Day 8 of Cycle #1 of New Chemo

My apologies for not posting sooner. The past week, or so, we have been focused on watching Georges temp, and recuperating from the first round of the new drugs. The main symptom George experienced from the new drugs was overwhelming fatigue. The first few days it was hard for him to even get out of bed. Mid week he spiked a fever, and it was decided he would start another round of Cipro. He really dislikes the way the Cipro makes him feel, but it has kept him home and out of the hospital so that is good.
We also found out that next Monday, August 1st, the Stent will be replaced. The procedue will be at UCLA done by endoscopy. It's out-patient and he will be the first case that morning.

As I'm typing this, Dr. Wainberg came to say that Georges WBC is too low for him to get both Chemo's today. He is concerned that his counts will go even lower so he will get one Chemo today, and a daily Neupogen injection at home for the next six days.

By the way, next week will be an off week for Chemo due to the Stent replacement on August 1.

~ Donna

Staying Home

George has been doing better, and his temperature has stayed in a range that the Doctor is comfortable with, so he's letting him continue treatment at home. He will continue taking his antibiotics for the next 10 days, and if all is well he will get Chemo next Monday.
The Stent still needs to be changed, and Dr. Wainberg is working on the details for that endoscopic procedure.
We will keep you posted.

~Donna

Monday's Chemo Postponed

Yesterday didn't turn out as planned. We had a busy weekend, and George was tired upon starting the day. At 7:00 am, while getting ready to head out the door, George said he was cold, and started shaking. Not a good sign, so we checked his temp right away and it was 101.8. We decided to go ahead and head down to UCLA as we knew they could access the Port, draw labs and call the Dr for us. The fever continued low grade even after Tylenol, so when the Labs came back with elevated an White Blood Count George's oncologist suspected infection. The most likely cause is the Stent, as George's Liver enzymes were slightly elevated compared to two weeks ago. The goal is to avoid Hospitalization so we spent the rest of the day in the infusion center getting some extra hydration with fluids through the Port. The Dr. also started an oral antibiotic to start working on the infection. Dr. Wainberg decided that if the fevers stopped within the first 24 hours of starting the antibiotics we could continue treatment at home. The plan today is to keep checking his temp, if it goes back over 101 George will be admitted to UCLA for several days for IV antibiotics. At Noon today it went to the lowest point of 98.5 so we shall see.
We will still need to deal with the Stent issue. When the Stent was placed we were told it was temporary with an average length of time to be 3-4 months. It was placed in February so we have gotten 4 months out of it so no surprise it needs to be replaced. After the infection is treated we will get it swapped out as an outpatient procedure. If George does end up inpatient for antibiotics we will do it prior to being discharged.

For all of you here in LA you know that this weekend the 405 is being closed down from Friday night till Monday morning. UCLA sits right in that part of the closure and getting in and out will be a challenge. Our Dr's goal is to get us in and out by Friday afternoon so this will not be a problem. This weekend is also a very busy one for Donna at work, as CHLA is moving into a brand new Hospital Building. All the patients will be moved Sunday to the new units; months have been spent planning out this process. Our prayer is that George will respond to the Oral antibiotics and be able to recover at home. We will be taking it very easy the next few days and through the weekend so George's body has a chance to heal. Dr. Wainberg is still hopeful that George can receive the new Chemo next week if all goes well.

I'll post again later today as to the status of the fevers.

~Donna