Thursday, March 17, 2011

Luck of the Irish

Steven's counts came back great yesterday and the ICS unit was full which means he is able to start his next round of chemo today, but we had to wait for discharges before we could get a room. Which means he got to go to school again this morning. This was exactly what I was praying for. We are settled into the room and he's getting iv fluids to prepare him for round two of chemo. This drug is called methotrexate. It will be a 4 hour infusion and then he is given iv fluids withsodium bicarbonate that helps reduce the acidity and helps his body flush it out. We will be able to go home as soon as it is all the way gone from his system. The average stay is between 2 and 5 days. This drug will make him nauseated while it is in his system but shouldn't produce the same kind of delayed nausea we saw with the last drugs. It shouldn't bring his counts so low either. The side effect it has is the one I fear the most--mouth sores. There is certainly a range of reactions, he may be just fine. The sores usually start showing up in 5 to 10 days after he starts. We will get a feeling for how he reacts then. In the meantime, we are watching CNN and March Madness and waiting. Also, hoping that luck is with us and that the tumor fears this drug as much as I do.

9 comments:

  1. I'm so glad you got to go to a couple days of school. That was probably so fun. Good luck with this round of chemo. We're thinking about you, and we'll come see you soon.

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  2. Be afraid, tumor, be very afraid!

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  3. You and Alisa just amaze me Sonja. I admire your strength. You are a great mother and please let Steven know that we are praying for him. Trevor asks often how he is doing!

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  4. It was so good to hear all of your voices. Lindy is in South America right now, but when he gets back next week, he will give you a call. Keep fighting!!! We love you all so much.

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  5. I will have to bring those cards to Steven next week since we will be in Monticello this weekend... assuming, of course, that I survive the half marathon.

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  6. So glad you have had some luck today. We all hope for lots more. We love you all!
    Brent, Lindsay, James & Adam

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  7. I have it on good authority that tumors not only fear that drug, but absolutely hate it. Even the name causes them to shrink.

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  8. We are hoping and praying for the best case scenarios in all accounts. May the tumor run and hide forever! And may the mouth sore never show up.

    Love you all!

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  9. I'm glad Steven got to go to school. We're thinking of you guys.

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