Pre-Chemotherapy Cycle #10 Comment #04 / Oncologist Appointment

I had an Oncologist appointment today and if I had proceeded with my chemotherapy today, he would have seen me at the therapy room instead of his clinic.

Seem what I am going through is not unexpected:

1)      The interval of the therapy is kept at 4 weeks due to my past platelet “recovery” pattern plus having reached the 10^th cycles, it is not at all unexpected.

2)      The persistence tingling and numbness in my fingers and toes again is not unexpected and due to one specific chemo-drug used in my therapy. He was telling me that some patient having reached this stage of their chemotherapy cannot even hold a pen with their fingers due to the numbness. I guess with me experiencing only tingling and numbness now is a good sign. If it persist and gets worse, my Oncologist may want to stop the chemotherapy and move on to radiotherapy or simply stop the chemo for a longer period before resuming chemotherapy.

3)      Currently, chemotherapy is the preferred therapy method and only when I completed 12 cycles would my oncologist move me to radiotherapy. However, if I am not able to tolerate my 10^th cycle, he may just request for a CT scan, check for progress and move me straight to radiotherapy and then possible back to chemotherapy.

4)      I am experiencing what is termed “Anticipatory Nausea”. Basically, I experience signs of nausea even before I start my chemotherapy. One of those psychological things. He is prescribing anti-nausea medication for me to take 2 days before my therapy is ease the symptoms.

5)      I have been experiencing “bloated-ness” and pain in my abdominal area after meals for the last 2 weeks. The bloated-ness could be due to greasy or oily food and the pain could be due to my pancreatitis as the pancreas is trying to work to digest the food and process the nutrients. The feeling is not pleasant. For a normal person, usually some antibiotics, rest and drips will help but in my case, not much could be done but I have to watch my diet and rest.

This is clinical update so far.

I ask for prayer that I can complete all 12 rounds of chemotherapy before moving to radiotherapy.  Might need a break but I’ll hear what the Oncologist advises.

I’ve gain another kilogram in the last one month but this is not really good. I got to wautch my diet and weight.

In Him We Trust.