Salvage Chemotherapy Cycle One
Mike started the first cycle of his new chemotherapy today. This regimen is inpatient due to some of the drugs being given over a 24-hour drip. So far, he’s tolerating the first agent well.
This Hospital Stay So Far
As I mentioned in the last post, he was admitted last Wednesday for low standing blood pressures and low kidney function. His kidneys are still slowly improving and his blood pressures have gotten far better. They’ll likely be taking him off the medication they were temporarily using to improve the blood pressure now that they’ve started the chemotherapy because he generally runs a bit high on chemo.
They’ve also kept Mike admitted for pain control. Because his disease has continued to spread/grow, his back has gotten immensely painful. After lots of trial and error, they finally got the pain under control yesterday and today he’s been able to get some decent rest. There should be an MRI scan today to get a better look at his back and bones.
Preparing for Transplant
After our visit to Duke, we shared an update telling you of our decision to go with high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplant (HDCT/ASCT). The current chemotherapy regimen is in preparation for the trip to Duke. Mike will get two cycles of the current standard-dose regimen (possibly three, but likely only two) here locally, following Duke’s protocol. This is to reduce the tumor load ahead of transplant so there’s less to fight off by the high-dose regimen he will receive there. We are also hopeful that these cycles will reduce his pain as his tumors respond and shrink. Please pray to that end.
So, as you can see, quite a bit has happened over the last 7 days and there’s more to come. We’re exhausted, to say the least. I’m especially tired. I have been beside the hospital bed of someone I deeply love for the better part of the last 6 weeks. Keeping my people alive is proving to be really hard work. God is giving me supernatural strength, but I’m still human. I’m no stranger to an emotional or spiritual meltdown, a comfort meal of grease and cheese, or some medicinal coffee to take the next step (or a night-cap to sleep!). I’m using healthy coping mechanisms such as exercise, sleep, and talking to others who’ve had similar experiences. I ask for prayer when I’m weary and weak and I take some solitude when I need it. I’m reading a lot of fiction and enjoying reading the Bible.
Specific Prayers and Needs
A dear friend whose husband is a healthy bone marrow transplant recipient encouraged me yesterday to remember to pray specifically and keep a prayer journal as a witness to God’s faithfulness. I’ll be honest, it’s been hard to pray specifically because my faith has been weak. I’m afraid to pray for miracles because I’m afraid God’s answer will be “no.” I’m scared of God’s sovereignty. There. I said it “out loud.” I haven’t admitted that openly until just now. I’m starting a prayer journal today despite my fears (or maybe because of them!). I look forward to sharing answers with you here soon.
People keep asking how they can specifically, tangibly help us. On our old health blog that went defunct, I said that I just don’t know what to ask for, and that’s still true. But I have come up with a few things that I can share here:
Some dear friends set up a GoFundMe. There will be lots of travel and medical expenses upcoming. Here’s the link: Help Mike Fight Cancer
Another friend set up a Meal Train. Here’s the link for that: Meal Train for the Wines
Here’s my favorite Keurig coffee. Coffee helps me do the standing and the walking and the words-putting-into-sentence-doing. (That was a Gilmore Girls reference for those who aren’t aware, lol!) Tully’s Hawaiian Blend Coffee.
Mike needs protein shakes to keep his strength up when he doesn’t have an appetite and they aren’t cheap. I also drink them when I don’t have time for a full meal. Here’s an Amazon link to our favorites. Mike likes vanilla best and I like vanilla and chocolate.
Chemo is dehydrating. Electrolyte powders help with that. Mike likes Liquid I.V. in just about any flavor (please, NO watermelon). Here’s an Amazon link. And here’s a Walmart Link.
Clorox Wipes are always needed. (The Clorox brand seems to work better than Lysol.)
Lysol Laundry Disinfectant is helpful for Mike’s “chemo clothes.” But I’m open to other similar products if you have one you use and love and would like to share with us.
Mike’s mouth gets extremely dry with chemo. He loves to chew gum when he’s awake to do it. He likes mint flavors.
Speaking of dry mouth, Biotene mouthwash really helps with that as well as with the chemo mouth sores.
Emesis bags are a priceless investment for home and our local hospital visits. The best ones we’ve found can be purchased on Amazon.
Please pray for miracles with us. Please pray for continued peace. Please pray for trust in God, no matter what. (Boy, that’s hard to ask for!) I’m leaving you with another song that has blessed me in the recent really hard weeks. I pray it blesses you, too.
