Getting on with Treatment!

After what seems like forever, I have completed all of the required tests and my treatment team has developed their initial treatment plan. I'll be starting with a round of chemotherapy and then this may be followed by a round of radiation therapy.

Chemotherapy

This round of chemotherapy lasts nine (9) weeks and is split into three (3) week sessions. The first week consists of a six (6) hour treatment and I receive two chemotherapy drugs; Cisplatin and Gemzar. During this treatment I also receive a number of additional things, such as a IV fluids, a steroid and anti-nausea medicines. During this treatment I sit there hooked up to an IV, so nothing is really required of me. During every amazing wife sits by my side and keeps me company, making sure I have everything I need. I couldn't do this without here.

During this treatment I have continued to work. I show up for my treatment in the morning with my laptop and 5G hotspot. Once I'm hooked up to the IV and the nurses have gotten everything started, I'm pretty much free to setup my laptop and work remotely for the day. Once every now and then the nurse will come over and switch out my drugs or tend to the fluids.

The treatment on the second week isn't so long, only about an hour or so. During this treatment I only receive Gemzar, along with some anti-nausea drugs. This treatment happens pretty late in the afternoon, so I don't work during it.

I have the third week off and receive no drugs. The series of treatments is fairly taxing on the body and things like your immune system become compromised. The week off from treatment gives your body a slight reprieve (I don't know if there is any other reason for the week off). This three week schedule repeats for the duration of the nine weeks, essentially making up three complete treatments during the what is called a round of chemotherapy.

Side Effects

I'm very often asked about the side effects. The potential side effects from chemotherapy drugs could fill up this entire blog and range from minor to major. I can only state what I know from my own experience. I consider myself lucky, I have experienced any major side effects from the treatments. The first couple days after treatment I feel like I'm in a bit of a fog and my stomach is somewhat upset (not to the point of wanting to vomit). I would describe it as feeling like a bad hangover. The only other side effect I've experienced is some pretty severe exhaustion. Like I said, this treatment seems to be pretty taxing on your body and your body's way of responding seems to be telling me to get some rest.

What's Next?

I'll be wrapping up chemotherapy very shortly, I am starting my final 3 week treatment this week. After that I believe I'll be taking some tests to assess what the chemotherapy has done to the cancer and then finalize a radiation treatment plan. As I get closer to that and know more, I'll be sure to write about it.