Tuesday, October 7, 2008 3:29 PM, CDT

Hi Guys,
I have round one under my belt and so far so good. I had the chance to discuss possible side effects with my nurse practitioner on Wednesday so I’m prepared!
As I mentioned in an earlier post, I’m still on the Avastin and have two new drugs that I’m using: Irinotecan and Cetuximab. My total infusion time on Wednesday was five hours because I needed what they call a “loading” dose of the Cetuximab which I believe was two hours. From here on out the Cetuximab will only take one hour.
My infusion times will be shorter as I move forward and I won’t be receiving all the drugs every time I go in. The drugs can’t be infused at the same time. My nurse hangs one bag and the drug drips through my i.v and then when that one is done, another one is hung.
My schedule will look something like:
Week 1: Irinotecan, Cetuximab and Avastin (first time infusion time five hours)
Week 2: Irinotecan and Cetuximab (2.5 hours)
Week 3: Irinotecan, Cetuximab and Avastin (3 hours)
Week 4: Irinotecan and Cetuximab (2.5 hours)
Christine mentioned that I might go four weeks on and two weeks off but no one has confirmed that.
I shouldn’t have any hair loss on this new protocol, which is good because I didn’t lose any on the last one either. The two big side effects I have to worry about are lower GI issues and a heinous acne like rash that could break out on my face, neck, chest and back.
I have some Imodium for the stomach issues and some antibiotic cream for the rash. I wanted to know what else I could do to try to keep my face clear of this rash. When I met with Dr. Walsh a few weeks ago, I tried asking him three different times about face creams and cleansers and he just wasn’t getting it. I only had to ask Christine once and she knew exactly what I was asking! She and I then had quite a “girly” face care conversation. Talk of face cream then led to a fairly lengthy makeup conversation. I wondered how happy Dr. Walsh would be if he knew that we spent a good chunk of my appointment time talking about cosmetics!
Aside from the Imodium and the antibiotic cream I am also taking Motrin, Pepcid (to counteract the stomach issues from taking Motrin), Zofran (for nausea), and Tessalon Perles (for my cough). I’m wondering if I should get myself one of those little plastic containers marked for each day of the week so I can keep my meds straight! J
It’s early to talk about scans yet but the tentative plan is to check on my progress in Late November/early December.
I hit a bump in the road over the weekend. I’ve felt lousy all of September and ran a low-grade fever for most the month. I started to feel really sick on Friday and by Sunday night I was running a temperature of 102. Technically I’m supposed to seek medical attention when it hits 100.5 but I really didn’t feel like dealing with the ER. However, by 11:00 Sunday night, I needed to see a doctor.
Thank God my blood counts were good so I didn’t need to get admitted. They ran a few test and did some chest x-rays. The ER doctor gave me an infusion of antibiotics and a prescription for more.
Side note: Do you remember when I told you about my last trip to the ER and the crazy lady who crashed my gurney into a few walls on the way up to my room? Well, she was in the ER again Sunday night. And……she crashed an elderly man’s wheelchair into a wall and later slammed an empty gurney into a wall. At least there’s usually a source of entertainment when I’m there.
I followed up with Dr. Walsh yesterday who gave me another infusion of antibiotics and a prescription for another antibiotic. Now I can add the two new antibiotics to my list of meds.
And my favorite thing that Dr. Walsh set me up with yesterday was my very own oxygen tanks! Yes, oxygen tanks…are you joking?????? Does he really think I’m going to use them? My blood oxygen level was as low as 86 yesterday so he set me up. Yup. I’ve got an oxygen machine, a backup tank and my favorite?? Portable tanks. You know, for when I’m out and about. Instead of using them for medicinal purposes, I might try to go all California and set up my own Oxygen bar on my deck. Anyone up for that?? It was all the rage in Hollywood a few years ago….
I’m better now and wondering if I’ll get treatment tomorrow. We’ll see what they decide to do tomorrow.
Thank you Heather Tarrantino for dinner last week; it was delicious! Thank you to the Pomeroys for feeding us Friday night. And thank you to the Etzels for our meal last night. The fruit was the first thing I ate in a few days—it was delicious!!! The meals are a huge help.
And speaking of meals……Sandy Bosnakis and Lori Quinn you two women are single-handedly feeding Greg’s ego. And I’m the one who has to deal with it!! J
Tina McAndrew was brave enough to come into my basement and help start my massive clean up. I seriously wish I had taken a before and after picture. We only worked two hours but got more accomplished in that time than I have in a few years! Yay! I mean you can actually walk around down there.
Thank you so so so much to Marina Valentine for taking Lauren yesterday morning last minute so Greg could take me to Dr. Walsh. You were a life saver.
Thank you to Greg for taking care of me and keeping the house running while I was down and out.
And of course, thank you to my Mom who came to take care of me on Sunday night and then stayed with the kids until we got home from the ER at 3:30!
Happy Birthday to my sister Kerry!
I’ll update you soon!
Love,
Kim