Todd's Journey

The date is set! December 6th will be the day that I have my new CT scans and bloodwork done to determine whether or not the 4 cycles of chemo have successfully stopped the growth of my cancer, or even shrunk some of the tumors.

The results of these CT scans and bloodwork will determine which forks in the road of this journey we will head.

We will either continue forward with radiology treatments, go for more chemo or immunotherapy, or have to look at bladder removal. The results of these tests will determine the journey forward. Obviously I am hoping the chemo has been working for me, but I have learned with cancer, there are no guarantees.

Cancer is a horrible disease that fights me as much as I fight it.

Let's hope shortly after December 6th, the results show we may have won this battle, and keep moving to winning the war.

I had a new support friend today join me for Chemo. Her name was Annie. She was wonderful.!

Talked with my medical oncologist today. He said I was good to go for Cycle 3 of Chemo tomorrow, but have to have a blood transfusion on Friday morning to bring my hemoglobin up a bit. He also put me on a five day program (shots every evening) to help me with my neutraphils and white blood cell numbers.

He has ordered a new CT scan in four weeks to take a final look at how the Chemo has affected my cancer (shrunk it, stopped it from growing, etc.) He suggested I may even be a candidate for a clinical trial of new cancer therapies.

I may be able to have at least of my nephrostomy tubes removed soon. He is going to talk to my urological oncologist. That would be an awesome step forward, so am keeping my fingers crossed for that word.

That's it for now. Making good progress.

Got my latest urine culture back and it appears that I have a new, and different, bladder infection from before. This is not uncommon since I am undergoing chemotherapy and my immune system is weakened, so I am more succeptible to infection.

I will have to wait until my urological oncologist decides what antibiotic I should take for this infection.

A bit of a set back as I was hoping to clear up all bladder infections but I guess I'll just have to wait.

Well, just completed Chemotherapy Cycle 2. Seems as though this session was a wee bit easier on me than Cycle 1. That could mean the adjustments they made to my chemo meds helped, or it could mean that the chemo is working which is slowing or stopping the cancer growth.

I have a little less fatigue this time, but a bit more nausea than before. The fatigue seems to be shorter lived and I get my energy back a bit quicker. The only other, annoying, side effect I am getting is the occassional shaking of my hands, making it a bit tricky to use my hands or lift things.

They say over time, if the Chemo is working, the cancer should stop growing or even shrink in size, which will result in my feeling better as the symptoms from the cancer reduce.

So fingers crossed that the meds are working. :o)

Chapter 7 of my Journey update.

All my blood counts have recovered nicely, so Chemo Cycle 2 is a go tomorrow. Next session will be next Thursday, October 19th. Good news overall.

Small change to my chemo plan. Today my neutrafils (white blood cells) were too low to withstand a chemo treatment, so my session was pushed back by one week. By next Thurs they expect my neutrafils will be good to go. Overall it only pushes my overall plan by one week.