Today is a new day, a day I choose to lay down my fear and stress, a day in which I needn't be worried or concerned.
So it's the normal drill...I had blood work and doctor appointment on Monday morning. I think I am beginning to wonder what normal really is?
My lab results showed that my white blood cell count continued to decline over this past week. Last week it was 940, this week it is 830. Unfortunately, I can not take chemotherapy when the white blood count is below 1000.
To work on that, I have to take Neupogen shots. Neupogen stimulates the bone marrow to generate red, white blood cells and platelets. Side effects of this drug are slight to severe bone pain and fever. I had my first shot yesterday, second shot today, and will have another shot on Wednesday. I'm feeling some moderate bone pain, so I'm taking Tylenol. Unfortunately, since I am asthmatic, I can not take ibuprofen or Advil. I'm praying the pain won't get any worse than it is now, but if it does, oh well...in my mind the benefits out weigh the pain! I can do this!
This drug is fairly quick acting, so Thursday I will have bloodwork again to check my numbers. If the stars are aligned and the moon is in the 2nd house, and of course.....if my counts are back up, I will have chemo on Thursday, full dose this time. If chemo happens, I will go back on Friday for a shot of Neulasta, which is a longer acting bone marrow stimulant to try to keep my counts up so I can stay on time with my treatments.
Thank you for keeping me in your prayers. Things could be worse. Fortunately I have God on my side and he is carrying me everyday!
Be strong and of good courage, and act. Do not be afraid or dismayed, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. 1 Chronicles 28:20
I will keep you posted. Enjoy your day!
Peace,
Sandy
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Week of April 26th...
Worry looks around...sorry looks back...Faith looks up.
It's been a great two weeks. I've felt really good; I've worked every day and I've walked quite a bit. (many miles actually!!) Thank you, Lord, for allowing me the opportunity to have another day to experience life and to do your work!!
On Monday morning, 4/26, I had blood work and saw Dr. Partridge (oncology doctor). The lab results showed that my white blood count is a little low, so I was unable to have chemotherapy that day. (Although, I didn't realize I was supposed to have it until I got there...hmm!) Anyway, she is not overly concerned because the count is just slightly below what they want it to be. The low count is a direct side effect from the Carboplatin. She wants to see me next week for another blood work up. If my WBC is high enough I will have my chemo treatment on Monday, 5/3. If it's not, I will probably still have treatment, but then on Tuesday I would have to go in for a shot of Neupogen, which will stimulate white blood cell production. I'm not sure how often these shots are given, but I imagine I will find out soon enough. The Neupogen has a side effect of bone pain from slight to severe. We've all learned how I seem to react to medications....alright...well we're just not going there!!!
I will post a blog again next week after treatment.
"Do not fear, I am a wall of protection around you." GOD
Peace and many blessings and prayers,
Sandy
It's been a great two weeks. I've felt really good; I've worked every day and I've walked quite a bit. (many miles actually!!) Thank you, Lord, for allowing me the opportunity to have another day to experience life and to do your work!!
On Monday morning, 4/26, I had blood work and saw Dr. Partridge (oncology doctor). The lab results showed that my white blood count is a little low, so I was unable to have chemotherapy that day. (Although, I didn't realize I was supposed to have it until I got there...hmm!) Anyway, she is not overly concerned because the count is just slightly below what they want it to be. The low count is a direct side effect from the Carboplatin. She wants to see me next week for another blood work up. If my WBC is high enough I will have my chemo treatment on Monday, 5/3. If it's not, I will probably still have treatment, but then on Tuesday I would have to go in for a shot of Neupogen, which will stimulate white blood cell production. I'm not sure how often these shots are given, but I imagine I will find out soon enough. The Neupogen has a side effect of bone pain from slight to severe. We've all learned how I seem to react to medications....alright...well we're just not going there!!!
I will post a blog again next week after treatment.
