Wednesday, September 12, 2007
The Induction Round of Chemotherapy is Over
Sorry I missed a day on reporting Bill’s progress, but I wanted to give those who were learning about Leukemia a brief introduction to Bill’s illness. ( Read: “What Happened to Bill? to learn more).
Today, Bill received his 7th and last dosage of medications in the Induction round of chemo. On Thursday, about noon, he will be disconnected from all IV’s and will be a free man. This means he can walk the halls of the hospital wing for the next week. He has had as many as seven IV’s hanging from the pole at one time. I enjoyed watching the number of bags diminished throughout the day.
Bill usually receives one- 5 unit bag of platelets a day. But today he received 2 – 5 unit bags of platelets. The platelets keep him from bleeding. He is not even allowed to brush his teeth or blow his nose. ( He does have a special rinse for his teeth).
Bill did not receive red blood cells today. That is a good sign that his red cell count is up (9.0) and his white cell count is down to 400. The chemo is doing it’s job.
Some of you have asked me what chemo drugs he was on. They were:
Day 1-2-3- Daunomycin
Day 1 through 7- Cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C)
Day 4- Mylotarg- a clinical study drug that he had an allergic reaction to. (Bet we won’t be doing that one again.)
Plus, everyday he receives a heart medicine- Verapamil Hydrochloride, 2 anti-nausea drugs- Zofian and Compazine, antibiotics and transfusions during chemo. And that is just the transfusions. I don’t know what pills he is taking in addition to this.
Bill was not as active today as the past 2 days. But, he didn’t receive those red blood cells, and that is our source of oxygen for our lungs and brain. Plus, the effects of chemo are going to begin to take their toll.
Pray for Bill’s comfort as the chemo works it’s “magic”.
Pray for Bill to have patience as the 4 walls surround him.
Pray that Bill’s roommate doesn’t snore tonight so he can get some sleep. Amen.
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13 comments:
Hey Mom & Dad-
Maybe you should ask the nurses to sneak a Breathe Right strip on your roommate!
Have a good day, Dad! Hang on, there's football on tonight and the big football weekend is almost here! Love, Janine
Bill - My thoughts and best wishes are with you and Nancy. Glad to learn that the first round is over. Joan told me about your blog site this morning. I'll pass it along to the others (specifically, Ron Kanouse, Al Medioli, and Greg Ruffa) who have regularly asked for updates (to this point I've been kept in the loop by Dennis). In the meantime stay strong and go Tennessee!
Regards,
Carl Peterson
Hello, Bill.
As Carl said, we're all pulling for you here at FP, though we're failry frustrated that we can't inundate you with fruit baskets, etc.
Glad to hear you're through round one of the chemo. Think positively; it's not like you had a whole lot of hair to begin with...
cheers,
Al
Dear Bill and Nancy,
I am praying for you both and we hope all is going well. I know you have the best doctors and Bill you get better really soon. I hear there are grandkids who need you very much and I know they are just beautiful.
Love and Prayers,
John and Carla Cain and Girls
Bill, so glad to hear that the first round of chemo is over! Congratulations, you did it!!! Just don't terrorize the other patients in the hospital as you make your rounds. :P
All the best,
Janet and John Lehr
Bill & Nancy,
So happy that you have that first round behind you. I know Nancy is soaking up all the info the doctors are giving you. She should have gone into the nursing field-----but then you would have to pay for a decorator.
Continue to keep your spirits up even on bad days. I know it is tough. Almost all the guys that work with me have their heads bald. That is their choice and you are in style. Just be like a teenager and go get a tatoo and a wrinkle pierced.
GO BIG BLUE!!
Love to all,
Mary Jo
Bill and Nancy,
The two of you are in our thoughts. We pray that this first round of chemo does all that it possibly can. You have succeeded in making us Tennessee fans. Besides all our Big Ten games, we check to see how the Vols are doing. Guess we'll have to wait a bit for our next football outing.
Love, Jim and Kathy
Bill and Nancy:
Nancy - Thank you for the updates
Bill - Remind me that I don't ever want a bladder infection (LOL)
- Good to hear that you have completed the 7 days of chemo - We will be thinking of and praying for a normal white cell count next week (Bill - it's like golf - we want a low score!)
Regards,
Don and Shelley
Bill - and you used to be worried about West Vile Nirus! To make your day, I thought I would tell you that your friends in East Kentucky (contract issue from last year)are alive and kicking. I gave them info on index percents, etc. They are "beginning" to have serious talks.
Several people have been in and out of your office, but the only one I saw sitting in your chair was JB - you need to get back here and kick butt!
Needless to say, you are in our thoughts and prayer, but also so is Nancy. What a trooper!!
Doug Dwosh
Bill, Great to hear that you are finished with chemo. Gives you plenty of time to catch up on football and baseball. No you are not in a time warp--ND and UM are both 0-2, and one soon to be 0-3. Consistent with previous practice, you have led me to previously untraveled ground--my first visit to a blog site. Proud that I didn't have to ask the kids how to access. Go Vols (even though I am married to a Gator). Get well, Jim
Hey brother!
You have just become my new hero! So glad things are moving in a positive direction! Now that you are a free man, don't do anything I wouldn't do! Go Steelers!!
Love, Gail
Hi Bill and Nancy,
Reading through your journals and praying for your ending requests. What a great "tool" to keep us all updated on your progress. Thanks for that!
Missed you tremendously this past Sunday. We had all "chick" singers and kept joking how we sounded like the dixie chicks. Miss your voice, smile and sense of humor!
Nancy, I'm going out searching tomorrow for a cd/cassette player and hopefully, you'll have that on your doorstep by Wednesday.
Thinking and praying for you and your family! Keep fighting, keep praying and keep singing!! God's Peace, Joyce Stuart
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