Mark went in for his chemo treatment monday and after a blood test they decided to wait a week before doing any more chemo. Not only was his white blood cell count down, but his plattlet count was down too.
He'll go back for his chemo treatment on Monday, but they'll do a blood test again before the Dr. gives the go ahead for the chemo infusion.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Thursday, May 19, 2011
HALF WAY THERE!!!
Yesterday marked the halfway point in this round of chemo. YAY! We say it's time to celebrate! We started this on Monday, February 28th. By my count that's 7 chemo infusions (every other Monday). If there are no more postponed infusions that puts the last infusion date somewhere around August 22. Mark has felt worse the last 2 or 3 weeks than any other time during this whole cancer treatment. He is slowing down a lot, but we (Mark and his family) are SO thankful for all the help offered by friends, family, and everyone in general.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Everything looks good
Cat scan showed no abnormalities at all. The Dr. said that Mark maybe had a virus and it ran it's course, or maybe a bacterial infection that the antibiotics knocked out, or most likely: nothing was wrong and the lung x-ray he had just looked abnormal because his lungs are abnormal (because of the sarchoidosis).
The oncology Dr. looked at the Cat scan to see if he could see any cancer spots (didn't really expect him to do that, made Mark a little nervouse that he would even be looking), but found no signs of cancer there. Always good news. The rest of the day was a normal chemo day.
The oncology Dr. looked at the Cat scan to see if he could see any cancer spots (didn't really expect him to do that, made Mark a little nervouse that he would even be looking), but found no signs of cancer there. Always good news. The rest of the day was a normal chemo day.
Friday, May 13, 2011
New developments this week...
One of Mark's doctors thinks that he may be developing pneumonia, so he started out this week with some heavy antibiotics. He had a cat scan done yesterday, and then he'll visit with the pulmonary dr. monday morning to see the findings of the scan. Then off to get his blood drawn, analyzed, talk to the oncology Dr., and most likely, get his chemo infusion and pump hook up to take home.
We'll keep you updated as we find out more.
We'll keep you updated as we find out more.
Monday, May 2, 2011
infusion rescheduled
Mark usually goes in for a chemo drug infusion every other week. Last Monday (April 25th) was his scheduled infusion date, BUT after having his blood drawn and meeting with his Dr. they decided to reschedule. His white blood cell count was down, he was feeling pretty weak, and over all just didn't feel great. They decided to reschedule his appointment for today.
He finished up earlier than normal (usually his infusion is done between 4 and 5; today it was done at 2:00) because he didn't have to meet with the Dr. or get his blood drawn. He was 'plugged in' to his fanny pack chemo drug pump and will return on Wednesday to 'un-plug'. Then things should continue in the every other week fashion, so his next chemo infusion will be May 16th.
Thank you to all who call and write to stay in touch. We all really appreciate your love and prayers!
He finished up earlier than normal (usually his infusion is done between 4 and 5; today it was done at 2:00) because he didn't have to meet with the Dr. or get his blood drawn. He was 'plugged in' to his fanny pack chemo drug pump and will return on Wednesday to 'un-plug'. Then things should continue in the every other week fashion, so his next chemo infusion will be May 16th.
Thank you to all who call and write to stay in touch. We all really appreciate your love and prayers!
Monday, February 28, 2011
A day in the life.....
First of all, an update on the visit with the orthopedic Dr.: No surgery right now. He thought it was more important to tackle the chemo and beat the cancer and get healthy that way and not do the shoulder surgery until after chemo is finished. BUT he did give him another cortisone shot, and prescribed physical therapy.
Mark had a loooooooong day today! At 7:30 am he was at the physical therapist. That lasted until about 9:00. His shoulder felt REALLY good afterward (for about an hour). Then Kristi picked him up and drove him to Wenatchee for his 10:30 appointment time. He checked in at 10:30, the waiting room was the fullest he'd ever seen it! There was a little bit of a wait, and then they called him back and drew his blood and sent it to the lab for testing (blood cell counts, anti-bodies, checking all that good stuff). Then back to the waiting room. It was just before 12:00 and he was called back to visit with the oncology doctor. All his blood results looked good so he decided to start chemo today. Back to the waiting room for a pain pill and turkey sandwich from the bistro downstairs. Then there was a long wait until they were ready for his chemo treatment. About 12:30 they got him a chair (a nice reclining one) in the chemo room and got him set up with a blanket and cranberry juice.