"Do not fear, I am a wall of protection around you." GOD
Peace and many blessings and prayers,
Sandy
Monday, April 12, 2010
Events of the Last Two Weeks...
Today is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. I'm not worried about tomorrow, I'm trusting in what you say...Today is the day!
These last two weeks have been awesome. I have felt so good and so alive. The weather has turned the corner to warm days, cool nights and I am blessed everyday that I wake up and have another day to live life. Can it get any better than that....I think not!
Since I haven't blogged since March 29th, allow me to share what has been going on since then.
Monday, March 29th was a new chemotherapy day. It was a day that gave me the ultimate 'high' because of my MRI news. All week long, I've been feeling so good and even walked to and from work a few days (only a mile each way) when the weather cooperated.
Easter Sunday, April 4th was an awesome day. A little background...a week after my diagnosis (Nov. '09), we began attending a wonderful church called 'The Gathering". Our Easter service was at The Pageant in the University City loop. You could just feel God's presence all around you. The power and the spirit filled the venue and was so amazing. Our pastor, Matt Miofsky, is a gifted speaker and delivered a message that was very inspiring...."We are made for life, so we need to start living it." How much more profound can you get! It's a great message for us all to take in and believe.
A few months ago, Matt asked me to sit down with him and share my 'healing journey" story so that he could use it for a sermon about "Living with the End in Mind". A tough subject to talk about. After our conversation, he must have found something worthwhile, because he asked me if I would consider telling my story again, but this time with a video camera rolling so that it could be shared on Easter Sunday. How could I not say yes, when God has given me such a powerful gift in learning how to live my life for every day and to live in trust not in fear of him of what might happen. Matt's sermon was very powerful and I'm am so thankful to have been part of a message that shared how we are made for life!
Last week, I continued to feel really good. Again, I walked to and from work several days as my schedule and the weather permitted. I also saw my radiation oncologist on Thursday. My visit went well and Dr. Stroud is very pleased with the MRI results. We talked about some slight tingling I have been feeling in my tongue over the last few days. His thought at the time could be one of three things causing this sympton....resistant tumor, scar tissue or rejuvination of the nerves after all of the radiation I've been through. If it is by chance resistant tumor, it has remained unchanged since my January MRI. Dr. Stroud thinks that this is something that I shouldn't lose any sleep over...and I can tell you...I'm not!
I saw my medical oncologist today. Blood work is still good and all my neurological signs are good. Her and Dr. Stroud consulted and concluded that they think the tingling in my tongue is most likely a side effect of the Carboplatin. I'm going with that and still won't lose any sleep over it. I took my second round of infusion of Carboplatin this morning. Still all is going well....no hives, no adverse reaction right now. I did come home and went to bed. They pump me with Benadryl which just knocks me out. But I'm back to work tomorrow and looking forward to being productive for the rest of the week.
Well, these are the events of the last 2 weeks. Things are going so well and I am so pumped about everything. I for sure wouldn't be able to do any of this with out all of the prayers and support from everyone. Thank you all so much for the relentless prayers and all continues to go well. God is hearing our prayers and answering our faithfuness with positive results.....woohoo!!!
This is a life worth living and let's give it all we got!
Peace and love,
Sandy
Monday, March 29th was a new chemotherapy day. It was a day that gave me the ultimate 'high' because of my MRI news. All week long, I've been feeling so good and even walked to and from work a few days (only a mile each way) when the weather cooperated.
Easter Sunday, April 4th was an awesome day. A little background...a week after my diagnosis (Nov. '09), we began attending a wonderful church called 'The Gathering". Our Easter service was at The Pageant in the University City loop. You could just feel God's presence all around you. The power and the spirit filled the venue and was so amazing. Our pastor, Matt Miofsky, is a gifted speaker and delivered a message that was very inspiring...."We are made for life, so we need to start living it." How much more profound can you get! It's a great message for us all to take in and believe.
