What Happens at Chemo Treatment (Treatment Two)

In case people are curious about the relaxing process that is chemo, I am writing an entry for everyone. The first thing to know about chemo is that everyone is super friendly and nice…from the Brit receptionist that chats us up throughout the day to everyone of the nurses who are extremely efficient and professional but still stop to chat. I think that it is probably a job requirement to be great if you want to work in the cancer center.

When you show up they take your vitals and do a quick check to make sure you are healthy. Then you are moved into the treatment lounge where there are tons of big recliners for the patients with a simple armed chair next to each one for your guest.

Once they have you all situated they get you set up for a blood draw to verify that you are healthy enough for treatment. I have what is called a port. You can look it up to see exactly what it is, but basically it is a silicone button added under the skin with a catheter they install into the main blood vessel into the heart. It allows them to draw blood or administer IV fluids. There is still a nice stiff pin prick, but they don’t need to search for a vein with a needle like a typical IV. The added benefit is that the more caustic chemicals which I am given are damaging to veins so administering it them the larger blood volume in the heart can be beneficial.

Today they found that my white blood cell count was less than ideal. After some discussion it was explained to me that treatment is the most important thing at this point so we move forward. It will be extremely important for me to wash hands and stay away from sick people. There were some other levels which indicate my white cells are on the upswing so they are going to forego drugs to boost marrow output of white blood cells.

Treatment always starts with the antinausea meds. There are two IV bags with three meds…two antinausea meds and a steroid. The steroids boost my immune system, but, just as importantly, boost the effectiveness of the antinausea meds. This step takes about a half-hour per bag.

This is followed with the ABVD. Wiki ABVD and you will find that it is four chemo drugs that are the standard treatment in the US for Hodgkin’s lymphoma. They are administered in whatever order that is convenient. The reason that one being administered before another could be more or less convenient is that, though two are administered by IV bag automatically, two are toxic enough that they have to be administered by hand to ensure they are going to the correct place. The nurse will pinch off the IV diluting the drug and draw back to make sure they are in the vein. If the drug were to make it into a cavity rather than into the blood stream it could destroy tissue. This whole process takes another 2-3 hours.

Since the whole process can take about five hours they make your recliners comfortable for watching movies on little fold up tray tables. I am typing this on my iPad while I recline, and Jen and I are watching James Bond Skyfall. Last week it was magazines and a book. It is kind of like being in first class on an airplane…plenty comfortable with good food and free range of the chemo room, but you cannot leave.

From start to finish it starts to wipe you out. One of the bag IV’s affects your taste buds, and by the end it seems to be time for a nap. Once home we took advantage of the heavy antinausea meds for a Killer Burger before eating becomes a bit of a chore. We watched the end of Skyfall and put on a recorded TV show. Before the hour show was up I took a nap for a few hours. I anticipate that the rest of the day will be TV from the couch.

I hope this gave anyone interested some insight into my extremely exciting chemo days. Thank you all for the thoughts and encouragement. In only a few short months we can move on from this and get on with our lives.

• ← Weekend in Puyallup
• FYI – Hair Is No Longer Cool… →