The Chemo Chronicles

I'm ba-ack.

Loyal Readers, it has been far too long (of course even a moment without your divine presence seems like a lifetime). Well, today I have another update for you, but before we get to today's news, let's do a quick recap.

As you know, Mom's chemo went well last week. However, she did suffer from nausea in the days that followed. We all know that the effects of chemotherapy are cumulative (and on the off chance you didn't know that, you know now), but the nauseousness was far more pronounced than before. In fact, Mom really only felt better today, just in time for more chemo. The good news is that Mom won't be taking that nasty drug (cisplatin) until her next cycle of chemo starts again (in 3 weeks).

So, onto today's news...once again Mom's blood work yielded positive results. Her hemoglobin, which was at 8.4 (if Mom dropped below 8 she was going to require a transfusion) is now 12.6. Now if I do my math correctly (and Your Faithful Correspondent always does do his math correctly...Dad is a CPA, you know) that's a 50% increase in hemoglobin levels. White blood cell and platelet (though Mom uses paper platelets when food isn't kosher) levels were good too.

We had a chance to talk to Mom's oncologist, Doctor Ann Mellott (which is an anagram for "Troll Named Cotton") prior to the chemotherapy and YFC has the skinny...Cotton...err, Doc Mellott, said that Mom would have no more than 6 treatments with the cisplatin. Since she gets that only at the beginning of her cycle that means she will receive no more than 3 more treatments of that no good nausea inducing drug (she can and likely will stay on the gemzar longer). Assuming Mom continues to make good progress (and I'm sure we can all agree that it's a pretty safe assumption), she'll stay on the cisplatin for a total of 6 doses.

Now I know what my loyal readers are thinking, "how do we know whether Mom's continuing to make progress?" Ahh yes, you're always thinking, aren't you? Well, Mom will have another CT scan after 2 full cycles of chemo (figure about 6 more weeks). In the meantime FoMmies, keep up with the prayers and the positive energies so that Mom's test result will be as good - if not better - than her last ones.

The chemo itself was a breeze. Mom takes to gemzar (today's drug of choice) like my sister takes to a sweet table at a Bar Mitzvah. Mom's hair continues to look as lustrous as ever (it's actually the cisplatin that causes the hair thinning/loss), which probably explains the longing glances that she received from the other chemo patients (of course the longing glances might well have been caused by the fact that YFC accompanied Mom to chemo today).

A quick update on My Sis Michelle (anagram: Chisel Me Slimy)...she's all signed up for the cancer walk (mad props go out to Dad for his triple digit donation). If you'd like to sponsor Michelle on her walk you can follow this link: http://www.lustgartencommunity.org/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?&pid=272&srcid=252&frsid=2096

Finally, I must rebuke you. Well perhaps not all of you, just those of you that deserve a good rebuking. As previously explained (*ahem* several times), YFC sends these e-mails out from Mom's e-mail address, so when you respond to these updates, Mom gets to read your replies. And Mom really loves to read replies. However, some of you seem to think that it's great to read these updates, but don't send Mom back words of encouragement, feedback, electronic gift cards, etc. And for those of you who this applies to (don't worry, I'm sure this doesn't apply to you) I can only say "for shame!" So, to get off the naughty list, please do reply to this e-mail, or the next update might just come with a nasty computer virus attached.

Well, I've said my piece. Until the next time loyal readers I bid you a pleasant week.

Faithfully,
Corey