SUNDAY JUNE 23rd, 2019
CYCLE 1 OF CHEMO IS OFFICIALLY COMPLETE!!!! 😁
Chris received the final two drugs of his 5 day chemo cycle today. The Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide) only took about an hour to infuse. Apparently it can be rough on your bladder, but Chris didn't have any side effects.
After the Cytoxan, Chris was pre-medicated for the Rituxan (rituximab) with Benedryl, Tylenol, and Hydrocortizone. The Rituxan is started at 50 mg/hr and is increased by 50 mg/hr every half hour or so depending on how it is tolerated. Chris did not experience any side effects until the infusion was at 300 mg/hr; and even then it was only a headache. Unfortunately, the headache worsened the longer the infusion went, but it was completed within about 20 minutes of getting to 300 mg/hr.
Chris's body tolerated the chemo phenomenally. The staff was pleasantly surprised by how smoothly it went. We are all hopeful that this will continue throughout the rest of the night.
Chris is feeling extremely fatigued after the completion of the chemo and has been resting for a couple of hours now. We're glad he's finally getting some decent sleep. His labs will be drawn again at midnight to check how well his cells are lysing and make sure they aren't lysing too quickly.
The oncologist also lowered his pain infusion this afternoon; first from 0.5 mg/hr to 0.2 mg/hr and then from 0.2 mg/hr to 0.1 mg/hr. So far Chris has not needed any "on demand" bolus of the pain meds. If this continues, the physician and pharmacist can work on an oral dosage that Chris could hopefully take if needed once he is an outpatient.
If everything continues to go well, they will be discussing letting Chris go home later this week!
Thanks for all of the love and support. It is truly, so overwhelming. We are so lucky to have such amazing family, friends, and co-workers.
V
P.S. Stellan came to visit Chris today. Check out the pic!
CYCLE 1 OF CHEMO IS OFFICIALLY COMPLETE!!!! 😁
Chris received the final two drugs of his 5 day chemo cycle today. The Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide) only took about an hour to infuse. Apparently it can be rough on your bladder, but Chris didn't have any side effects.
After the Cytoxan, Chris was pre-medicated for the Rituxan (rituximab) with Benedryl, Tylenol, and Hydrocortizone. The Rituxan is started at 50 mg/hr and is increased by 50 mg/hr every half hour or so depending on how it is tolerated. Chris did not experience any side effects until the infusion was at 300 mg/hr; and even then it was only a headache. Unfortunately, the headache worsened the longer the infusion went, but it was completed within about 20 minutes of getting to 300 mg/hr.
Chris's body tolerated the chemo phenomenally. The staff was pleasantly surprised by how smoothly it went. We are all hopeful that this will continue throughout the rest of the night.
Chris is feeling extremely fatigued after the completion of the chemo and has been resting for a couple of hours now. We're glad he's finally getting some decent sleep. His labs will be drawn again at midnight to check how well his cells are lysing and make sure they aren't lysing too quickly.
The oncologist also lowered his pain infusion this afternoon; first from 0.5 mg/hr to 0.2 mg/hr and then from 0.2 mg/hr to 0.1 mg/hr. So far Chris has not needed any "on demand" bolus of the pain meds. If this continues, the physician and pharmacist can work on an oral dosage that Chris could hopefully take if needed once he is an outpatient.
If everything continues to go well, they will be discussing letting Chris go home later this week!
Thanks for all of the love and support. It is truly, so overwhelming. We are so lucky to have such amazing family, friends, and co-workers.
V
P.S. Stellan came to visit Chris today. Check out the pic!
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