Day 1

It is actually the day after day 1. I was a bit too tired yesterday to write anything. We left the clinic after 5:30.

We arrived at the clinic before 8am and were brought back to the area for the treatment around 8. I might add that getting me into and out of the car being in a wheelchair puts a lot of work on Ellen. Couldn't do any of this without her. So trips take a bit of time and planning. And she stayed all day except for going to get us lunch! The good nurse Toni went through the procedure completely. Checked vitals and got a medical history. She then pierced the port to go to the next step to hook up the ivs.

The first drug given was a dose of Benadryl to help prevent allergic reactions. Must have been a stout one since I dozed for a long time! After that came the monoclonal antibody. 

"Rituximab is an antibody directed against the CD20 antigen, a protein located on normal and malignant pre-B and mature B lymphocytes (white blood cells). Rituximab triggers an immune response from the patient against CD20-positive cells."

I was drowsy but I think it was supposed to take about 4 hours. It took longer because I had an asthma attack. I don't think it was from the drug. At times I have what I call "positional asthma", I put my body in a position it doesn't like and it comes. I think it is due to a bad angle between my chest and neck. Anyway, this caused a delay of at least an hour before the monoclonal could be restarted. They gave iv steroid during that time. After that, things proceeded normally. The remaining drugs were given in sequence. The longest took an hour or so. As I told one friend: "They give you stuff and then stuff to counteract the side effects of the stuff they gave you." included were medications to help prevent nausea. So far no nausea. The last drug of the day was doxorubicin. It came home with a pump to be administered over a 2 day period. Then we go back to remove the pump and get a shot to help stimulate the white count. One of the side effects of these medications is to inhibit cell division. Of course, you want to inhibit the division of cancer cells but it also inhibits the division of normal cells. So your immune system takes a hit. Red cell and platelet production also take a hit which can cause anemia and problems with blood clotting normally. The hookup.

The pump.

I would call it a successful treatment. I don't feel any bad side effects at this name. Oh, I forgot the five days of 100 mg of prednisone I have to take. My body is not overly fond of it. That is one reason I am awake right now and writing this. Please ask any questions you might have in the comment section. I would like this blog to help folks understand what goes on here either for themselves or their loved ones.