Back to Folfox

I went to the doctor today and he decided to put me back on Folfox, which I had tolerated so much better. While it's unclear whether it was the Xeloda, the increased dose of Oxaliplatin, or the combination that was making me sick, it seemed like it was time to go back to what had been working better in June. Also, they are able now to acquire the drug that had been on shortage (though they didn't have enough today, and can't be sure how long their supplier can get it for them.)

Chemo is tough regardless, but the chance that the bad days won't be as bad and that the cycle lasts for 2 days instead of 14 seems like a good thing. It was a rocky tart as the infusion started too fast for me and made me sick immediately. It took a few hours for my stomach to settle down to a more manageable level of nausea. I'm feeling okay right now, though it's all relative.

So now I have my old pump, which I had been carrying around for 3 months, for the next two days. I get it off on Saturday. Before the surgery I started feeling better on Monday and back to myself again on Tuesday (except for the one time I started coughing up blood-thank you Avastin :)). I'll try to update sometime this weekend about how I am doing. Thanks as always for your prayers and words of encouragement.

I also want to say thank you to everyone who has supported my sister, Janet, who is running the Chicago Marathon for Team Livestrong. Because of the amazing generosity of some many people, she has raised over $10,000 for cancer research! I'm amazed by her commitment and stamina and all of you who has given so sacrificially to me personally and to this cause. A silver lining in the new treatment protocol is that I will be off chemo for the race and hopefully feeling pretty good.

Good news all round!

It's been a pretty good day so far. First, I restarted the Xeloda pills yesterday morning, and except for some mild nausea, easily controllable with medication, I'm feeling really good. Apparently, it was either the increased dose of Oxaliplatin or the combination of both drugs that was making me so sick.

Even better, my sister, Liz, gave birth to Lillian Esther Smith early this morning. Lillian is a normal Kafkas baby checking in at 9 lbs., 8 oz and 21 inches (not quite up to my 12 lbs 1 oz, 23 1/2 inches, but big enough!) She's beautiful and I'm looking forward to being able to hold her this Christmas when I'm done with chemo and back in Maine.

Day Two

I talked to the doctor. He's still puzzled by my reaction. He thinks it might have been the larger dose of oxaliplatin that is making me sick. He wants me to wait until I feel better, then try the pills again and see how I react.

At the moment, I'm still feeling quite miserable.

Five and a half hours

Thanks, to everyone who sent me well-wishes on Facebook and email. I'm not really getting better yet. I vomited just 5 and a half hours after first dose. I'm going to call the doctor in the morning, before I take the next dose.

Round 2

Sorry for the lack of updates. I've been really busy with the start of teaching and graduate school classes. I found myself trying to cram a lot of stuff into the two weeks I had before round 2 of the Xelox treatment. I also got to announce a couple of Wheaton College women's soccer games this past weekend.

Apparently, the symptoms I had last time don't fit the normal profile of side effects. My doctors thinks it's possible that I just got a bug last time and that I might tolerate better a slightly reduced dose this time. I had my infusion of oxaliplatin and have taken the first of 28 doses of the Xeloda. So far, I am feeling okay, but not great. We'll see how things go and I may have to stop the treatment again, if I have the same symptoms.

I'll try to keep you updated over the next couple of weeks about how I well I am tolerating the drugs. Thank you to everyone who has sent cards, Facebook messages and for all of your prayers.