Two down, one to Go!

August 12, 2008. All systems were a “go” today for Sam’s second-of-three Chemo treatments. We reported to the hospital at 8:30 am and like a well oiled machine, the nurses began the regimen: Temperature – okay; Blood Pressure – okay; Weight – 146 (up a pound – must be the picnic food); blood work done the day before was adequate and so he is cleared for Chemo.

Here comes Nannette, RN, with a needle and rubber strap looking for a vein – Whew, success! Finally, after an hour, the IV hydration fluids with anti-nausea drugs are underway. An hour later he’s wisked off to see Dr. Osborn, the oncologist.

Article on Dr. Osborn and Dr. Chen UPMC Cancer Center/Passavant Hospital:
http://www.mkmcopywriting.com/portfolio/marketing/200503-marketingarticle.pdf

Dr. Jennifer Osborn, a petite dynamo, is Sam’s Oncologist. From the blood work that was taken yesterday, and Sam’s vital signs today, Dr. Osborn determines the chemical cocktail Sam will receive later in the day. The main ingredient is a drug called Cisplatin.

For the Geeks: Cisplatin: An inorganic platinum agent (cis-diamminedichloroplatinum) with antineoplastic activity. Cisplatin forms highly reactive, charged, platinum complexes which bind to nucleophilic groups such as GC-rich sites in DNA, inducing intrastrand and interstrand DNA cross-links, as well as DNA-protein cross-links. These cross-links result in apoptosis and cell growth inhibition.

Cisplatin is approved to be used together with other drugs to treat squamous cell carcinoma - a cancer that begins in squamous cells, which are thin, flat cells that look like fish scales. Squamous cells are found in the tissue that forms the surface of the skin, the lining of the hollow organs of the body, and the passages of the respiratory and digestive tracts. Also called epidermoid carcinoma.

Dr. Osborn answered our questions about how and when to take all the different anti-nausea drugs and agreed with me that Sam has to work harder on his Nutren formula intake because he really needs the calories. Small victory for me personally, since I’ve been harping on Sam to eat more - I know he’s trying, but sometimes it takes a “white coat” to make an impression - well, the medical degree probably helps too.

Sam walks back, wheeling his IV drip, to Nurse Nanette and the pre-chemo meds are started. Shelly the dietitian stops by and raises her eyebrows when she learns that Sam is no where near the 4 cans/day of the Nutren formula that he should be taking. She suggests a night-feed drip, but we ask for a few more days to ramp up and she gives him a reprieve after he promises to work on that. Smart move on his part… she’s not kidding around.

After Sam finishes his lunch, another blood pressure reading is taken and Sam is finally approved to start the chemo at 1:00 pm. This process takes two hours intravenously. At 2:45 pm he receives an injection of Ethyol (a drug which is designed to protect kidney and certain other cells from radiation damage) and finally at 3:00 pm Sam is taken to Radiology.

We are finally home at 4:15 pm. A long day, but another milestone reached in Sam’s cancer battle. Two down, one to go Miss Killgalen. ("What's My Line,") Older people will get that one. Sorry, it's late and I’m thinking in clichés.

Maddy