Well, actually, it's "Let's spend the week at MD Anderson". I had to go in on Monday to get my blood typed and matched for a blood transfusion Dr. Shah ordered based on last weeks hemoglobin. Tuesday this week was the first time they could get me in for that. Jackie took me, but it was deceivingly a short visit as the week gets longer.
Tuesday Kathi takes me in for the supposed 2 hour blood transfusion. Appt 12:00pm, completed at 5:30pm. CBC indicates platelets are 40 (which is very low, 70 is the lowest margin Shah will use for me (anything lower than 100 is not good). So I know I won't get Topotecan on Wednesday, should be short day. Aranesp shot received.
Wednesday platelets are 26 (oooooh that's low) Needless to say, No Topo today. I did get Avastin, however. Appt time was 1:30pm, we managed to be out by 3:30, but now I need to go back on Friday for a Platelet transfusion. Never had one of those, but it sounds like I've reached a low.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Wed, Mar 21 - Chemo Week - Success
Scheduled and received Topotecan this week. Platelet counts were 70K, a little low, but they tend to push the envelope for me. That is all that I was scheduled for, so that was all I got. My sister-in-law Colleen took me. I ate pretty good today, considering. I had somewhat of a Panara's soup and sandwich. Not much by most people's standard, but I got some real food in me.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
What is a Liver Stent? Biliary Obstruction?
I often get asked these questions, so, for those of you that want to know, here is a Q&A
BILIARY OBSTRUCTION - A blockage of the bile ducts can occur by a stone, tumor, pancreas (pancreatic tumor or swelling), bile duct inflammation, bile duct cysts, trauma, bile duct stricture, or enlarged lymph nodes in the area. When bile duct obstruction occurs, bile accumulates in the liver and jaundice develops due to the accumulation of bilirubin in the bloodstream.
how this was resolved 2/08/07 - or attempt at resolving obstruction via
Intervention Radiology Liver Stent
http://www.radiology.uiowa.edu/iowaendovascular/site/StentPlacement.html
BILIARY OBSTRUCTION - A blockage of the bile ducts can occur by a stone, tumor, pancreas (pancreatic tumor or swelling), bile duct inflammation, bile duct cysts, trauma, bile duct stricture, or enlarged lymph nodes in the area. When bile duct obstruction occurs, bile accumulates in the liver and jaundice develops due to the accumulation of bilirubin in the bloodstream.
how this was resolved 2/08/07 - or attempt at resolving obstruction via
Intervention Radiology Liver Stent
http://www.radiology.uiowa.edu/iowaendovascular/site/StentPlacement.html
Wed, March 14, 2007 - Chemo Week
Numbers were pretty good today. Platelet count = 133. Was able to have Topetecan and Avastin (although protein is still found in urine, it is 2+ rather than 4+ last week. Also received anti nausea medicine that should last 5 days. Still trew up 3+ times today. Trying desperate to hold some food down and put some weight one (believe it or not). Still experiencing pain at wound; had new ostomy applied today at ORMC. Thank you Debbie King for accompanying me today!!
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Wed March 7 Chemo Week/Visit wtih Dr. Shah
platetes too low for Topetecan (38K)
too much protein in urine for Avastin so both are held
given Aranesp for low RBC
PT/INR=1.7, need to be taking coumadin 1mg nightly
Potasium low - take 40mg twice today
Dr. Shah -- still on wait an see; don't yet if treatment is working but we are handling each issue as it comes along. Given nasea med that is good for 5 days and have finally for the first day it what seems like week, able to hold on to some food and liquid.
still lots of pain around stent area making it very difficult to walk.
too much protein in urine for Avastin so both are held
given Aranesp for low RBC
PT/INR=1.7, need to be taking coumadin 1mg nightly
Potasium low - take 40mg twice today
Dr. Shah -- still on wait an see; don't yet if treatment is working but we are handling each issue as it comes along. Given nasea med that is good for 5 days and have finally for the first day it what seems like week, able to hold on to some food and liquid.
still lots of pain around stent area making it very difficult to walk.
A Basic Recap of this 2007 Journey to catch yall up
Lots of folks know different levels details. I'm doing a high level recap and then slow but surely may go back to other specific entries which may require a history for myself (like when is the last time I took Topotecan vs Avastin Vs Aranesp.
Thank you for all your thoughts, prayers and concerns. It's been rough. Finally I got online today to try to get the blog site going again. In summary, I had found out that the 6 weeks of RAD to the pera aorta that ended in August 2006 did not quite do the trick as I had mets to the liver (3 nodules) and some lymp node involvement around the pancreas found in Nov 2006 scans. I went for a 2nd opinion to MDA Houston. Nothing came out of that. Decided to stay home with MD in Orlando starting a 6 month Topotecan/Avastin therapy. The Topetecan dosage has had to reduced at least twice, and I am rarely ever to get the three in a row they would like to see, before taking a one week break. My hemoglobin is quite low hanging around 92. My platelettes tends to plummet with the Topetecan which causes them to hold the treatment off. I also had several blood transfusions in January. Actually, I have spent a lot of time in the hospital this year. The most significant event that has occurred however is that my liver began to fail drastically (bilirubin = 19 should be between 0.2-2.0). They found an obstruction and built me an external stent. Very uncomfortably in many ways. Have had to have it changed twice due to excess leaking at the skin. Added an ostomy to that twice this week. Still on trial and error to find what works best. I'm immobile. I've been vomiting and have lost 20 bolds in 3 weeks. Finally today however I have actually put some food in my tummy and feeling a little bit better. Still a whole new life in which I feel I am riding backwards, as I do not have any idea as to what is next. I've got through end of April for the treatments, then I guess we will take it from there!!!
Thank you for all your thoughts, prayers and concerns. It's been rough. Finally I got online today to try to get the blog site going again. In summary, I had found out that the 6 weeks of RAD to the pera aorta that ended in August 2006 did not quite do the trick as I had mets to the liver (3 nodules) and some lymp node involvement around the pancreas found in Nov 2006 scans. I went for a 2nd opinion to MDA Houston. Nothing came out of that. Decided to stay home with MD in Orlando starting a 6 month Topotecan/Avastin therapy. The Topetecan dosage has had to reduced at least twice, and I am rarely ever to get the three in a row they would like to see, before taking a one week break. My hemoglobin is quite low hanging around 92. My platelettes tends to plummet with the Topetecan which causes them to hold the treatment off. I also had several blood transfusions in January. Actually, I have spent a lot of time in the hospital this year. The most significant event that has occurred however is that my liver began to fail drastically (bilirubin = 19 should be between 0.2-2.0). They found an obstruction and built me an external stent. Very uncomfortably in many ways. Have had to have it changed twice due to excess leaking at the skin. Added an ostomy to that twice this week. Still on trial and error to find what works best. I'm immobile. I've been vomiting and have lost 20 bolds in 3 weeks. Finally today however I have actually put some food in my tummy and feeling a little bit better. Still a whole new life in which I feel I am riding backwards, as I do not have any idea as to what is next. I've got through end of April for the treatments, then I guess we will take it from there!!!
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