December 14, 2006
My chemotherapy is going well.
The drug I’m taking is part of a research program being conducted by UT Southwestern and the University of Indiana medical schools. They are the only two institutions in the country who have access to it, and I’m only the third person at UT Southwestern to participate.
This particular drug has been proven to be highly effective in head and neck cancers, and now the drug company is expanding the application to esophageal cancer. The doctors I’m working with are over-the-top enthusiastic about it.
I had to jump through some hoops to qualify for the program, which consisted of enduring several diagnostic procedures, but I passed them all with ease.
My first round of chemo was last Thursday. This was what’s called a loading dose, meaning it was twice the usual amount. Other than some general achiness and headaches, which lasted only two days, I felt good. By the third day, I was back to normal.
Today’s dose was uneventful. I felt a little achiness this evening, but some TheraFlu fixed that.
I start the radiation treatments next week. While the chemo is administered only once per week, the radiation treatments will occur five times per week for about six weeks.
I’m continue to find bright spots along the way. One is that the doctors are continually concerned that I don’t lose any weight during the treatment. Let me repeat that: They don’t want me to lose any weight. Bless them! I knew if I searched long enough, I could find some medical authority to tell me that.
Another is the “very low likelihood” that I’ll lose my hair. The chemo drug may cause me to break out with acne like a teenager, but my hair will be staying.
I’m so pleased with my treatment thus far. The doctors have been wonderful. World-class experts to be sure, but the way they treat me is beyond measure. We truly are a team.
The drug I’m taking is part of a research program being conducted by UT Southwestern and the University of Indiana medical schools. They are the only two institutions in the country who have access to it, and I’m only the third person at UT Southwestern to participate.
This particular drug has been proven to be highly effective in head and neck cancers, and now the drug company is expanding the application to esophageal cancer. The doctors I’m working with are over-the-top enthusiastic about it.
I had to jump through some hoops to qualify for the program, which consisted of enduring several diagnostic procedures, but I passed them all with ease.
My first round of chemo was last Thursday. This was what’s called a loading dose, meaning it was twice the usual amount. Other than some general achiness and headaches, which lasted only two days, I felt good. By the third day, I was back to normal.
Today’s dose was uneventful. I felt a little achiness this evening, but some TheraFlu fixed that.
I start the radiation treatments next week. While the chemo is administered only once per week, the radiation treatments will occur five times per week for about six weeks.
I’m continue to find bright spots along the way. One is that the doctors are continually concerned that I don’t lose any weight during the treatment. Let me repeat that: They don’t want me to lose any weight. Bless them! I knew if I searched long enough, I could find some medical authority to tell me that.
Another is the “very low likelihood” that I’ll lose my hair. The chemo drug may cause me to break out with acne like a teenager, but my hair will be staying.
I’m so pleased with my treatment thus far. The doctors have been wonderful. World-class experts to be sure, but the way they treat me is beyond measure. We truly are a team.
posted by Explorer of The Universe at 10:26 PM
