Completed my first combined drug therapy infusion on Wednesday. I feel I’m managing it pretty well, but a few of my mild side effects flared up as a little reminder the first night. Nothing bad, but a possible view into the near future. We want to see this type of activity because it indicates that the activity of my immune system is increasing and impacting my body, and by extension the cancer. I’ve been using my sunburn analogy (seriously, did anyone not expect an analogy?) to describe the rate of presentation for side effects.
When you first go out into the sun, if you stay out longer and longer eventually you will get sunburned. But if you go out already sunburned, the reaction comes much quicker. The single drug therapy took about 4 months, in my case, to present consistent side effects at a low level. The expectation is it will be 3-4 weeks with the dual therapy, so we’re watching closely and hoping for as mild an impact as possible.
The process is basically the same, with a half hour of time to flush the IV, and then an additional half hour for the second drug. They are administered sequentially, and now are measured as a function of my weight, not a standard volume each time. Should take around 3 hours all together. The 4 treatments should finish by year’s end.
This session had us at the Oncologists Office and Infusion Center for about 5 hours because they just put in a new computer system for all the hospital. So doctor was running late. My account was closed once the oncologist signed off in the tool even though I had received no infusions yet. The pharmacy was behind. The NPs didn’t have logins yet, etc. etc., etc.
As we sat and waited, and listened to the frustrated activity around us, I wondered if 2020 has made me more patient or just numb. Just glad I have been able to avoid the system upgrades and relaunches throughout businesses while focusing on treatment.
Looking to a time that those will be the only kind of issue(s) we’re asked to deal with.
Stay Safe, Be Kind
❤️