At the rate Peg's filling back up with fluid, her oncologist wants to start right away to avoid getting in a cycle of having to do a paracentesis (draining fluid from her abdominal cavity) every few days. As the chemotherapy attacks the tumor cells, her body will start producing less and less excess fluid.
Peg says she's ready. Chemotherapy is no picnic, but she's looking forward to getting past this phase in her treatment and doing what all dragonflies do: change, grow and take on a new phase of life.
Chemotherapy goes in three week long series. There will be six of them, about 4 1/2 to 5 months total. Days 1 and two she's hospitalized overnight, then comes home. Day 8 she's hospitalized overnight again. Days 9-21 she's recuperating at home; the last 10 days here she'll probably be able to do fairly normal activities (like we've ever been normal...). Then the treatment cycle starts over again.
The first 24 hours is a slow IV drip of one kind of medication. She'll also have a paracentesis done tomorrow, so she'll be a lot more comfortable. She can walk around, visit and sit in a chair if she likes. They'll insert a "portacath" near her collarbone that will stay there for the entire course of treament. She already has an abdominal port that was placed during her surgery. Thursday they will introduce chemo through that port directly into her abdomen and through the portacath, and for that she'll be sedated to keep her comfortable. Friday or Saturday she'll probably come home.
They'll be monitoring her constantly and carefully for nausea, and are ready to keep that to a minimum with increasing levels and types of medications, which is another reason she needs to be hospitalized.
Her hospitalization will be different than what she just went through, so her needs will be different. Probably won't need the overnight care that was so important for her recovery from surgery. We don't know at this point when she'll want or need regarding visitors or phone calls. I'll have wi-fi access at the hospital and will update the blog as things unfold. Stay tuned... thanks.
3 comments:
Peggy, you are my hero. I am doubling up on the prayers and sending you all my strength that I can spare. Can you feel it? I hope so. Eric you are a blessing your in my prayers too. It is comforting to be able to check in without being intrusive. That you for the above and beyond effort. Love you all, Jeanne
Hi Peggy,
I'll be cheering for you! The last 10 days of each cycle seem like a great carrot to look forward to. See how it goes and maybe after the second or 3rd cycle, if you want a new face, I'll come up and visit you. Kyle leaves for University of San Diego in late August, so after that I am a free woman. I'll even tend your garden!
Love,
Lori
Just make sure it's not a porta-potty - peg you know how hospitals get mixed up now days.
Ernie
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