A few months ago, Matt asked me to sit down with him and share my 'healing journey" story so that he could use it for a sermon about "Living with the End in Mind". A tough subject to talk about. After our conversation, he must have found something worthwhile, because he asked me if I would consider telling my story again, but this time with a video camera rolling so that it could be shared on Easter Sunday. How could I not say yes, when God has given me such a powerful gift in learning how to live my life for every day and to live in trust not in fear of him of what might happen. Matt's sermon was very powerful and I'm am so thankful to have been part of a message that shared how we are made for life!
Last week, I continued to feel really good. Again, I walked to and from work several days as my schedule and the weather permitted. I also saw my radiation oncologist on Thursday. My visit went well and Dr. Stroud is very pleased with the MRI results. We talked about some slight tingling I have been feeling in my tongue over the last few days. His thought at the time could be one of three things causing this sympton....resistant tumor, scar tissue or rejuvination of the nerves after all of the radiation I've been through. If it is by chance resistant tumor, it has remained unchanged since my January MRI. Dr. Stroud thinks that this is something that I shouldn't lose any sleep over...and I can tell you...I'm not!
I saw my medical oncologist today. Blood work is still good and all my neurological signs are good. Her and Dr. Stroud consulted and concluded that they think the tingling in my tongue is most likely a side effect of the Carboplatin. I'm going with that and still won't lose any sleep over it. I took my second round of infusion of Carboplatin this morning. Still all is going well....no hives, no adverse reaction right now. I did come home and went to bed. They pump me with Benadryl which just knocks me out. But I'm back to work tomorrow and looking forward to being productive for the rest of the week.
Well, these are the events of the last 2 weeks. Things are going so well and I am so pumped about everything. I for sure wouldn't be able to do any of this with out all of the prayers and support from everyone. Thank you all so much for the relentless prayers and all continues to go well. God is hearing our prayers and answering our faithfuness with positive results.....woohoo!!!
This is a life worth living and let's give it all we got!
Peace and love,
Sandy
Monday, March 29, 2010
New Chemo Drug Today
I woke up this morning so thankful for this beautiful, sunny day. I am so blessed.
I went to St. John's this morning for my first infusion of chemo. They gave me an anti-nausea drug, Decadron (a steroid), Benadryl and then the Carboplatin. So far, no hives, no nausea, just tired.....but all in all, I think it went well. I came home and slept most of the day. The nurses are still having a problem with my veins rolling when they try to insert the IV. I've always had really good veins, but this past week has been a challenge for them. My arms are starting to look like I'm a drug addict. Although, I guess in a way, I kind of am!
My oncologist came by the treatment room this morning and gave us the results of the MRI done last Wednesday. We have some good news to share!! I have NO tumor regrowth in the original tumor site nor do they see any other abnormalities in other parts of my brain.
Alleluia...Praise God!!! Our prayers are being answered everyone!! We are winning this battle and God is rewarding us for our courage and strength and placing our faith and trust in him. Thank you all, my "prayer warriors" once again, for fighting this battle with me. I cannot do this alone and you all lifting me up to the Lord has given me strength and comfort. Each of you are my inspiration!!
My next chemo treatment should be April 13th. I see my onologist on Monday, April 5. Hopefully my blood counts will continue to remain stable. My followup radiation oncologist appointment is April 8th, so we will see what he has to say. I'm sure he will be pleased with the results of the MRI.
I can't help but wonder if something good is coming out of the challenges I faced with the Temodar. I asked the nurse today during my treatment what I should do with the leftover Temodar, since I will for sure not take this drug again. I wasn't sure if there are mandatory disposal rules for chemotherapy drugs. She told me that I could bring in any unused drugs and they will give it those people who are struggling to afford the cost of chemotherapy. It's incredibly expensive and I am so fortunate to have medical insurance. It makes me feel good to to know that I can help someone who cannot normally afford the exorbitant cost of this cancer care.
