Treatment is done!

Cycle number 14 was done last Friday. This was the last triple whammy and as has been the case, we still struggled with nausea Friday and Saturday. We tried the Aloxi and Zofran combo this time thinking that it might work but it didn’t quite do the job. By Saturday, Tim was able to keep some soup down and by Sunday was back to eating again. It was a quick recovery.

Tim concentrated on gaining weight the previous week and was able to get about 2 lbs on. Now it’s counts this Friday to see where his neutrophil count is and to see if platelets have started to recover. Tim did not get a shot of Neulasta this time. The logic is that since he doesn’t have another chemo to go through, there is no need to make sure his neutrophil count recovers in time for the next dose. One benefit of not getting the shot is that he avoids the bone pain that results when his bone marrow is boosted with the Neulasta. The disadvantage of course is that he will likely become neutropenic. Hopefully that does not lead to a hospital admission because of a resultant fever. We’ll have to monitor that closely for the next week.

Graduation is this week. For seniors school has been out since Friday. Tim spent his whole senior year undergoing chemo treatment. We are all glad that this phase is now over.

After this week, Tim will get a few weeks off and then we’ll go in for a series of MRI scans followed by the removal of the port. In between those, we’ll be on our way to Connecticut for the American Le Mans Series race at Lime Rock Park. This was Tim’s Make-A-Wish request and I’m glad he’ll be able to experience a trip, do some touring, and watch the car race.

--bob