Journal entry by Sheila kinder —
Chemo Round 14
I realized I did not give an update after Mike's chemo round 14. I was so busy with school and things at home I just didn't get to it. It went well. It was a quick trip to the Mayo on a Tuesday and back on a Wednesday. He did not have any new issues or side effects from this chemo and went about his week off doing as much as he could. Of course, there is always the neuropathy in his hands and feet, lack of appetite, and feeling worse somedays more than others, but he is just doing what he can, when he can.
Chemo Round 15
We got back from the Mayo this Thursday, April 25. We left Tuesday morning. It was a two-night, three-day kind of trip this time. I personally like the trips when we go one day and only have to spend one night. However, Mike was scheduled to have scans this time as well as chemo and doctor visits. We found out Mike is allergic to the solution they use for the CT scan. He has had quite a few CT scans now and this time his body decided it did not like it anymore. He broke out in hives immediately. Thankfully they do watch very closely for this, and he was given Benadryl to help. It did help and he did not experience any breathing issues with his reaction, that is good. He will now have to take a steroid 12 hours before he has a CT scan and Benadryl right before the CT scan to hopefully prevent it from happening again. Just what Mike wanted is to have to take more medication. He also has had a dip in his Vitamin D levels again and has to increase his Vitamin D more by taking 3 pills every day for at least two more months. More pills for Mike to take, he is not happy with that. He does not like to take pills, but he does because he knows it helps him.
Now for the scan results. They came back with good news. The tumor has shrunk again! Not as much as it has been, but it still shrunk and that is all that matters! This helps us know that the hard chemo drugs he is taking every two weeks are working at managing his cancer well. They will continue with this combination of drugs until the next scan, which will be in June. At this point he gets chemo every other week and scans after 4 chemo treatments, so about every two months. It will continue like this for the foreseeable future. As long as the chemo is managing the cancer they will keep it going. It is important to keep doing it every two weeks to keep the cancer form growing again. This is how our life has been since October. Going to the Mayo every other week for one to three nights. It will continue to be this way for as long as it takes. We had hoped that the chemo could be moved to Duluth when Mike reached maintenance chemo, as they call it, but he is not at maintenance chemo yet and may never be. This horrible cancer is rare and aggressive and hard to treat, hence why he is still going to the Mayo and even though the chemo is working well at this time. It can change very fast and that is why he continues to be seen at the Mayo.
As of today, Mike is feeling good still. He is on steroids for three days after chemo and it really helps him get through the worst part of chemo. It seems to be that around 4 to 5 days after chemo it hits Mike hard. He may need to sleep for a day or two and rest a lot more. He is working so hard at doing as much as he can though when he does feel well. It also helps when the weather is nice out and he can get outside more. He is really looking forward to having a garden this summer and having some chickens again.
I realized I did not give an update after Mike's chemo round 14. I was so busy with school and things at home I just didn't get to it. It went well. It was a quick trip to the Mayo on a Tuesday and back on a Wednesday. He did not have any new issues or side effects from this chemo and went about his week off doing as much as he could. Of course, there is always the neuropathy in his hands and feet, lack of appetite, and feeling worse somedays more than others, but he is just doing what he can, when he can.
Chemo Round 15
We got back from the Mayo this Thursday, April 25. We left Tuesday morning. It was a two-night, three-day kind of trip this time. I personally like the trips when we go one day and only have to spend one night. However, Mike was scheduled to have scans this time as well as chemo and doctor visits. We found out Mike is allergic to the solution they use for the CT scan. He has had quite a few CT scans now and this time his body decided it did not like it anymore. He broke out in hives immediately. Thankfully they do watch very closely for this, and he was given Benadryl to help. It did help and he did not experience any breathing issues with his reaction, that is good. He will now have to take a steroid 12 hours before he has a CT scan and Benadryl right before the CT scan to hopefully prevent it from happening again. Just what Mike wanted is to have to take more medication. He also has had a dip in his Vitamin D levels again and has to increase his Vitamin D more by taking 3 pills every day for at least two more months. More pills for Mike to take, he is not happy with that. He does not like to take pills, but he does because he knows it helps him.
Now for the scan results. They came back with good news. The tumor has shrunk again! Not as much as it has been, but it still shrunk and that is all that matters! This helps us know that the hard chemo drugs he is taking every two weeks are working at managing his cancer well. They will continue with this combination of drugs until the next scan, which will be in June. At this point he gets chemo every other week and scans after 4 chemo treatments, so about every two months. It will continue like this for the foreseeable future. As long as the chemo is managing the cancer they will keep it going. It is important to keep doing it every two weeks to keep the cancer form growing again. This is how our life has been since October. Going to the Mayo every other week for one to three nights. It will continue to be this way for as long as it takes. We had hoped that the chemo could be moved to Duluth when Mike reached maintenance chemo, as they call it, but he is not at maintenance chemo yet and may never be. This horrible cancer is rare and aggressive and hard to treat, hence why he is still going to the Mayo and even though the chemo is working well at this time. It can change very fast and that is why he continues to be seen at the Mayo.
As of today, Mike is feeling good still. He is on steroids for three days after chemo and it really helps him get through the worst part of chemo. It seems to be that around 4 to 5 days after chemo it hits Mike hard. He may need to sleep for a day or two and rest a lot more. He is working so hard at doing as much as he can though when he does feel well. It also helps when the weather is nice out and he can get outside more. He is really looking forward to having a garden this summer and having some chickens again.
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