First they hooked him up to sugar water and some anti-nausea medicine (they wanted the anti-nausea meds in him before they put the chemo drugs in him). They let that start for about an hour and then they hooked up the chemo drugs. Then it was all waiting for the medicine to slowly drip into his system. He did get a chance to watch a few episodes of some TV shows from Kristi's Ipod, and catch a nap or two. ;) at 4:30 they started to flush his port (makes sure all the medicine is in his system and cleans the port so there's less chance of infection) and gave him 'dishcharge' papers with instructions on how and when to take 2 new prescriptions (both for anti-nausea). He was able to leave at 4:45 (so that makes it a total of more than 6 hours at the doctor's office today).
Then to Costco to pick up the prescriptions, and finally home. He took one of his anti-nausea pills right away (he wasn't feeling very well). Mark got home around 6:30 this evening and was excited for his tomato soup and grilled cheese dinner.
One of the interesting side effects of this round of chemo drugs (that he didn't experience with the first round) is that it makes him very sensitive to cold. They advised him to wear gloves if he needed to get anything out of the freezer, and to cover his mouth with a bandanna or scarf if he was walking outside in freezing temperatures. He's not to eat or drink anything colder than room temperature for the first 3-5 days after this chemo treatment either. The sudden shock to his throat could cause muscle spasms. He did mention that just walking from the doctor's office to car the cold air made his hands and tongue feel weird and tingly.
Mark had a loooooooong day today! At 7:30 am he was at the physical therapist. That lasted until about 9:00. His shoulder felt REALLY good afterward (for about an hour). Then Kristi picked him up and drove him to Wenatchee for his 10:30 appointment time. He checked in at 10:30, the waiting room was the fullest he'd ever seen it! There was a little bit of a wait, and then they called him back and drew his blood and sent it to the lab for testing (blood cell counts, anti-bodies, checking all that good stuff). Then back to the waiting room. It was just before 12:00 and he was called back to visit with the oncology doctor. All his blood results looked good so he decided to start chemo today. Back to the waiting room for a pain pill and turkey sandwich from the bistro downstairs. Then there was a long wait until they were ready for his chemo treatment. About 12:30 they got him a chair (a nice reclining one) in the chemo room and got him set up with a blanket and cranberry juice.
First they hooked him up to sugar water and some anti-nausea medicine (they wanted the anti-nausea meds in him before they put the chemo drugs in him). They let that start for about an hour and then they hooked up the chemo drugs. Then it was all waiting for the medicine to slowly drip into his system. He did get a chance to watch a few episodes of some TV shows from Kristi's Ipod, and catch a nap or two. ;) at 4:30 they started to flush his port (makes sure all the medicine is in his system and cleans the port so there's less chance of infection) and gave him 'dishcharge' papers with instructions on how and when to take 2 new prescriptions (both for anti-nausea). He was able to leave at 4:45 (so that makes it a total of more than 6 hours at the doctor's office today).
Then to Costco to pick up the prescriptions, and finally home. He took one of his anti-nausea pills right away (he wasn't feeling very well). Mark got home around 6:30 this evening and was excited for his tomato soup and grilled cheese dinner.
One of the interesting side effects of this round of chemo drugs (that he didn't experience with the first round) is that it makes him very sensitive to cold. They advised him to wear gloves if he needed to get anything out of the freezer, and to cover his mouth with a bandanna or scarf if he was walking outside in freezing temperatures. He's not to eat or drink anything colder than room temperature for the first 3-5 days after this chemo treatment either. The sudden shock to his throat could cause muscle spasms. He did mention that just walking from the doctor's office to car the cold air made his hands and tongue feel weird and tingly.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Round 2
Visited with the chemo doctor yesterday. The 28th is the day round 2 of chemo is set to start. In the mean time.....visit with the orthopedic doctor will be wednesday to see if surgery is in the near future to fix Mark's shoulder injury.
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