Playing the waiting game...

Another trip to the cancer center and another missed treatment. Low platelets again. In the future I will let them draw blood from my arm and not go through the ordeal of the needle in the chest. If I get a treatment, I will let the nurses in the back hook me up.

The culprit and cause of low platelets is the drug oxaliplatin. In a previous treatment my platelets were 90,000.  They cut the drug by 20% and gave me a treatment. Platelets continued to drop, causing me to miss a total of four appointments.

The last trip to the doctor was a repeat of low platelets and a feeling of helplessness. The nurse practitioner told me I would get a treatment and they were leaving out the oxailiplatin. On one hand that was good news. That drug causes sensitivity to cold, so for a couple of days I cannot pick up a can of soda, allow cold air to hit my face or wash my hands in cold water.

On the other hand, if they are leaving oxailipatian out, how important or key is that drug to my recovery from cancer? Are the other drugs able to carry the cure by themselves? Maybe in the future I will get a treatment every three weeks instead of every two weeks.

An upside to not taking that drug is I don't feel as bad after a treatment and I recover quicker.

I felt so well I was able to take a mini vacation this week and go to North Mississippi. Good to see family members and have a meal with them. Also saw some dear friends. It was along trip, but worth it. I was tired and spent the day after we got home on the couch.

We will try again on Monday. I am a total optimist and believe in the best. I still know who is in charge and my faith has not and will not waver. May GOD bless you as well as HE has blessed me. 

Thanks, till next time and so long.

Ready for Treatment 7...

Written by Wayne:


How about this crazy winter weather? This has been one for the books.
    
In the past few weeks I have gone for times for a treatment, and four times I could not take one. My platelets were too low. Low platelets is something the doctors cannot give you a shot to improve, there is no medicine or pill they can give you to bring the count up. Low platelets are a by-product of chemo. Only a transfusion will help and I have no idea what that would entail. I start getting  pumped up the day before a treatment. Getting ready to get hooked up, resign myself to a long period of sitting still. Then to be told "no treatment today." It really takes the wind out of my sails. 


Having vitals is not bad...blood pressure, temp, pulse, question about new medicines, are you taking blood thinners, etc. Same questions each week but I realize they are just doing their job. Now comes the hard part, getting the port hooked up. The needle that goes into your chest is only 1.5 inches long. The pain that the needle generates does not last long but is very intense. Every time it happens I want to reach behind me and see if came out the back.

Don't read to much into the pain level. I am a wimp. If they ever make wimp an olympic sport, I will most likely captain the team.

On a happier note, I had a CT scan and it showed the tumor mass was shrinking. The liver is looking better. Blood level is 12.6 {12 is good}, white blood cells are good and my weight is holding at 200 lbs. Much better than in November. Thank you for your prayers and concern. I am still convinced GOD is in charge and HIS will shall be done.

In my younger days we listened to St. Louis Cardinal baseball. Jack Buck was one of the announcers, his signature sign-off was " thanks for your time, this time, till next time, so long."