This journey is teaching me so much. I know this sounds cliche, but everything does happen for a reason and God has not given me more than I can handle, because I am living it everyday. Thank God!
Peace and love,
Sandy
I went to St. John's this morning for my first infusion of chemo. They gave me an anti-nausea drug, Decadron (a steroid), Benadryl and then the Carboplatin. So far, no hives, no nausea, just tired.....but all in all, I think it went well. I came home and slept most of the day. The nurses are still having a problem with my veins rolling when they try to insert the IV. I've always had really good veins, but this past week has been a challenge for them. My arms are starting to look like I'm a drug addict. Although, I guess in a way, I kind of am!
My oncologist came by the treatment room this morning and gave us the results of the MRI done last Wednesday. We have some good news to share!! I have NO tumor regrowth in the original tumor site nor do they see any other abnormalities in other parts of my brain.
Alleluia...Praise God!!! Our prayers are being answered everyone!! We are winning this battle and God is rewarding us for our courage and strength and placing our faith and trust in him. Thank you all, my "prayer warriors" once again, for fighting this battle with me. I cannot do this alone and you all lifting me up to the Lord has given me strength and comfort. Each of you are my inspiration!!
My next chemo treatment should be April 13th. I see my onologist on Monday, April 5. Hopefully my blood counts will continue to remain stable. My followup radiation oncologist appointment is April 8th, so we will see what he has to say. I'm sure he will be pleased with the results of the MRI.
I can't help but wonder if something good is coming out of the challenges I faced with the Temodar. I asked the nurse today during my treatment what I should do with the leftover Temodar, since I will for sure not take this drug again. I wasn't sure if there are mandatory disposal rules for chemotherapy drugs. She told me that I could bring in any unused drugs and they will give it those people who are struggling to afford the cost of chemotherapy. It's incredibly expensive and I am so fortunate to have medical insurance. It makes me feel good to to know that I can help someone who cannot normally afford the exorbitant cost of this cancer care.
This journey is teaching me so much. I know this sounds cliche, but everything does happen for a reason and God has not given me more than I can handle, because I am living it everyday. Thank God!
Peace and love,
Sandy
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Off to buy a wig today..
I rise out of the old and into the new.
I've had two good days of solid rest and it has helped me tremendously. Now that I've finally gotten out of bed and looked in the mirror...oh my...I need some hair!
As with everything on this journey, I've done nothing with in the ordinary. Hair loss occurs in a very small percentage of patients who take Temodar. Of course...I fall into that small percentage! Anyhow...Carboplatin, the chemo drug I start taking Monday, causes hair loss too. SO......wig shopping today! No....folks.....I'm not coming home 'platinum blonde'!
The sun is shining, thank you Lord for another beautiful day!
I will trust, and will not be afraid, for the Lord God is my strength and my might. Isaiah 12:2
Peace,
Sandy
I've had two good days of solid rest and it has helped me tremendously. Now that I've finally gotten out of bed and looked in the mirror...oh my...I need some hair!
As with everything on this journey, I've done nothing with in the ordinary. Hair loss occurs in a very small percentage of patients who take Temodar. Of course...I fall into that small percentage! Anyhow...Carboplatin, the chemo drug I start taking Monday, causes hair loss too. SO......wig shopping today! No....folks.....I'm not coming home 'platinum blonde'!
The sun is shining, thank you Lord for another beautiful day!
I will trust, and will not be afraid, for the Lord God is my strength and my might. Isaiah 12:2
Peace,
Sandy
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
These last few days have been quite challenging...read on..
The Lord said to him, "Peace be to you; do not fear."--Judges 6:23
and this is how my story continues......
