first chemo finished
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September 22, 2009 at 9:12 pm
hurray ! we’re back home after alice’s first bout of chemo.
i made my entry short last night as alice was getting catheterized, and they seemed to have difficulty – well it turns out her body was not having that catheter and in the end the doctor said it was ok for her not to have it as long as she drank a lot and kept flushing so the chemo wouldn’t settle into her tissues.
so they gave her the chemo between 10pm and midnight, and she stayed hooked to the IV right up to 6pm today, for fluids, and “Mesna”, which protects the lining of her bladder.
the good news is that she has felt no nausea – of course that could come in a few days – but some patients feel nausea right away so this was a great surprise
she does feel some mouth sores starting (that’s one of the known side effects) but nausea is what alice was most worried about
the full effect of the chemo won’t be felt until 5-8 days : that’s when alice’s blood cell counts will be at their lowest – and in 5 days she will start her neupogen shots too
now this initial chemo is apparently done for 2 reasons : 1- to stimulate stem cell production (which will come out from the blood marrow to replace the destroyed cells) and 2- to stop any flaring of the disease before treatment
next step is lab work in 4 days, and then neupogen shots
hopefully alice won’t be feeling side effects for the coming days, and we’ll be able to go out for short walks to get some exercise.
i’ll keep you posted on anything new – for the next days no news will be good news !
🙂
(sophie)
a few pictures :
[IMG]http://www.alicedicroce.com/Alicesblog/photo_3.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://www.alicedicroce.com/Alicesblog/photo_5.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://www.alicedicroce.com/Alicesblog/photo_2.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://www.alicedicroce.com/Alicesblog/photo_4.jpg[/IMG] -
September 23, 2009 at 12:32 am
Hi Sophie and Alice,
I have been checking in with the forum several times today looking for any update. Thanks so much for taking the time to fill us in. It sounds so stressful and all consuming. But so far so good by the sounds of what you have written. I will continue with my prayers. Lots of love and positive energy to both of you. I have horses so I always involve them when positive energy is needed–they listen intently when I tell them things like what you are going through and then we have a little prayer circle. Kind of kooky I know, but it is very soothing to talk to them and they auras are very peaceful.
Laurel -
September 23, 2009 at 1:58 am
soon youll be posting pictures of alice in the “Bay to breakers” .
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September 23, 2009 at 9:57 am
Sophie,
With all that Alice has been through and more to come her journey has been a rough one.
She will be in my prayers to continue her journey with you at her side giving
her support.
Thank you for the updates and pictures.
Shirley -
September 23, 2009 at 11:51 am
Alice we are all there with you to help you move that mountain.
[IMG]http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/3356/faith.jpg[/IMG]
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September 23, 2009 at 6:03 pm
Thank you for sharing these difficult but wonderful events.
Prayers and Best Wishes! -
September 23, 2009 at 11:47 pm
Alice & Sophie
Thank you for sharing your story. Ryan and I have been keeping up with your story. Its so exciting to see what might happen. We are praying for remission for you. Ryan has been sick for almost a year now and it seems like a lifetime already. I pray that this treatment you are doing will be successful and will eventually be approved by insurance companies and available to the rest of us.
You give us hope. Thank you so much for being so brave and keeping us all informed. I feel like we are there with you. I cry everytime I read your post. I can’t explain why I get so emotional but I do. Probably because this past year has been hell for our family and especially for Ryan and I can’t imagine him or any of you having to deal with this for years to come. I try to focus on one day at a time.
So journey on with our prayers and good energy and change the future for yourself.
The rest of us will continue to pray for you and cheer you on.
Ryan and Rhonda -
September 24, 2009 at 7:18 am
Alice and Sophie,
Wow, Glad to hear everything is going well!
We are praying for its sucess:) –tim– -
September 24, 2009 at 7:44 am
thanks everyone for your heartfelt responses… i believe so strongly in the energy and power of thought– and i feel so much of it coming my way from you all. thank you.
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