Protocol put off for a day - going into tomorrow 24/7 X 5 days.

I just love when doctors make promises like, "I'll call you tomorrow." I'm sure they have good intentions but I don't think those kind of promises are usually kept. 

I fell asleep this afternoon, worried I might miss him. His nurse called to see if I'm ready to get started. I am just so dead tired, painful muscles, etc.... I just want to feel better. I'm hoping this does the trick and I'm also hoping I'm not trading one set of issues for another. 

The protocol is called EPOCH for these 5 days. When a person first starts chemo that kills off cancer cells quicker at first, it can be very toxic, especially to the kidneys. That is why they slow down the rate of giving some drugs and use a lot of hydration. My kidneys also didn't like the clinical trial drugs so they are being very cautious. 

I'll be checking into Anshurz Cancer Hospital tomorrow afternoon. The nurse encouraged me to bring things to make me comfortable. Books, own jammies and comfy things, blankets and special pillows. Just no big electronics like coffee machines. I told my kids that all I want are fruit/veggie smoothies and juices when they visit. 

Constipation and nausea are the biggest complaints. She encouraged me to get up and structure my day like normal - take a shower, maybe take a walk around the floor, eat what I normally eat. How interesting about that - they would be fine with me eating cheeseburgers the whole time. They even have a refrigerator on the floor for the patients to bring in their own food. Sounds like a 5 day vacation. 

After this, I will go to a more local hospital in every 21 days for a day of chemo, which is a pretty standard schedule. She thinks I'll be on Brentuximab and CHP. Again, I'm too lazy to look up what they all mean right now. I should get that infusion 5 times with a PET scan in the middle and end to evaluate. 

While explaining this all to the precious grandkids this am, I was able to be hopeful that this can actually make me better. I explained I may have to go through some tough weeks, but it would be worth it to feel better. The girls were aghast that I might be a bald Nama as part of it all. (-;

I'm hopeful, exhausted, and appreciative that I have so many caring, wonderful people in my life. Thank you all for understanding that I just can't sit on the phone except for what is absolutely necessary right now. It wears me out even more. 

Onward and upward!