Last Friday, 3/19 I woke up sick to my stomach. The couple of days before that I was beginning to feel pretty good, so I wondered where this nausea was coming from. I'm just about ready to leave for work, it's 6:45am and I decide to take a Zofran (anti-nausea drug) to help my stomach. I took it and left for work. By about 10:45am, I'm sitting at my desk and start getting really cold. I look in the mirror and my face is tomato red, I look at my arms, they are red and splotchy, I look at my stomach and my legs, the same thing. Obviously, my first thought is crap, hives again, will this ever end!!! Then all of sudden, I thought again...HIVES! I have HIVES...wait...it's got to be the Zofran I'm allergic to after all.....not the Temodar! OMG...you can't even imagine how crazy happy I was. I call my oncologist, I tell her what happened and we agree, as rare as this type of reaction to Zofran is, this has to be my culprit. I confirm my appointment with her for Monday morning and we decide I will try taking my next regimen of treatment starting Monday, 3/22 by capsule form instead of IV, but not take Zofran prior to my dose. Over the weekend, the hives disappeared and all was right with the world.
Or so I thought!
Monday morning, 3/22 I go out to the Cancer Center at St. John's, get my labwork done and see Dr. Partridge for my 8am visit. We talk more about the Zofran reaction and we agree to be cautiously optimistic as we move forward with taking the Temodar by capsule. I leave her office with a new anti-nausea perscription just in case I need it. We agreed that I would try taking the Temodar without taking an anti-nausea pill so that we can officially rule out the Temodar and/or the dye in the capsule. Nervously, at 8:46am I take my 225mg of Temodar, by 9:06am I begin to tingle, itch and burn. I grab an Allegra pill and take it. After about 15 minutes, the Allegra seems to help...somewhat, but still red and itchy. I decided to lay down to sleep to attempt to ward off potential nausea. I napped for awhile then woke up vomiting and I have never been so cold in my life. I was buried under 2 electric blankets set on high, 3 regular blankets and a hot field corn bag and still could not get warm. This kept up for what seemed liked forever. At 12:20, my daugher Alison talked to my sister,Nurse Tracy and told her that I was turning beat red and purple, freezing and vomiting. Tracy called my doctor and was told that I should go to the emergency room right away. I was getting weaker and weaker, so we called 911....it's a good thing we did.
By the time I got to the emergency room, I was running a 103.5 fever (no wonder I was so cold!), my pulse was 120 and my blood pressure was 88/56 and my hands, feet and lips were deep purple....not a pretty sight and quite a dangerous, life threatening situation. When I was finally stabilized, I was moved to ICU Monday evening. I stayed in ICU until Tuesday afternoon and was moved to a room on the Oncology floor. This morning, I had a MRI to determine how things look in my head with the radiation and chemo treatments I've had so far. I was released from the hospital late this morning, but I am totally drained and spent. There is no possible way to sleep in a hospital, not to mention being drained from the trauma I just endured.
After much conversation with her collegues, my allergist and other oncologists from WashU and Duke, my oncologist feels that it is just too risky and way too dangerous to use Temodar anymore without causing life-threatening reactions. Of course I totally agree that we don't want to take that risk. After more discussion, there are some other drugs we can try.
So on Monday, 3/29, I will start a chemo drug called "Carboplatin". It can only be administered through infusion and can be taken once a month at full dose strength or twice a month with the full dose split into equal halves and taken 15 days between doses. I have opted to take the twice a month regimen to ensure that I will be able to tolerate the drug before I move to the once a month full strength dose. Please keep the prayers coming as I move on to try "Carboplatin" and pray that it will be a drug I can tolerate.
It's been quite an emotional and draining week and I want to thank everyone for your continued prayers and support. I know and trust the Lord safely and confidently carried me this week as I endured this very serious health situation. I believe He brought me through this to face the additional challenges and work he still has for me to do.
Jesus turned around and when he saw her he said, "Daughter, be encouraged, your faith has made you well." And the woman was healed at that moment. Matthew 9:22
As Easter approaches, let us pray God renews our strength.
Peace and love to all,
Sandy
and this is how my story continues......
