Derek underwent his first round of chemo today. He started his pill regimen at home. I accompanied him for his first IV session at the Bartlesville Cancer Center. The whole event (seeing the doctor, IV for all of the pre and post meds as well as the actual chemo drugs) took almost 6 hours. He did also have an "IV malfunction" during the chemo drug drip where the drug leaked out of his vein into the surrounding arm tissue causing a big fluid swelling. He had to have a special drug injection to counteract the leak---all is better now, but he has to go in briefly for the next 2-3 days to get his arm swelling checked. (Never a dull moment.) Other than that, the session went fine. Watching stuff drip for 5 hours is ALMOST as bad as watching paint dry-ha! We were there over lunch so we dined on fast food (yay- way to be "healthy"). Derek currently feels fine so far, just tired. A few other interesting sensations - like a sensitivity to sour, but nothing else major. Gary just arrived successfully from Indiana. So we will be relaxing and visiting and likely going to bed early. So, we have successfully gone through IV treatment #1. Only 7 more to go. The next one will be in 3 weeks. Derek will go back to the doctor on Monday for a follow-up to evaluate how he is withstanding the chemo. All the rest of the family is doing well. Zach did a great job cutting circles today! He also reported he sang a song about the days of the week in music class that used drums and a guitar. Ash ate a huge dinner- dining on Italian style zucchini and apple spice baby yogurt. YUM!!!
Monday, August 24, 2009
Chemo: Round 1
Derek underwent his first round of chemo today. He started his pill regimen at home. I accompanied him for his first IV session at the Bartlesville Cancer Center. The whole event (seeing the doctor, IV for all of the pre and post meds as well as the actual chemo drugs) took almost 6 hours. He did also have an "IV malfunction" during the chemo drug drip where the drug leaked out of his vein into the surrounding arm tissue causing a big fluid swelling. He had to have a special drug injection to counteract the leak---all is better now, but he has to go in briefly for the next 2-3 days to get his arm swelling checked. (Never a dull moment.) Other than that, the session went fine. Watching stuff drip for 5 hours is ALMOST as bad as watching paint dry-ha! We were there over lunch so we dined on fast food (yay- way to be "healthy"). Derek currently feels fine so far, just tired. A few other interesting sensations - like a sensitivity to sour, but nothing else major. Gary just arrived successfully from Indiana. So we will be relaxing and visiting and likely going to bed early. So, we have successfully gone through IV treatment #1. Only 7 more to go. The next one will be in 3 weeks. Derek will go back to the doctor on Monday for a follow-up to evaluate how he is withstanding the chemo. All the rest of the family is doing well. Zach did a great job cutting circles today! He also reported he sang a song about the days of the week in music class that used drums and a guitar. Ash ate a huge dinner- dining on Italian style zucchini and apple spice baby yogurt. YUM!!!
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WOOHOOO!Hooray for a successful first round! Take THAT cancer! Zach, of course, will not only rock circles but even complicated polygons...I see it now. Also...will Ash share his dinner next time?
ReplyDeleteHi Tommi and Derek and guys: We are really happy to hear that Derek made it through the first Chemo session. Sounds like the IV insertion gang needs a refresher course. In any case we hope the swelling clears well. We are glad that Grampa Gary arrived safely.
ReplyDeleteHugs for all.
Love,
Gramma P and Grampa R
COngratulations Derek, hopefully all the others will be as easy as this one seems to be. We are looking forward to get our gang together with yours again, just let us know.
ReplyDeleteRosa and the Lewis