Bad hair day

Today Anthony's illness and everything connected to it became really real.

One of the side effects of Chemotherapy and the Neupogen injections is hair loss.

The hair was literally coming out by the handful, so Anthony decided to buzz it.

Why is it when you see something it seems more real?

He went from McDreamy to Mr. Clean in one day.

At lease he can rock the bald head.

Low White Blood Count

Anthony went in for his second round of chemotherapy today as planned, feeling ready for the process. They started out, like they always will, doing a blood work up to make sure all counts were within a healthy range. One thing they check is White Blood Count (WBC) which "are cells of the immune system involved in defending the body against both infectious disease and foreign materials," in other words this is what fights off infection and keeps us healthy. A "normal" white blood count is between 4.0 - 10.5 with 1.5 being a danger zone... Anthony's was 0.1 This means he has a 28% higher risk of contracting a life-threatening infection. In other words, if he has a hint of a fever we need to book it to the ER because his body can't fight ANYTHING off right now.

The nurse said a drop in WBC during chemotherapy is sadly normal, and told Anthony he could not have chemo until his WBC had risen. To aide this process he was given an injection of Neupogen, a white blood cell booster, and is now miserable. The main side effect he is feeling is a "stabbing pain in [his] spine," which makes it difficult for him to get comfortable. He has been in the chair, in the bed, on the floor, walking around, standing still... nothing helps. Maybe we'll try the car? Neupogen injections age given once per day for three days. On a Lymphoma internet forum Anthony found some guy who had to take 12 Vicodin to manage the pain. Our nurse suggested Tylenol.

However, next week after Chemo and every week thereafter, he will be getting a Neulasta injection. Neulasta is also a white blood cell booster that "helps reduce the risk of infection." Worth $7,000 per injection? You read that right. Seven more injections at $7K = $49 thousand dollars. My entire year's salary would cover 4 injectons. Luckily there's a financial application for the Neulasta which, if we're approved, will cover all but $50 per injection. Oddly enough, anti-nausea/infection fighting meds before chemo and the Neulasta injectons after are both more expensive than the chemo meds themselves. The financial advisors have been really helpful as far as getting us various financial applications for various medications.

Our current schedule is a Neupogen injection at 2:00P Thursday and 10:00A Friday, an appointment with the Oncologist at 10:20A on Friday, and try to have chemo again on Wednesday and if that works the Neulasta injection will be Thursday afternoon. We are blessed to live 22.6 miles from the Peggy and Charles Stephenson Oklahoma Cancer Center.

It Must Be Love...

Here is a photo of our sweet little Ella. She is so good. Abbie loves to hold her and Ella is really good about it. Isaac comes along and pats her head and kisses her every once in a while. He also smiles at her and makes cute noises at her.

Mom and Dad came to visit one day...so sweet.

No we didn't leave Ella home, she was just sitting below us in her car seat. I think the cute lady that took the picture thought we were just carrying it around with us.

Pinterest...one of the best recipes for finger paint, 1/2 white glue and 1/2 shaving cream + food coloring = lots of fun and easy clean up (the shaving cream acts as a soap). This was a just getting started picture. The after picture would show all the "paint" gone and the entire picture and that table area completely painted. =)

Baby Isaac!

On our way to the park. So cute!!!

It is official, my 2 favorite holidays are the 24th of July and New Years Eve. If you have never been to Eva and Bryan's for their New Years Eve party you might consider it, its the best party of the year!!!

PowerPort & test results

Recently Anthony had a bone marrow biopsy, Muga and PET scan, all previously explained here. Results; bone marrow biopsy was clean, Muga shows a perfectly working heart, and the PET scan showed the only conclusive cancerous cells are the ones in the mediastinum (the tumor originally in question). He also has an upper left lobe infection in the lungs, and some of the other lymph nodes had some potential growths, but that was inconclusive. So, they'll be treating the Hodgkin's Lymphoma as if the large mediastinal tumor were the only one.

On 1/6/12 Anthony had a PowerPort installed. The port itself is placed below the clavicle, and the catheter is drawn up the neck and inserted directly into the Jugular vein.

Triangle nubbs can be felt through the skin, needle inserted in center.

1/6/12

1/15/12

1/11/12 was the first Chemotherapy session. Two sessions equals a cycle and Anthony will have four cycles, so eight treatments total. He's on the ABVD regime, which is explained here along with possible side effects. Some side effects already experienced are nausea, fatigue, sore mouth, taste changes, numbness in hands, and discolored urine. Hair loss/changes are expected in the next few weeks. Because Anthony has such thick hair he may just have thinning and will not need to shave his head. We'll see what happens.

The nurse had Anthony chew on ice during the Adriamycin administration as this could lessen mouth sores or blisters.

We have an appointment with the Oncologist, Dr, Ikeguchi on 1/23 and the next Chemo session is 1/25. Along with all the negative side effects there have been some positives noted; Anthony's cough has 90% cleared up. Dr. Ideguchi said that might happen.