Cycle #5: Day 3

Fatigue kicked-in at around 2pm. Was still able to attend a family get-together but was definitely feeling the effects of the treatment. BP seemed to be normal. There was some nausea but it was adequately managed by the meds.

Cycle #5: Days 1 & 2

Received treatment for Cycle #5. Generally uneventful. Some slight burning when the dacarbazine was being administered but the addition of saline and a heating blanket on my arm took care of the discomfort. The CVD was ready quite quickly both days but the issue seems to have been the availability of chairs a/o nurses. Waited 2.5 hours Day 1 to be admitted and 45 minutes Day 2 to be admitted.

Cycle #4: Day 20

As I gear-up for Cycle #5 I am a little bit shocked about how well I feel. For the majority of this cycle I have felt strong, no nausea, no vomiting, huge/healthy appetite, and alert. I also still have all my hair. With the exception of the first four days, I have truly not felt like I was in the midst of a chemotherapy regimen. I think that part of this is the prednisone, but I can't imagine it accounts for all of it. Really wonderful. The cough continues to be held at bay by the steroid. The orthostatic hypotension is periodically and unpredictably troublesome, but I'm taking all the steps that I can to minimize it. It has truly been a spectacular couple of weeks. I think the last time that I felt this good was about 9-10 months ago.

Cycle #4: Day 5

As usual, fatigue and elevated blood pressure. No real nausea or vomiting. Nothing much to report.

Cycle #4: Days 1 & 2

I received chemo yesterday and today. This is, by far, the fastest their operation has even been. On both days the chemo was prepared before my arrival and as a result everything went very smoothly. Another patient brought in popsicles so we had a little popsicle party which was fun too. Nothing else to report.

Cycle #3: Day 21

A few things to report:

1. My cough has persisted in the way that I described before. It has maybe become a bit better but not overly so. When I cough something up, it is clear in colour, which is apparently good news. My doctors have put me on a small dose of prednisone to help with it. With the prednison, the cough has completely gone away. Hopefully the underlying condition will resolve shortly.
2. I had a CT of my head, chest, abdomen, and pelvis. Now I have a lot of tumours so it is not practical or meaningful for the radiologist to study every one of them, but overall the news is positive. Some nodules that appeared in my lungs 5 months ago (2 months before I even began treatment) appear smaller. Some additional bony lesions also look to have improved. A couple have also worsened but none threateningly so.
3. I had an MRI of my spine that shows no significant change from approximately 3 months ago. This result is most reassuring as even minimal worsening at the spine usually requires a major intervention and can have very serious consequences.
4. The lethargy that I have been feeling has extended a bit more into week 3 than it has in the past. I am still getting around doing things, but by the end of the day I am pretty zonked.