Chemo - Day 1

It's been a long but we believe successful day at LRCP (London Regional Cancer Program).

We started with blood work, and unfortunately the lab technician drawing blood said they weren't allowed to use the PICC line, so Dave got another needle. :( The good news is that we questioned this with the first nurse we spoke to and she said that only nurses are allowed to use central catheters and we can request that his blood work be drawn by nurses in the chemo suite instead of the blood lab. Now we know for next week.

We had a consult with the nurse and then Medical Oncologist to basically try to answer any questions we had. The doctor explained they're being very aggressive (as per our wishes) and because Dave is young and otherwise healthy. We're finding the discussions with the doctor are less stressful each time, mainly because we know he's doing his job, but God is in control.

The chemo treatment itself was administered intravenously over the course of about 5 hours and included 2 different chemo drugs, fluids, & anti-nausea meds. When they finished they hooked Dave up with the 3rd chemo drug which is administered through the PICC line 24/7 at home through a small bottle with a pump in it that he wears at his waist. He will go in weekly to have the pump changed, PICC line dressing changed, and blood work done.

Chemo for Dave will be in 3 week cycles, and will go for 4 cycles (12 weeks) with a possible pause in the middle for assessment. The first day of each cycle will be just like today and a full day at the clinic. Then he takes the rest of the meds at home through the pump and PICC line, and the pump gets replaced every week. After 2 cycles (6 weeks) they will do another catscan and re-assess their treatment plan to ensure the drugs are shrinking the tumors. The expectation is that they will add radiation treatment at the 6 week mark.

After we finished in the chemo suite, we stood in line at the Pharmacy to pick up a variety of anti-nausea drugs. Then we sat in on a 1 hour instructional class on chemotherapy, where they tell you what to look out for as far as fevers, nausea, mouth-care, etc...

The nurses were ALL awesome and took every opportunity to give us tips and instructions. We asked and they said that his hair would likely fall out in 2 or 3 weeks. Dave will probably shave it off before it starts to fall out. (Some students gave him a toque yesterday that says 'chemo sucks' on it. He's been wearing it around this evening!) A few nurses also said that hair usually grows back a different texture and curlier, and sometimes a slightly different colour. Hahaha! Dave used to have fire-engine red hair as a child, so we're wondering if it will revert to that.

While Dave was having his chemo, about 4 people rang a bell as they left and a group of nurses stood and clapped for them. They have a tradition when people finish their chemo, that they ring a bell as a sort of closure on that part of their treatment. (Felt a little 'East Side Mario-ish', but still kind of neat! Something to look forward to.)

This evening Dave is feeling OK and has been on the phone for the last few hours. He felt a little nauseous/flu-like after dinner, but he took a pill for that and it went away. (They say to take it immediately or it will only get worse.)

Cancer is essentially cells that are multiplying rapidly and out of control. The chemo basically works by destroying all fast growing cells - cancerous or not, which is what causes the side effects. Hair follicles are fast growing cells, which is why your hair falls out. The tissue in your mouth is fast growing as well and is easily damaged so it's important to use a soft toothbrush and special mouthwash regularly. Dave needs to take his temperature twice a day to check for fever and infection. It's a lot to take in, and we have a whole raft of new pamphlets and reading material to go through.

Tomorrow we have to get up early and head to Toronto at 6:00am for a 2nd opinion at Princess Margaret Hospital at 9:30. Pray for good driving weather. Positive news wouldn't hurt either! Tomorrow is also our 26th wedding anniversary! :) We're praying for many more!

I will leave you with a poem we read in the clinic today. (It was framed and hanging beside the pharmacy window.)

Val

CANCER IS SO LIMITED
It cannot cripple love
It cannot shatter hope
It cannot corrode faith
It cannot destroy confidence
It cannot kill friendship
It cannot shut out memories
It cannot silence courage
It cannot invade the soul
It cannot destroy peace
It cannot quench the spirit
It cannot lessen the power of the resurrection
It cannot steal eternal life!