Hello all –

Tina’s journey began on Friday, June 21st, with an immunotherapy infusion (called Keytruda) and chemotherapy medication (called Inlyta). She takes two chemo pills, one in the morning, and one in the evening, as well as having an immunotherapy infusion every three weeks for thirty minutes.

Clearview Cancer Institute (CCI) has been extremely welcoming and comforting during this time. Mom’s first infusion went incredibly well – our nurse, Mechelle, was a blessing, a wealth of information, and had no trouble finding a vein to use for the infusion. The infusion lasted about thirty minutes. The sweet workers of CCI brought us a heated blanket (therapy tends to make the person cold) and a first-timer gift bag with lots of helpful items and information. Tina handled it great.

Chemotherapy and immunotherapy are different forms of cancer treatment. Immunotherapy pumps up your immune system to fight illness, as it also de-cloaks the cancer cells in her body and allows her white blood cells to begin attacking the illness. 

A lot of Friday and Saturday was spent sleeping and resting. She began experiencing some side effects, like fatigue, immediately while others crept in slowly.

Very common side effects of both Inlyta and Keytruda are as follows: 

1.    Fatigue
2.    Nausea
3.    Fever
4.    Chills
5.    Body Pain/Aches
6.    Weakness
7.    Vomiting
8.    Insomnia
9.    Headaches
10.Diarrhea
11.Dehydration
12.Decreased Appetite

Keep in mind that Bayer aspirin technically has more side effects than either Inlyta or Keytruda. 😀 

Tina is mainly experiencing the following side effects: Fatigue, Chills, Body Pains/Aches (mainly on her right side where the tumor is located in her kidney), Nausea, Decreased Appetite and Dehydration. Despite all of this, she has been extremely strong and is handling it well.

Sunday was the roughest day yet as she could not eat or drink very much. She also had some bad pain in her right side. She did feel much better Monday – she was able to keep down fluids and food – but she was still dehydrated. For this reason, she received an IV treatment for dehydration at CCI, as well as additional medicine for pain and stomach problems.

Tina, Tammy (her sister), and I made it out on Monday to two furniture stores. Tina is having some trouble finding a comfortable position; however, we found a recliner which has lower lumber support and will be able to help Mom find comfortable positions when she’s experiencing side effects. She’s very excited about it! Finally, she has a better chair than Will. 😉  We were very glad that she was able to get up and get out and about as well. Soon her "receiving" room will be prepared and we will be glad for visitors!

Tina is so thankful to be surrounded by her friends and family during this time. She appreciates all prayers, kind thoughts, cards, and support that come her way. We (her family) are also greatly appreciative of all of the support. We will continue to update this when we have new information on Tina’s treatments or if there are any important changes during this time. 

In Love and Light,

🙏 
The Wright Family