Friday = chemo teaching

Well, I'm not sure how much of the chemo teaching  was new for me, but I guess most of it was for Jeff. He was able to see what his port will look like.  Not sure if that helped or hurt! LOL! He  had questions for me afterward and then said "the port is bigger than I thought it would be." Well, it was smaller than I thought, so together we averaged about right.

 

I started a "cancer book" for Jeff and I. A place to write all the info as we get it. A place for me to keep track of how treatments go (okay, that is the nurse in me making my own chart) and to record questions for the next time we go in. But I didn't really write a whole lot in it this time- we were given pamphlets.  This will also be a place where I can make sure I share all that  I have with all of you! :)

 

One of the main things we found out at the teaching today (other than seeing the port) is that instead of the 2 days we were told we'd have to have on Tuesday, we now have to have 3 days of treatment in a row. The nurse walked out for something and I told Jeff that pretty soon we'd be there for a full week. He just laughed at me and said something about it just being 3 days. Then the nurse walked in with our schedule for the first treatment. Sure enough, he has to go back on the 4th day for a shot! I just looked at him and raised my eyebrow!  It will only take a minute to do and I joked about being able to do it myself but I'm sure that won't be allowed to happen. (something about liablity and it having to stay there and be dispensed from their pharmacy, ect.)  So, we are now up to 4 days in a row to be there. At least the 4th will only take a few minutes in the office but it is still the Lloonngg drive over there. I'm just so thankful that we are not having to go to Pittsburgh!

 

We are checking into having his between treatment blood counts checked at a local hospital. We figured Titusville because it is our hospital. But I called out to UPMC today to see about them doing it there since it is roughly 2 miles from Jeff's work. The person I spoke to in the lab was very friendly and said that was no problem to do it there and fax the results. So, I went out on a limb and asked about doing it through a port. Her response- call our cancer center. I figured why not. I wish I had a name of the nurse I spoke to there. She was SO NICE! I'd send a little note out thanking her. Anyway, UMPC will cooperate fully on getting blood drawn and sending results to the Dr. whether through his anticub in the lab or through the port in the cancer center.

 

On the way out the door after a blood draw today, we saw Dr. H in the hallway. He stopped us to talk to us and make sure we had everything okay and understood the schedule. He also mentioned that he got the results back on the chromosome test and (not suprising to me) the results came back indicating a more aggressive cancer. He is very glad that we opted to start therapy now instead of wait. He also said that after we get through this round of treatment, he may consult with a CLL specialist. I'm afraid to know where we will have to go for that. Jeff said if this keeps up, we may  have to get a brand new car for all the running. (a two seat hybrid with wonderful milage mabye??)  Wow! That would be a big deal for us! But so not worth going through all of this just to get a new car!

 

Since we are home and Jeff went to work, I sat down with the list of new meds he will be starting and got it ready to send in with him for work. The state physician will need to know all of this info. We'll see what happens with any time on the road as soon as he starts this. I'm pretty sure that he'll be stuck on station until sometime in the fall! I'm hoping I'm wrong because he'll go absolutely crazy with that, but I'm trying to be realistic.

 

Just the thought of 13-16 hours over three days sitting in a chair getting his chemo is driving him crazy. I told him I'll have to teach him to crochet or he'll have to use Clinton's DS. Neither appealed to him. I, on the other hand, will have no trouble sitting by his side reading!  We may have to take some games or something.  Not the setting or situation I'd like but time alone without kids can't be too bad, can it?

 

Next we see the surgeon on Monday and have the port inserted on Tuesday. Treatment will then start on Monday Feb 7.  Now that I have that plugged into my calander, I can make all the other plans I need to make.

 

Okay, that is it for now.