Feeling Better Every Day

Hi All

As you saw from Dave's mini-blog, we made it back home on Monday night.

The week of treatment was nearly as icky as the first cycle, but since I had a feeling what was to come, I think I responded to many of the symptoms a little better. I had friends visit on Monday, both in the morning and evening, which was wonderful! Of course, Monday night, I had a surprise drop in my blood pressure to the tune of ~73/39. I had to spend most of Monday evening talking with friends Sarah and Larry lying flat on my back. There was a thought the next day that this might not bode well for my long-term tolerance of the treatment, but nine doses later, that thought was nixed. I had similar side-effects as the first cycle (temperature, chills, nausea, aches & pains, dry flaking itching skin, low blood pressure, etc.) and I was treading along through my 9th dose.

On Thursday, I was put on medication to keep my blood pressure up. We skipped Dose 10, then went ahead with Dose 11. After 10 doses, they couldn't keep my pressure above 85 systolic without medication, so that was it for doses of IL-2. On average, most people tolerate one less dose during their second cycle than their first cycle. 12 doses for cycle 1, 10 doses for cycle 2 seems pretty good to me. One of the nurses mentioned that one of the other IL-2 patients was only able to receive 2 doses the whole week, so I feel pretty darn good! When I go in for the 3rd cycle, the body should have "forgotten" about IL-2 and it will be back like the Cycle 1 side effects.

Since I was given no more doses after Thursday a.m., I felt pretty good the rest of the week. Tired, yes, but much more lucid! I could actually have conversations! Watch TV! Eat! That is why we were able to come home a few days early this time around. I've been hanging around here watching TV (no bon-bons! though thanks Blair for the choc truffles!!!), and am planning on doing some work here at home Thursday/Friday, then back to Orofino on Monday a.m.

Some of you may have seen a recent blog entry about low blood platelet counts. We are still somewhat foggy about this, so I won't be able to give you any information other than we were told by two different sets of nurses that low blood platelet counts seems to have some anecdotal correlation with a positive response to IL-2. I had low platelets, and the doctors and nurse practitioners were very excited about that. We go in for a CAT scan in November, then an appt back in Portland to assess the utility of the IL-2 treatment. That CAT scan will pretty much hold our treatment future and possible prognosis.

Everyone continue to keep Dave and I in your thoughts. We've got another month to wait. SIGH. We'll be spending Thanksgiving here and at my brother's. We've just had way too much time in the car. Its gonna be a Long November.

Cheryl