Week #1 is Done

(Sorry if you get this post a million times in your inbox. It is 10:30 and I am trying to do this with some chemo fuzziness in the brain. I think I am really done now)

Well  I have good news and I have bad news. Let's get the bad news over with: I found out today that the plan he wants me in will include the Erbitux in addition to the standard colon cancer program (5Fu. Leucovorin, etc). There are 2 downsides to Erbitux, the first being the fact that it generally (80% of the time) results in a pretty serious rash around the face, neck and hands areas. Like Neuropathy it is supposed to go away after the treatment stops but we all know that the Neuropathy did NOT go away for me. So I will watch this very carefully and might drop this drug at the first sign of problems. The second downside to Erbitux is that it has to be given WEEKLY not Bi-Weekly like the other drugs. For as long as I can handle the Erbitux my program looks something like this:

1.       Week 1—10:00 AM-5:00 PM (7 hours) where I will get blood, then see the doctor so he can review my blood  levels then chemo. Then I take the pump home and they will “Pump Me Up!) for 48 hours. They come to the house on Sun and remove the pump

2.       Week 2—8:30 AM-10:30 AM (2 hours) where I will get the Erbitux only, no seeing the doctor and no blood test.

3.       Week 3—10:00 AM-5:00 PM (7 hours) where I will get blood, then see the doctor so he can review my blood  levels then chemo. Then I take the pump home and they will “Pump Me Up!) for 48 hours. They come to the house on Sun and remove the pump

4.       Week 4—8:30 AM-10:30 AM (2 hours) where I will get the Erbitux only, no seeing the doctor and no blood test.

Etc, until we get to week #24 sometime in March. 

Week #1 is DONE and I included a couple of pictures (look up) that shows you what the chemo room looks like and where I sit

If you want to see more Chemo Pictures I have created an Album which you should have gotten an invitation to already. If not, the link is: http://www.joca.myhphome.com/Webshare/ViewPhotos.m?username=ja&mac=a997f29fd9455a32beb74f43730f7e0&albumId=14

These pictures were taken at the end of the day. Most of the chairs you see were occupied during the day but they all got to go home before me because I have a very long day and then I have to wait for the pump lady to come by and give me the pump.

Here is the motto that Carol and I had for the first Chemo Journey in 2005-2006   “Stayin’ Alive in 05” and  “Getting Our Kicks in 06”

Here is the motto that Carol came up with our second Journey in 2009-2010        “Doin’ Our Time in 09” and  “On the Road Again in 2010”

This really  is OUR JOURNEY, not MY JOURNEY, so when you are saying some prayers or sending good thoughts out please include Carol. In many ways this is just as hard on her as it is on me and she has a tough road ahead of her also

So far I don't have any really bad symptoms. I do feel a little nauseous and my ears are ringing. Basically its like a cold or flu symptoms. This is only Week 1 though and the effects are cumulative so by the middle to the end of this probably would not be able to work but it is too early to start thinking about that. For now we try to eat well, sleep well and relax!!

Week 1 is Done and so am I. Carol and I are going to bed! It is 10:30 PM on Friday

Peace and Love to everyone

John