Third CT Scan and First Chemo (Regimen 2)

June 24

I'm at home on Day 2 of being infused with chemo on the Second chemo session of Regimen 2.  So what happened over the past two weeks:

First off, the results of the third CT scan to see if tumors were the cause of my fatigue, or was it a virus, blood issue, etc. Basically, the doctors could not see anything that would be causing my issues aside from the chemo regimen itself.  they had hoped to go at least one more session on the old regimen, especially as their had not been significant regrowth in my tumors.  Remember that the goal of the chemo session is to shrink/reduce the tumors or at least slow regrowth.  However, because of the serious issues I was feeling with fatigue and that I was starting to get more serious neuropathy with the first regiment, the decision was made to move on to the next chemo regimen.

I do want to stress that while there has been some regrowth in the tumors, I am nowhere near were I was in January.  The tumors are still smaller and less dense, but as the third CT scan results showed, they were starting to make a comeback.

The second regiment would be like the first, still using the Antivastin, and still three days of the 5-FU infused slowly.  The change would be to replace the Oxalyplatin with a new drug called Irinotecan.  Its side effect are more moderate, mainly diarrhea during the three day infusion which can be managed quite effectively through Immodium.  So no more increases in neuropathy (although it may take months for the effects of the Oxalyplatin to go away completely). Also, I may not experience the jaw pain that has plagues me on Day 2 of most of the first nine sessions.

So I got my infusion started, including a second blood transfusion because of low numbers in some of my blood levels.  What is still frustrating is the sweats I get in  conjunction with the chemo and the seem to last a long way into the night especially on Day 1.  They are not painful in any way, but having to change you clothing constantly is somewhat unpleasant.

In any case the second regimen went fantastic and essentially was like the fifth or sixth regimen under the first chemo plan.  The major fatigue, is gone, as is the jaw pain and I was able to put in some solid full day work for RSI. In a much better place which is great, as a lot of stuff has been going  on.

Graeme is growing like gangbusters.  He was well over 10 pounds at his one month session.  He is feeding well and is having no issues with the breast milk, nor is Karla having any issues with production.  When he poos, the whole house knows it as do the neighbors, I think, as he makes the loudest sounds.  His sleep patterns are generally very good but so far, four hours seems to be the maximum at on time.


We had a nice visit last weekend from my brother Jamie and his family. Isla was ecstatic at having her cousins around fro three days.  Jamie took Isla and Amaralis whale watching on one day and they saw over 30 humpbacks, some breaching which was very exciting.

Because the Vermont Steering Committee meeting is this Thursday, June 26th, we moved my chemo session to yesterday.  So far so good on the second chemo session of the second regimen.

Also, having fun watching the World Cup, Can't believe the US let in a goal in the 95th minute this past weekend, but I think sitting with a win and a tie after the first two games is better than expected.  Big game against Germany on Thursday.

So bye from a good place.  Will write a new blog soon.

Andrew