Fighting on

Stable is good news.  The new CT scan tells us that Gwohann's cancer is under control, no new progression.  All scan impressions are stable.  Thank God!  The blood report also shows that Gwohann's body is tolerating the chemo well.  Therefore, Dr. D advised to continue the chemo, and that is what we will do tomorrow.  Fighting on!

4th Chemo - slow and steady wins the race

When the nurse presented two popsicles, Gwohann's eyes opened wide with delight, "Is this part of the treatment?" he playfully asked.  The nurse nodded with a big smile.  Evidently, ice or popsicles have helped reduce mouth sores in some patients who received Vinorelbine, the nasty drug that damages small blood vessels.  Gwohann gladly accepted the proposition while the nurse slowly and steadily pushing the Vinorelbine through his Mediport. Feeling blissful, Gwohann did not pause to finish eating one and open another one.  The nurse had to tell him to slow down so that he will not finish before she completed the infusion.  Popsicles make us a kid again.

Thank you again to our wonderful kids and friends who came to support us, we feel more relaxed and hopeful with them around.  Otherwise, it can be painful to watch/take the treatment and the resulting side effects. Through the procedure, Gwohann slept and awoke, his blood pressure went up and down, his face changed colors as six different drugs infused to his body one by one over the stretch of five hours.  It takes enormous strength to endure such treatment.  He truly is our hero!

The latest lab report shows that Gwohann's white blood cell (WBC) count has gone back up but is way over the normal range.  Bands count is over the range as well.  Therefore, our oncologist reduced the WBC booster Neulasta to half of the last dosage.  Please pray that every indexes will be normal by next lab test. A CT scan will be performed on Aug 13 to evaluate the effectiveness of the four chemo cycles and we will hear the findings on Aug 17.  Please pray for a great result!

Chemo is hard, but by going slow and steady, we will win the race!

-- Jacqueline

Not alone in the dark valley

It is certain that the third chemo is harder than the previous two.  Gwohann felt fatigue two days after chemo for five days, spending most of Saturday and Sunday in bed.  Friday cell group meeting has been one of his favorite activities, but we had to cancel it because he was feeling so tired.  He did however, enjoyed a good mahjong game with friends on Saturday.  The game distracted him from coughing.  It was nice to see him laugh and playful.

His bones are sore because of Neulasta, we see it a small price to pay for boosting the white blood cell counts.  Good thing is that he is sleeping well after the steroid/cortisone wore out and he has very good appetite.

Recently, more friends and relatives are visiting from afar.  We are encouraged and feel blessed because we are not alone walking through the dark valley.  

"He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.…" Psalm 23:4

Looking forward to a pleasant and active weekend before the fourth chemo on next Tuesday, Aug. 4.  

- Jacqueline

3rd chemo felt short

Before the three chemo drugs were infused, Gwohann first received anti-histamine, Tylenol and cortisone to reduce his body's defense reaction to the forthcoming potent chemo drugs. Within 15 minutes, he felt drowsy and fell asleep due to the side effects of anti-histamine. 1.5 hours later, he woke up to Christina and Jimmy's relaxing guitar music and singing.  All the while, U Channel film director Sean Fan diligently recorded every scenes. With our friends and family around, this chemo treatment felt short and tolerable.

Thank you for your good thoughts and prayers, the lab report today showed that Gwohann's liver functions have restored to within normal range.  It was a relieving news.  However, his white blood cell count has dropped to below the normal range, and Lymphocytes and Monocytes are over the range.  The NP Katie said that the abnormality is expected during chemotherapy. Consequently, she prescribed Neulasta injection to boost the white blood cell production.  Gwohann had received Neulasta last year when he was on Cisplatin treatment, it worked wonder and we hope to achieve the same result this time.  At the mean time, we need to avoid crowded area to prevent infections.

After we returned home, the cortisone kicked in, Gwohann became energetic and hyper.  It reminded me of the old days before he was ill, when he was full of vitality and vigor.  Regardless, we are going to enjoy our time whenever we can before fatigue set in again.

-- Jacqueline

2nd chemo was smooth sailing

                                       

                                            Medi-port makes injection easy

Relaxing in daughter's music

Surrounded by love

With the Mediport, the infusion was reduced from five hours to four, and there is no pain in the vein!  Relaxing in daughter Christina's guitar music, the chemo feels easier this time.  A yummy In N Out burger for lunch also helps boosting the good mood.

Today's blood report shows that all key indexes are within range except the liver functions AST and ALT which went up after last chemo.  Please pray that the chemotherapy effectively destroys and controls the tumor cells, and will not damage his liver.  Thank you!

- Jacqueline

Mediport is in

Woke up at 5:15 am, checked in at the El Camino Hospital at 6. The Pre-op room was already in hustle and bustle.  I thought to myself, it's fitting that I am not a medical professional because I will be grumpy if I can't see sunshine or hear bird singing when I wake up everyday. However, the nurses who rose up early to help us were all very kind and pleasant. 

The procedure was smooth.  It took four hours including pre-op and recovery. Gwohann was relaxed and happy when he was pushed out on a gurney from the operation room.

The Mediport is a small reservoir with a rubber septum that can be repeatedly punctured with a special type of needle. There is a tube runs from the reservoir into the main vein and the tip ends at the mid portion of the heart.  It sounds scary but apparently it is considered a short and low risk procedure. The future chemos can 'flush' through the body without damaging the smaller veins in the arms where injection used to be given. The port can be used immediately and Gwohann will be able to resume exercise once the incision is healed. When the port is no longer needed, it can be removed in an office visit.  Whoever invented this device and procedure must be very creative and clever. 

We are fortunate to have such option to make receiving treatment easier and less painful. 

1st cycle of second chemotherapy - Feeling familiar

Once we entered the new infusion center, several familiar faces greeted us.  Shelly, one of the infusion nurses who helped us last year, carrying a big smile, gave us a warm hug, and said  'Mr. Jain.  Don't worry, this time we are going to use a missile and blast off the cancer".  That was an uplifting start!

It felt good that we were put in one of the large infusion rooms. The 150 sq ft room was painted in calming blue and beige, and has a brand new plush recliner chair and warm blankets.  As soon we sat down, we were offered coffee and tea, and a snack bar.  One could easier think we are in a massage parlor.  

The cocktail drugs consist of Vinorelbine, Gemzar and Cyramza, and together with four other medicines that were used to control the side effects, will take 5 hours to infuse.  We have learned from past experience, the slower the infusion, the better.  So we are in no hurry.  

Our infusion nurse strongly recommended that we put in a mediport for future chemo cycles.  She told us that Vinorelbine burns and fractured vessels near the injection site for almost all patients.  The vessels may never recover, not to mention the constant pain and permanent ugly bruises the damage will cause.  

I researched online and learned horror stories reported among the cancer patients community.  It seems that everyone eventually surgically put in a mediport either before or after the first cycle of Vinorelbine.  Hence we decided to put one in.  Hopefully, we can get an appointment with a surgeon next week before the next cycle starts on July 7.

The NP Katie advised that Gwohann will feel the most fatigue and weaknesses four days after the infusion, and he will start feeling better after one week.  He may have fever and insomnia on the first day.  He may experience mouth sores, nausea, diarrhea and constipation (yes, at the same time) on any day.  

We will just take one day at a time, and be grateful for each 'bonus' day.  


- Jacqueline