Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Sorry everyone it has been awhile since we updated Cheri’s battle with breast cancer. With the holidays, house moving & Cheri’s favorite child, Sophia (Yorkie) passing away, it’s been spontaneous chaos in the Offenberger house. She began her chemotherapy infusion treatments on Dec 12 with a strong cocktail, a name I cannot decode. Here it is, “Doxoruicin hcl, Ifosfamide CIV Mesna CIV Mesna”. I think they need to rename it to “kick your a**” drug. Some of the side effects are nausea, lowered immune system, tiredness, shortness of breath, and hair loss. All the above she has experienced, some stronger than others. The first chemo treatment didn’t phase her much, however the second & third have made up for it. Today, she is on a second round of antibiotics & white blood cell booster to help with fighting any infections and to get her critical blood levels up. After yesterday’s visit, her levels where just slightly above to where she would have needed a transfusion. White Blood Count was 0.2, which normal is 4.8-10.8. and Red Blood Count was 2 & normal is 4.2-5.4. 

Good news is the size of the tumor is much smaller, however the chemo has taken it’s toll.  Dr. Palanisamy (“Paula”) is changing her cocktail to a weaker dose with a weekly cycle beginning Feb 12. Hopefully, this will allow her to feel better and able to function better.

Special thanks to everyone for your prayers, help and generous caring & thoughtfulness.

Randy & Cheri