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The infusion is about 3 hours. I sleep part of the time. Judy goes home and comes back<br />
at lunchtime <strong>with</strong> a sandwich from Subway, a soda and lemon yogurt.<br />
Judy leaves to pick up my anti-nausea pills.<br />
Zofram (generic name is Ondansetron) 8 mg twice a day.<br />
Compazine (generic name is Prochlorperazine) 10 mg as needed 6 hours apart.<br />
The insurance may not cover the Zofran, about $21 for 12 pills. No biggy.<br />
At about 2:45, The second gun arrives. 100 mg of VP16 in 250 mg of normal saline.<br />
I lost count of the number of visits to the bathroom, but my best estimate is 7. Fortunately,<br />
I found a more private bathroom.<br />
I must say that the first day went surprising well. I was not sick. I had no nausea. I was<br />
comfortable and I got to meet new people.<br />
To my left was a young man, about 35, <strong>with</strong> a lovely young woman, perhaps his wife or<br />
sister. He was also receiving cis platinum.<br />
He has a rare testicular cancer, choriocarcinoma and they have given up on trying to cure<br />
him. The treatments for him are designed for slowing the spread of already widespread<br />
disease.<br />
To my right was a man who was quietly playing cribbage <strong>with</strong> a woman, I presume his<br />
wife. Suddenly, he developed terrible chills and was in agony for about 20 minutes,<br />
perhaps because of an infected port. After the chills resolved, he was vomiting.<br />
We left at about 4:15 PM.<br />
I return Thursday and Friday for shorter sessions, just the VP16.<br />
On Saturday, I have to go for an injection to stimulate my bone marrow. I think it is<br />
Neulasta.<br />
I will post again about this.<br />
After we returned home, it was a quiet evening. I have had no symptoms. I ate a good<br />
dinner, drank some fluids and we watched the Giants (they lost) and American Idol<br />
(James Durbin would get my vote if I voted).<br />
I have now accumulated enough master points on line to become a Gold Life Master of<br />
the American Contract Bridge League.<br />
So what did I learn today?<br />
1. Chemo may not be as bad as I expected.<br />
2. There are other patients who are much worse off than me.<br />
3. I can find the bathrooms blindfolded while dragging my IV pole.<br />
Posted by David Shuster at 11:24PM (-07:00)<br />
Chemotherapy-Day 2<br />
Thursday, April 28, 2011<br />
Chemotherapy-Day 2<br />
All went according to plan. I arrived at 8:15 AM and the infusion room was empty.<br />
First was Solucortef and anti-nausea medication. Then 1000 cc of normal saline, followed<br />
by the VC16. I was out by 12:15. The needle was left overnight in the port but I had them<br />
pull it today so I can take a real shower tonight. The skin over the port seems to be<br />
healing well. The steri-strips stay until they start to fall off. During my treatments, several<br />
patients arrived for treatment needing new IV's. Watching the interaction between patient<br />
and nurse reinforced the conclusion that I had made a wise choice to have the port<br />
placed.<br />
I am having very few symptoms. <strong>My</strong> voice is slightly hoarse and I am having some<br />
constipation. I managed to pass some rocks which seemed to help. I'll start Metamucil<br />
tomorrow morning.<br />
I am getting the occasional hiccups. I was given a prescription for Reglan which I will try if<br />
<strong>My</strong> <strong>Battle</strong> <strong>with</strong> <strong>Merkel</strong> <strong>Cell</strong> <strong>Cancer</strong>
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