4 weeks. We would be admitted on a Monday and go home Tuesday. I would have oral pre-medications for 48 hours prior to being admitted, more steroids and Benadryl. I would get larger doses of the IV steroids and Benadryl prior to the chemo. Instead of the Carbo being infused over 30-60 minutes, it would infuse over 6 hours. I will be closely monitored, a 1:1, just me and our own nurse! If I start to have any sort of the same symptoms as before (itchy hands, shortness of breath, chest tightness, or flushing), the infusion would be stopped immediately. Dr. Skinner said that if I have another allergic reaction, we wouldn't try the desensitizing again and just continue with the weekly Taxol.

Drum roll please....

 

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Wil and I decided to throw whatever we can at this cancer! Boom, desensitizing here we come! As Wil has said, we can do anything four times. Four nights in the hospital over the next four months, not bad at all. Completely doable!

 

 

Treatment went well today, just the Taxol. ANC (Absolute Neutrophil Count) is the main count that we look at when it comes to immunity levels. A neutrophil is a mature white blood cell, one that can fight off the "icky" stuff in your body. They prefer it to be above 1500 for treatment but it really needs to be above 1000, otherwise I get housebound. Today was 1200, but I was cleared for treatment. I will be travelling on a plane for an overnight trip next week for advanced injectable training, so I will get it rechecked next Tuesday. We will see our PA, Alison, for an exam and getting information about being admitted the following week. I fly on Wednesday with my awesome boss, Susan. I will have to wear my compression socks since I'm at higher risk for a clot and a mask to keep the germs away! That's all the news for now.

Thank you for all who read the blog, I was nervous about starting it. I felt like it was tooting my own horn too much but it is good therapy for me too. I like getting all of my feelings down but it is also an amazing way to update everyone at once. Since I have chemo brain, I forget who I have told what to and I don't want to leave anyone out of the loop. Thanks again!