September 5, 2012

Roger settles in for Round 2

Roger visiting with neighbor Louis Bishop Sr. (pre-hair loss)

Today was round two of taxotere (the chemotherapy drug).  Appointment at 11:15 for lab, got right in for lab.  Phlebotomist had trouble finding a good vein, had to poke him once in each arm.  Visit with oncologist scheduled for 11:30, we saw the doc at 12:15.  Scan in August, before chemo, as a baseline, shows cancer has spread to lymph nodes in abdomen, new areas not seen in the  January/February/March or April scans.  But blood work was good for the taxotere infusion today. Roger still holding his own.  The "buzz" from the steroids has diminished, doctor explains the fatigue will likely get worse now, hair loss was earlier than most (usually occurs at/about 2nd infusion or 21 days) Roger's hair started falling out at/about day 10 after 1st infusion.  Nausea has been kept in check for the most part, some mornings he still vomits, (Roger will tell you he hasn't had much vomiting, but then I am the one who cleans it up and hands him a cool rag to wipe his face).  Doctor says if we've kept the nausea in check thus far, the pharmaceuticals we have (4 prescription and 2 over the counter) will likely still work, and likely will Not get worse.  So goes the talk with the onocologist, not great news but not horrible either. (except for the new spots of cancer).  The infusion was scheduled for 11:45 and we got in the lobby around 12:30 , and a seat .   was available by 1 pm in the treatment room.  It took 5 more punches and 3 nurses to find a vein for the IV port and the infusion finally got started by 2.  Infusion went smoothly, Roger felt more groggy than the last time (like I mentioned, the steroids are not providing the energy lift he felt at the start)  We were out by 3:30 and ate out at La Palmas before heading home.