Last Friday, 3/19 I woke up sick to my stomach. The couple of days before that I was beginning to feel pretty good, so I wondered where this nausea was coming from. I'm just about ready to leave for work, it's 6:45am and I decide to take a Zofran (anti-nausea drug) to help my stomach. I took it and left for work. By about 10:45am, I'm sitting at my desk and start getting really cold. I look in the mirror and my face is tomato red, I look at my arms, they are red and splotchy, I look at my stomach and my legs, the same thing. Obviously, my first thought is crap, hives again, will this ever end!!! Then all of sudden, I thought again...HIVES! I have HIVES...wait...it's got to be the Zofran I'm allergic to after all.....not the Temodar! OMG...you can't even imagine how crazy happy I was. I call my oncologist, I tell her what happened and we agree, as rare as this type of reaction to Zofran is, this has to be my culprit. I confirm my appointment with her for Monday morning and we decide I will try taking my next regimen of treatment starting Monday, 3/22 by capsule form instead of IV, but not take Zofran prior to my dose. Over the weekend, the hives disappeared and all was right with the world.
Or so I thought!
Monday morning, 3/22 I go out to the Cancer Center at St. John's, get my labwork done and see Dr. Partridge for my 8am visit. We talk more about the Zofran reaction and we agree to be cautiously optimistic as we move forward with taking the Temodar by capsule. I leave her office with a new anti-nausea perscription just in case I need it. We agreed that I would try taking the Temodar without taking an anti-nausea pill so that we can officially rule out the Temodar and/or the dye in the capsule. Nervously, at 8:46am I take my 225mg of Temodar, by 9:06am I begin to tingle, itch and burn. I grab an Allegra pill and take it. After about 15 minutes, the Allegra seems to help...somewhat, but still red and itchy. I decided to lay down to sleep to attempt to ward off potential nausea. I napped for awhile then woke up vomiting and I have never been so cold in my life. I was buried under 2 electric blankets set on high, 3 regular blankets and a hot field corn bag and still could not get warm. This kept up for what seemed liked forever. At 12:20, my daugher Alison talked to my sister,Nurse Tracy and told her that I was turning beat red and purple, freezing and vomiting. Tracy called my doctor and was told that I should go to the emergency room right away. I was getting weaker and weaker, so we called 911....it's a good thing we did.
By the time I got to the emergency room, I was running a 103.5 fever (no wonder I was so cold!), my pulse was 120 and my blood pressure was 88/56 and my hands, feet and lips were deep purple....not a pretty sight and quite a dangerous, life threatening situation. When I was finally stabilized, I was moved to ICU Monday evening. I stayed in ICU until Tuesday afternoon and was moved to a room on the Oncology floor. This morning, I had a MRI to determine how things look in my head with the radiation and chemo treatments I've had so far. I was released from the hospital late this morning, but I am totally drained and spent. There is no possible way to sleep in a hospital, not to mention being drained from the trauma I just endured.
After much conversation with her collegues, my allergist and other oncologists from WashU and Duke, my oncologist feels that it is just too risky and way too dangerous to use Temodar anymore without causing life-threatening reactions. Of course I totally agree that we don't want to take that risk. After more discussion, there are some other drugs we can try.
So on Monday, 3/29, I will start a chemo drug called "Carboplatin". It can only be administered through infusion and can be taken once a month at full dose strength or twice a month with the full dose split into equal halves and taken 15 days between doses. I have opted to take the twice a month regimen to ensure that I will be able to tolerate the drug before I move to the once a month full strength dose. Please keep the prayers coming as I move on to try "Carboplatin" and pray that it will be a drug I can tolerate.
It's been quite an emotional and draining week and I want to thank everyone for your continued prayers and support. I know and trust the Lord safely and confidently carried me this week as I endured this very serious health situation. I believe He brought me through this to face the additional challenges and work he still has for me to do.
