BROTHER'S SECOND CHEMO TREATMENT

Met my brother at the cancer center this morning.  He had already had his labs and was waiting to see the Medical Oncologist.  I was just in time.  The doctor was very encouraging and said that my brother was progressing nicely.  His labs were fine.  He has been using his tube for feeding and for liquid magnesium and potassium.  He also said that he would only have to have 3 chemo treatments and not 4 as he was originally told by the Radiation Oncologist.  That is good  news. 

He told the doctor that he gets dizzy and weak easily and that is probably from the low blood pressure he had been experiencing lately.  He is still not ingesting enough water and is dehydrated again.  So today he will be getting lots of fluids and chemo as well.

I stayed with him for about an hour then came home.  He is in a private room today as he will be doing a tube feeding at noon.  He is no longer swallowing food due to the taste buds being affected by the radiation.

Tomorrow he will be seeing his heart doctor and ask about his low blood pressure.  He then will be back at the cancer center for more fluids.

Today he had his 20th radiation treatment out of 35.

BROTHER'S 17th RADIATION TREATMENT

Drove my brother to the cardiac center this morning to have his pacemaker checked.  It is fine.  We then went to the cancer center where he had lab work done to see if he would be able to have his second chemo treatment today.  His magnesium and potassium numbers were fine but his white blood cells were still very low.  So all he received today was saline in his infusion - lasting an hour and a half.

He had a meeting with the nurse practitioner Rose and asked several questions which helped clarify what is expected of him to maintain his different blood levels.  She advised him to take a teaspoon of liquid magnesium and a teaspoon of potassium in 6 to 8 ounces of water and use as a flush into his PEG tube on a daily basis.  This will help to keep his blood levels up.  Rose expects that he will be able to take his second chemo treatment in about 5 days if his white blood cell count has improved.  This will push his treatment completion date by a week which will end on the same day as his radiation - October 16.

He asked if could take the flu shot and she advised to take it the third week after his next chemo treatment right before taking his third chemo.  She also cautioned about being in crowds or around people who have been exposed to others who have the flu.

We then went down to the radiation department for his 17th treatment. 

BROTHER'S SECOND CHEMO CANCELLED

My brother was not able to take his second chemo treatment due to his dehydration, low blood pressure, and he was in afib.  They are going to let his body replenish his white blood cells before any further chemo.  He received more fluids with magnesium and potassium.

He is still getting his radiation treatments.  Just had number 16.

APOPTOSIS

Apoptosis is when a cell commits suicide.

Scientists are trying to learn how they can modulate apoptosis, so that they can control which cells live and which undergo programmed cell death. Anti-cancer drugs and radiation, for example, work by triggering apoptosis in diseased cells. 

Many diseases and disorders are linked with the life and death of cells -- increased apoptosis is a characteristic of AIDS, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, while decreased apoptosis can signal lupus or cancer. Understanding how to regulate apoptosis could be the first step to treating these conditions.

BROTHER'S FIRST TUBE FEEDING AFTER 12th RADIATION TREATMENT

Lab results show that he does not have sepsis.  I guess the fever is just from the chemo.  I researched chemo fever and it is a disorder that usually means an infection is present.  Don't know what to think at this point.

Chemotherapy often leads to a reduced white blood cell count, called neutropenia. This condition causes the patient's body to be less effective at fighting off infection. Neutropenic fever is common in chemotherapy patients. Fever can indicate infection.

An infection or sepsis can happen at any time. However, when your body has very low levels of a certain type of white blood cell (neutrophils), your risk of getting an infection that can lead to sepsis increases. This condition is a common side effect of chemo called neutropenia.

He used his PEG tube for the first time with a protein drink.  He threw up when he tried to swallow it so agreed to use the tube.  He is still able to swallow with little discomfort.  However, his taste buds are starting to reject food.  His sense of smell has not yet been affected.  He'll get used to it in time as everything will have to go into the tube as the radiation kicks in.

He really should not be rocking. LOL

BROTHER RUNNING FEVER AGAIN - MORE LAB WORK

Met my brother at the cancer center today.  Had labs which showed he was dehydrated again so will be getting fluids for about 2 hours.  His nurse practitioner came and spoke to us and said that the fever is usually caused by the reaction the chemo is having on the cancer.  It's like they are in battle and I wonder who will win.

She ordered more blood work, urinalysis, and a chest x ray.  Will know results tomorrow.

She said that she wants him to receive fluids 2 to 3 times a week from now on.  I think this is a good idea as he will be getting a lot sicker when the radiation kicks in which should be in another week or two.

He now weighs 189 pounds.  Has gained back a few pounds since last week.

BROTHER RUNNING FEVER

My brother ran a fever that his nurse practitioner was concerned about.  She instructed him to go to the emergency room if it did not reduce with aspirin.  He took some Tylenol and it went down.

The next day his blood work showed that his potassium and magnesium were very low and he was dehydrated again.  So back in for more fluids.  This time he was there for over 4 hours.  I stayed with him till 4:00.  He was back home by 6:00 and feeling good.

Today he goes in for his daily radiation treatment and will drive himself. 

I encouraged him to eat some bananas to help with the potassium.  Not sure how much that will help but it couldn't hurt.  He admitted that he is not drinking the amount of water that he was told to drink which is 4 bottles a day.  He could use his PEG tube but does not want to at this time.  He does not seem to understand what his role in his treatment consists of.  This could easily be his undoing.

BROTHER HITTING THE BRICK WALL

His first chemo treatment made itself known about 5 days after receiving it.  He became weak and could not get the nausea under control.  Was not taking the meds as prescribed.  Had to go in for infusion.  They gave him saline, nausea meds, and steroids.  We were there all day.  He felt better and was able to eat once again.  He lost almost 10 pounds in one week.

His nurse practitioner ordered fluids twice a week as he is not hydrating at home.  I'm glad for this because he is alone all day and can not remember what he is to do.  Is now on 3 nausea meds and all the fluids he is receiving is keeping him feeling good and able to eat.

He is driving himself to the clinic once again.

I'm hoping he gains some of that weight back as he will lose more when the radiation kicks in which will be in a few weeks.