Chemo Round Two

I'm writing from Ellis Fischel once again. We've been here since a little before 8 a.m. I'm about halfway done with today's dose of Decitabine, and then I'll start a bag of platelets. They were down to 8 today and as a result I'm covered with petechiae rash. I'm hoping they'll hold better this time. I read over the weekend that it's possible for the body to eventually build up a resistance to platelet infusions and quit responding. For that reason, they don't give any more than necessary.

Prayer requests right now are for mild side effects from chemo. I'm getting Zofran again as a premed, and using another anti-emetic at home. Last time nausea seemed to be the worst side effect, and for the most part I could manage it with the drugs. The other major side effect for me was a constant tense, jittery feeling. I'm currently undergoing hormone therapy to deal with some disease side effects, so it's a bit of an emotional rollercoaster. And of course, low counts. My ANC was up to 1200 today. I was very pleased with that. Still only about half of what a normal person would have on the low end. Also, I've developed an area of broken skin around the bandage on my Hickman catheter. The bandage is called tagaderm, and it's similar to a sticky-sided saran wrap. Sometimes I react to it, and I would appreciate prayer that it would heal quickly and not get infected, as it's only about 1" from the actual catheter site. If the site becomes infected they'll have to pull the line and I'll need outpatient surgery to place another one. I don't even want to think about the possibility. Healing is a slow process when counts are low -- in the meantime I'm keeping Neosporin on it to help ward off an infection.

I hope everyone had a blessed Resurrection Sunday. In light of everything in my life this year, I am especially thankful that Christ has risen, and death has been swallowed up in victory.