gemcitabine – Path 2 Well-Being

I started my second cycle of chemotherapy this morning with two hours of hydration, anti-nausea drugs, and gemcitabine. In order to qualify to receive the gemcitabine, I had to produce more urine. The nurses have been collecting my urine all day to insure I was fully hydrated. So don’t say to me, “You don’t have a pot to pee in!”

Now rather cisplatin is dripping and I’ve been thinking about the wonderful three days we had in Carmel on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. We spent most of our waking time in beautiful Point Lobos and eating. Mala would walk around town when I rested.

The most unsatisfying news today I had was that my white cells blood count is low. Now I have come in for three days of neupogen shots to increase my white blood count.

Visitors were plentiful and I enjoyed them all. Judy came with news of her trip followed later by Mala with lunch, Jane with grapes, and Carolyn.

Carolyn walked with me on the path to catch up with Mala who was walking with Jane and her dog.

I was happy and grateful for the company and the end of the first treatment in the second cycle.

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On January 16 and 27, 2014, we met with Dr. Charles Ryan and his fellow, Dr. Adam Siegel.

Adam gathered a lot of information, entered it into the computer and then brought in Dr. Ryan.

At first, Dr. Ryan thought I would benefit from neoadjuvant chemotherapy and even recommend a plan. Upon further review, he decided to send my case to a tumor board to get its recommendation.

The tumor board met on January 17 and it was unanimous that I needed my bladder taken out. There were eight members on the tumor board and four of them were oncologists like Dr. Ryan. He was out of town, so the case was presented by Dr. Siegel. All four of the oncologists recommended neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

The second meeting with Dr. Ryan was challenging and took place on January 27, 2014. The chemotherapy plan suggested by the tumor board consisted of four cycles of chemotherapy, each four weeks.

Dr. Ryan corrected the plan to four cycles of chemotherapy, each three weeks. Cispltain and gemcitabine are to be administered on the first day of each cycle, along with anti-nausea medications, gemcitabine with anti-nausea drugs on the eighth day, and then a week off. Yay! I had cisplatin 17 years ago along with 5FU.

When they told me I was scheduled to start on January 30, I balked. I could not imagine fighting rush hour traffic to get to UCSF by 9:00 in the morning, have to park, and be there all day.

I suggested that I talk to Dr. Gullion about administering the treatment close to home, and they accepted my suggestion. I had already scheduled an appointment with him for January 31.

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Tag: gemcitabine

A Pot To Pee In

Chemotherapy Options

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