Chemo - Round 2 (now with photo!)

The plan is do do another round of six chemo cycles starting today, and in fact I'm writing from the chair in the clinic. Same routine as before - sit in the chair for most of the day and then go home with a pump that continues to dose the medicine for another 46 hours, then repeat again in two weeks. If all goes according to plan, the 6th and final chemo session will be November 9th.

Because I'm not as strong going into this round of chemo (still recovering from the surgery), the side effects, specifically fatigue, may be stronger, but we'll see.

Away we go - kicking more cancer arse! Note the Honey Badget t-shirt on the chair (our beloved mascot).

A Lesson

Based only upon some vague physical sensations, I managed to whip myself into a worry frenzy thinking the tumor has been rapidly growing since my last chemo session in June. This despite assurances to the contrary from the oncologist and my sister, based on observed treatment response.

I caved to my fear and obtained another CEA test which would have otherwise been done only when I resumed treatment on August 31st. After an anxious two days waiting for the result - the result was 3.5 (BAM! Ya baby!) For context, normal range is less than 3.1 and the last CEA test I had was after the 5th chemo cycle and I was at 4.2. So what does this show? First that the tumor is quite slow growing, and secondly, the 6th chemo cycle was very effective. What else does this episode demonstrate? That I need to be more at peace with my treatment and not allow fear to rule. Easier said than done but a valuable lesson to learn from.

Plans Set

I met with the oncologist today and we established August 31st as the date to start chemotherapy. This gives me three more weeks to heal and hopefully enjoy some time of strong health. If all goes according to plan I'll have my final infusion on November 9th. The oncologist (and my sister) said that I should respond just as positively to the chemo this second time around as the first, though it is quite possible that the side effects will be stronger as I won't be quite as strong going into the chemo as I was originally, but we'll see.

Three weeks post-op

Today marks three weeks since the surgery. I do not recommend it as an elective surgery if anyone was considering such <grin>. I'm feeling a bit better each day but it is slow going. The surgeon recommended four weeks off of work and I can see why. Wow - this is not an easy or quick recovery.

I have a pretty impressive scar - something akin to a shark attack. My understanding is that my body will have regenerated 90% of the liver in 3-4 weeks time so getting there. I typically take a nap during the day and have to lay down to rest periodically - all recommended for the recovery. I try to do a ~2 mile walk every day. Not exactly racing up the hills on my bike like I'm used to but better than nothing!

Lu and I meet with the oncologist tomorrow (8/10), presumably to determine when to start the 2nd set of chemotherapy. I suspect it will be a couple more weeks though to ensure I'm stronger. The chemo is the same as the previous set - 6 cycles of two weeks each. Life giving poison baby...

Two weeks post-op

Today marks two weeks (14 days) since my surgery. The time has passed like a fog as I suspect I have been in a fog for a good portion of this time. I have an post-op appointment with the surgeon this Friday, and check-in with the med-onc next Wednesday the 10th.

I was able to walk with Lu and the kids to the local park - rough a mile walk, so I figure that is pretty good. I'm still in a bit of a mental fog which is either me still recovering from a major surgery or a side effect of the pain medication I take every four hours - probably the latter. I have been lowering my dosage during the day and seeing how it goes. For the first time today I did not nap, and now at 8:40pm I can feel the tired. ;-)

Lu continues to astound me with her patience with me and energy toward maintaining normalcy in our house. The kids seems to be doing quite well and are enjoying all of this family time, though Daddy can't chase them very well.