Linda is back in the hospital and I finally have a moment to update the blog.
The oncologist said this new chemo would be very tough. I can only think of "hell on wheels" to describe it. After a couple days of nausea and vomiting at the beginning of the week, on Wednesday she changed to uncontrolled diarrhea (another side effect). She became so dehydrated yesterday (BP 78/40) that she couldn't sit up or stand, so we had to call an ambulance to take her back to the hospital for IV fluids etc. Her WBC was 200 in the hospital last night with a nice round 100 each of neutrophils and lymphocytes. So she is on prophylactic IV antibiotics as well.
We did get to the consult at Methodist Hospital (Dr. Ram Kamble) on Wednesday for the Bone Marrow Transplant (Plan B - after the failure of the inital chemo). The whole team that we met was wonderful. He described the whole process to us and I'll summarize it briefly. She will need 2 more rounds of this current chemo regimen (Oh joy). Then she will need another bone marrow. The marrow at that time has to be clean (no cancer visible) and then they willl harvest her stem cells from the peripheral blood like a blood donation. This stem cells are frozen.
She will enter the hospital for 3 weeks (mid-July). Week 1 is 'industrial' strength chemo of a new regimen. After the chemo, on day 7 or 8, she is infused her stem cells. Week 2 will be horrible with the WBC at essentially zero while waiting for the stem cells to repopulate her marrow and begin making new blood cells. He said she will have 4-5 days of diarrhea, mouth ulcers and God knows what else. Week 3 she will gradually recover and get her strength back and be ready for discharge. She will be in isolation the whole time, but can have visitors - gowned etc.
There is less than 1% mortality with the treatment (usually infection). If the transplant is successful (45-50%) she will essentially be cured and will need regular follow-up. There will be 2x yearly chemo with just Rituxin (very mild) chemo.
We didn't get into the plan C if it isn't successful.
Keep praying for her to keep up her strength both mentally and physically, and for the success of the treatment. Thanks.
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