Well today was the start of cycle 2 for hubby….. IV for nearly 3 hours to administer the Oxaliplatin and then two weeks off Capecitabine before having a rest week and that’s cycle two done.
Compared to the first cycle, I was feeling so much stronger this morning!!!! Ok I was far from looking forward to running around after the kids all day, as they feared seeing their dad with the IV, on top of fearing that Roger will be ill and having to run around after him. But hey I said a few words to hubby and he said a few words to me but we kissed and made up, we faced cycle two together and at full force!!!!
Well the day did not go as expected with reference to cycle two, however I could not have been more proud of my boys. All 3 of them came down stairs at some point and was amazingly well mannered, they spoke to the nurse and Cameron even offered her a cuppa. Keeley unfortunately did not make it down as like her dad she has a major fear of needles and was unable to see her dad wired up, she also struggles with people she does not know.
So back to the chemo… everything was going really, it had been decided that hubby would have the Oxaliplatin over 2hr 30 mins to see if it helped the side effects stay at ease. The line went in fine and the pre-med was started, which is the anti-sickness and steroids I think. Hubby was doing really well until he started to feel pain and discomfort in the IV area after an hour. The area was becoming red and really painful, the nurse decided to pull the cannula out and contact the professor as it looked like the Oxaliplatin had extravasation (leaked) into local tissue this, being dangerous as the Oxaliplatin itself burns and irritates the tissue. After eventually getting hold of the professor and consulting with him it was decided that hubby would not continue with the rest of the Oxaliplatin IV, as he had already had half this was ok. It was hard watching hubby come to this decision as he was becoming emotional, he was in severe pain and discomfort and could only just move his arm. He was fearful that his other arm would become dead if he was going to continue with the rest of the Oxaliplatin, this then causing him to become immobile and unable to do something like going to the bathroom or even opening the door. All I wanted to do was hold him and say everything will be ok and that was just what I did, I told him how proud I was of him and how strong he was. It really helped that the nurse was absolutely brilliant, she was so supportive and understanding. She even came back to check on hubby after her last call of the day. So the IV Oxaliplatin is completed, next is two weeks of tablets. But bring it on as my hubby is going to kick butt!!!!
So as far as the side effects are concerned, all is good!!! I still have my hubby downstairs unlike last time when he was in bed by this time. This evening hubby seems to be doing really well, especially compared to cycle one. Yes, only have the Oxaliplatin was given but its so good to see him in an ok’ish way. He has been eating and drinking and pottering around the house J so much more then last time. The side effects are there to a point, there is slight cold sensitivity, however he can hold a glass and go outside, his arm is still sore but yet loads better, he has said that his eye sockets where hurting and is generally feeling crap as it feels like he is coming down with a cold. These sound effects sound bad when reading them, however compared to last time, hubby is managing these as they are nowhere to the extent as last time, especially as last time there where also loads more.
So today has did not go as expected, but hey ho this is cancer and chemo!!!! It’s a constant whirlwind of the unknown!!!!! Hubby did great and the kids could not have been more well behaved, I could not be more proud of my family. The next two weeks are going to bring some up’s and downs but we are going to kick butt, cycle two is underway and will get a tick in two weeks time. So cancer and chemo be prepared as there are a few large feet coming your way!!!!!! You will not take my hubby away from me and his kids!!!!!
