MORE RED AND WHITE CONES: REPAIR WORK!!!

Good News: Treatment begins.

Back to the 26th and my first infusion of Keytruda. Though I was still in a funky fog of recovery from the pneumonia, Dr. Dayton started the process and I met the members of my team-a clinical nurse, Sarah, and a Nurse Practitioner, Mike. The treatment is a 30-minute IV infusion of the medication. I was still in recovery from the pneumonia and, already in some big-time muscle/skeleton pain (not disease-related) after six awful hours Saturday night in ER (*see footnote), so I'll never know which pains or sensations are attributable to the infusion or the other factors. Tooling around in a wheelchair pushed by both Ralph and brother Jim to get to the appointment felt strange, but it was the best I could do. 

My sense of balance worsened, my brain fuzzied up a bit more (no comments, bros!), my slim appetite went away completely, I cried over anything, and I slept 22/7 for a few days and nights.  Ralph weathered these ups and downs and kept me on course with meds, water, and food. Glass half-ful: so far, have dodged the most common nasties: vomiting, diarrhea and constipation.

I gradually began to sleep less and feel better. I relied heavily on oxycontin (perhaps overdoing it a bit) but, by mid-week the second week (early October), Sarah helped me get to an "as needed" basis and, since then, I now use Tylenol to tackle pain before going to the opioid. Have used very little of either type of painkiller since then. I've also discovered, both when using oxy (which scares me) and lesser drugs, I start with a half dose and usually don't have to escalate to the full subscribed amount. Works for me. If I have pain, it generally centers around the middle and lower areas of my back, an area that is no stranger to sciatic nerve and other traditional lower back ouchies, but also the sites of some of the metastasized cancer. Though not painful, I am always aware that my breathing capacity limits severely how active I can be.

As each day goes by, I regain a little strength, walking more, even sensing longer intervals before shortness of breath sets in (although the latter varies from time to time.) The loss of appetite, particularly, is a biggie because my job--my ONLY defense at this time, along with keeping a positive attitude and keeping my body moving--is to keep myself well-nourished and well-watered. I have lost ten pounds over the last six weeks. I also continue a 30+ year practice of doing simple flex exercises most mornings--because it is important to keep your body parts oiled up and ready to use.

Better News: Second infusion

I had my second infusion yesterday--Thursday, November 16, and I've experienced only a slight escalation of the fatigue and shortness of breath so far. The symptoms vary in intensity from day to day, but mostly,I have been up, active, and looking for something to do for the last week or so. Humbly grateful, the "fuzzy fog" seems to have lifted and I have my brain back!! I'm awake six to eight hours a day now.

Best News: Tests show good results

My blood tests, taken on the 16th got rave reviews with only two key factors that were low or high (opposite of where they should be) but not alarmingly so. I have learned to respect my body and its marvelous capabilities--it has supported me through these 83 years and is still working hard for me. My vital signs have remained consistent throughout.

Keytruda

I misspoke in an earlier blog. Keytruda is administered intravenously and is designed to find and destroy a certain protein enzyme--PLR3, I think. The DNA immunotherapy, which I mistakenly identified earlier, targets a certain gene and must be taken by pill. Immuno-therapy is the long-awaited treatment that can target a specific gene or protein enzyme in a cancer cell and deliver the goods directly to the cancer. This is cutting-edge technology, in general use long enough to make the medical community excited about its results. Keytruda attacks and destroys the protein enzyme that coats the cancer cells, thus preventing my own immune system from knowing there is an invader in my body. When uncovered, my own immune system, then, fights the cancer. I am exceedingly grateful that I qualify. Jim and Chuck have been with Ralph and me every step along the way and their medical background has helped us understand the process.They and my three sils (sisters-in-law) have also given us needed moral support.

Next infusion and beyond

The next infusion will be December 7th and a fourth is scheduled for December 28th. An evaluation of my progress will occur around my January birthday and a new or continued game plan will be established.

I still have just one day at a time, like all of us. But the importance of those days has increased tenfold for me, I am so fortunate to have both a Greene family and a Gray family who have pitched in with their presence, offers of help, cards and emails to keep Ralph and my spirits up. And as the importance of my "Todays" increase, so, in turn, does the appreciation of all of my "Yesterdays" and the people who have shared those days with me. Love to all.

* Through a misdirection of the results of blood tests taken the day I left the hospital, and various other Goldberg-type goofups, I spent five hours in the Emergency Room unnecessarily, at the direction of my personal care physician who recognized a rising white corpuscle count as a situation beyond her expertise. Instead of bringing Dr. Dayton into the conversation, I went to the ER at her direction. I spent the time either sitting upright or on a very uncomfortable gurney. Moral of the story: keep track of your own medical history and question, question, question.