Cycle 2: Chemo Update

Joe made it through his first Chemo treatment of Cycle 2 yesterday easily.  He was there at the Oncology Clinic at Duke early, as usual, in hopes of getting in and out quick, but as is usually the case, he got in before his time, but didn't get out until later.  His lab appointment was for 7:30 and he arrived a little after 7am and was called back to have his blood drawn prior to 7:30am.  However, that's the only thing that was early or even on time.  I kept track of him via text message all morning and his 8:15am oncology appointment didn't happen until 9:30am so he didn't get out of the doctors office until a little after 10am and then had to scoot upstairs for his Chemo treatment.  That appointment was for 9:15am and he didn't get up there until around 10:10am.  He texted me at 10:15am that he had settled down in the treatment waiting room and had hot chocolate & his cookies so even though he was very late, that seemed to make him happy. They called him to the back to start his infusion around 10:45am and by 11am he was hooked up to the IV and ready to get started.  We texted throughout the treatment and around 11:45am he was all done, unhooked from the IV and on his way out.  Apparently the hospitality lady didn't come around during his treatment so he helped himself to some orange juice on the way out.  If he had just let me go with him, then I could have gotten it for him during the infusion rather than waiting until it was done.  The good news this week, once again he has put back on a little weight, gaining 2.1 lbs in the past 2 weeks since his last appointment.  YEA!

After this cycle, he will have scans done on the 13th of June to see what the status of the tumor is.  Got my fingers crossed that it has shrunk some or at the very least, and I mean very least, hasn't grown any!!

Joe's spirits have been good this week and he has thus far felt good.  He had some trouble sleeping last night and had to get up during the night to take a pain pill, so hopefully tonight he will sleep better and feel a little more rested tomorrow especially since he will have choir practice tomorrow night.

Next week, his treatment will be on Tuesday because of the Memorial Day holiday on Monday.  The nurses have already warned him that it will be extremely busy as they are going to be trying to get the Monday & Tuesday people all done in one day.  That should be exciting, huh?  At least this time I'll be with him.