Chemo Round One

We sure had a busy day today.  We got up around 5 and left the house a little before 6.  We stopped and ate breakfast at McDonalds in Republic.  We arrived at the Infusion Lab as they were opening.  It is the same place that we go to see Dr. Hoos in Springfield.  Steve got right in and had his blood work done.  Then we had to wait about an hour to see the nurse practitioner.  We met with Phyllis for about 30 minutes.  She re-explained his new medicines and about the possible side effects.  She also went over his blood work results.  The numbers were all good.  After that, we had to go to the waiting room again for about an hour. We were called back to the Infusion Lab.  Nurse Bill explained to us what to expect today.  He also accessed Steve's port.  When they put the needle in, Steve said it hurt so bad he almost crapped his pants.  Nurse Bill suggested that next time we ask for the local numbing agent that they put on an hour before access.  He said it really helped.  Wish we would have known about it this morning, but next time we will be sure to ask.

After the port was accessed and the sringe was in place we were taken to a parlor.  They have two:  one is a quiet  parlor and one is a tv parlor.  Steve chose the tv parlor.  The picture below shows how it is designed.  The blue recliners are for the patient and the pink ones in the middle are for their guests.  I lucked out and sat in a "card table chair" next to his blue chair.  We were in the corner and the first to sit in the tv room.  As you can see, he went straight for the remote.

Then in infusion began.  He had to have a huge bag of sodium chloride and potassium in first.  This took about 2 hours.  After that, they started with the actual chemo medicine.  He takes two:  cisplatint
and alimta.  The cisplatint takes about two hours to drip and the alimta takes maybe 20 minutes.  After he is finished dripping, they unhook him and gave him three shots through his port.  I believe they were nausea and benadryl.  When we got home he started his nausea medicine which he will have to take every six hours for the next four days.  He also started two new pills.  One he takes two times the day before, two on day 1 , and two on day two then it is finished until next round.  The third set is a tri-pack.  he takes the first one an hour before the treatment begins and then one a day on day 1 and day 2.  They consider the day of the treatment day 1.  We go  back to see the Dr. on the 28 for lab work and visit.  They want to make sure his levels are ok.  It also sets the standard for how low his levels drop after treatment.  They can then compare those numbers to his lab work before his next chemo.  This appointment is on July 8...round two.

Will keep you posted on his side effects and lack of side effects.  We, of course, are praying for no side effects.  Thanks for all the kind words, cards, and prayers for our success today.