Jesus turned around and when he saw her he said, "Daughter, be encouraged, your faith has made you well." And the woman was healed at that moment. Matthew 9:22
As Easter approaches, let us pray God renews our strength.
Peace and love to all,
Sandy
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
What the heck am I allergic too??
The will of God will never take you where the grace of God will not protect you.
I am 1-1/2 weeks past the end of my weekly chemo treatment and I am still dealing with these crazy hives....they have just plain worn me out. They seem to come and go. One minute I'm hive free, the next minute my skin is turning rosey red, I start running a fever, and I get the chills. Then they go away. I continue this pattern all day long, Oh Brother!! At least I am no longer a swollen, itchy mess, so that's a blessing.
I saw my allergy doctor last week to talk with him about the possibility of being allergic to Blue Dye #2, which is in the capsule packaging of one of my pills. Unfortunately, there are no skin tests for dyes. Ok...let's keep looking....
Next, I contacted Shering-Plough, to find out if they make Temodar in a dye-free capsule or in tablet form. The answer to those questions were "No" and "No". So, I continue on with my process of elimination....
I saw my Medical Oncologist yesterday, I reviewed with her the research that I've done in trying to determine the root cause. This is the plan of action for my next treatment week which begins on Monday, March 22nd...
I am going to have the Temodar administered through Infusion at the same dosage level (225mg) as the capsules. I will go to St. John's everyday for 5 days, let them stick me with an IV and watch it drip for 90 minutes. WooHoo!! We should know soon enough if I am allergic to the drug or not. (When I took the capsules, I broke out with hives no more than 15 minutes after swallowing the pills.) Obviously, if I don't break out in hives, it's the dye. If I do, it's the Temodar. Please pray, it's the dye!!
I guess for me, March really came in like a Lion!! Let's pray that as Spring arrives and I start my next treatment, March goes out like a Lamb!!
Have a great week every one. Thank you for all the prayers and kind thoughts sent my way.
Through faith I overcome every limitation. I know that God's power in me is greater than any situation I may have to meet or overcome; God is greater than any condition or circumstance.
I walk by faith and not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7
Until next time, many blessings.....
Sandy
I am 1-1/2 weeks past the end of my weekly chemo treatment and I am still dealing with these crazy hives....they have just plain worn me out. They seem to come and go. One minute I'm hive free, the next minute my skin is turning rosey red, I start running a fever, and I get the chills. Then they go away. I continue this pattern all day long, Oh Brother!! At least I am no longer a swollen, itchy mess, so that's a blessing.
I saw my allergy doctor last week to talk with him about the possibility of being allergic to Blue Dye #2, which is in the capsule packaging of one of my pills. Unfortunately, there are no skin tests for dyes. Ok...let's keep looking....
Next, I contacted Shering-Plough, to find out if they make Temodar in a dye-free capsule or in tablet form. The answer to those questions were "No" and "No". So, I continue on with my process of elimination....
I saw my Medical Oncologist yesterday, I reviewed with her the research that I've done in trying to determine the root cause. This is the plan of action for my next treatment week which begins on Monday, March 22nd...
I am going to have the Temodar administered through Infusion at the same dosage level (225mg) as the capsules. I will go to St. John's everyday for 5 days, let them stick me with an IV and watch it drip for 90 minutes. WooHoo!! We should know soon enough if I am allergic to the drug or not. (When I took the capsules, I broke out with hives no more than 15 minutes after swallowing the pills.) Obviously, if I don't break out in hives, it's the dye. If I do, it's the Temodar. Please pray, it's the dye!!
I guess for me, March really came in like a Lion!! Let's pray that as Spring arrives and I start my next treatment, March goes out like a Lamb!!
Have a great week every one. Thank you for all the prayers and kind thoughts sent my way.
Through faith I overcome every limitation. I know that God's power in me is greater than any situation I may have to meet or overcome; God is greater than any condition or circumstance.
I walk by faith and not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7
Until next time, many blessings.....
Sandy
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