Weighty issues

As I mentioned in the previous post, on July 11, 2011 to July 14, 2011, Carl had his 16th course of Chemotherapy.  It was the hardest course of chemotherapy Carl had had to date.  


Carl's weight had been holding stable within a 10-15 pound range for the duration of his cancer since 2009.  He may have been at 160-165 pounds in 2009, and during chemotherapy he might drop up to 10 pounds, which he would then usually gain back most of the weight before the next round of chemo.  The surgeries (in 2011) really knocked Carl down, but he would gain most of the weight back.  But here is a recent history of weight.  All of the weights here were taken at the Doctors office on the Doctor's scales.


On May 16, 2011, Carl weighed 154 pounds.
On May 18, 2011, Carl weighed 153 pounds.
On May 23, 2011, Carl weighed 149 pounds.
On May 27, 2011, Carl weighed 146 pounds.
On June 9, 2011, Carl weighed 148 pounds.
On June 16, 2011, Carl weighed 158 pounds.
       JUNE 18, 2011 - Neck surgery
On July 7, 2011, Carl weighed 141 pounds.
On July 14, 2011, Carl weighed 142 pounds.
       JULY 11, 2011 to July 14, 2011 inpatient Chemotherapy 
On July 28, 2011, Carl weighed 131 pounds.  
       This is the lightest Carl was been since high school.  

On August 2, 2011, Carl weighed 137 pounds.

The July 2011 Chemotherapy Course really left Carl with little appetite and strength.  Of all the cancer months, this is the time Carl spent the most time in bed.  The next chemotherapy course was postponed, and then postponed again.  Carl has regained his appetite, a bit, and his energy, somewhat, and he is now back to work when he doesn't have doctor appointments.  Now it seems he may have chemotherapy on August 29, 2011.

In the meanwhile, Carl leg has been hurting more.  This has not helped things.  Carl uses crutches and/or the walker all the time.  An MRI on July 16, 2011 gave us the information for a procedure that might help (a cyto ablation followed by an injection of epoxy directly into the bone), but we only met the the doctor to talk about the MRI on Aug 2, 2011.  I wish now we had not allowed the 6 week delay, but Carl was really dragging and we dropped the ball.  We set up a procedure for August 26, 2011, the earliest time available with all the doctors vacations and what not.  Now the leg has gotten worse, and so we wait again, to find out more.  

At least the summer weather has been great for all this waiting around that Carl and I seem to be doing.  I hope your summer has been going well. 

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Chemotherapy Course Summary

Carl asked me recently how many chemotherapy "rounds" or "courses" he has been through. I didn't know, so I thought I would summarize them.  Websters dictionary defines a "course" of chemotherapy as a "series of doses or medications administered over a designated period".  Carl's doses of chemotherapy are three week blocks time.  He gets the chemo drugs to start the chemotherapy course, and the rest of the "course" is built in recovery time before he can get the drugs again. 

Dec 28, 2009 to Jan 1, 2010 Chemotherapy Course No. 1,
Main drug was Ifosomide, with concurrent radiation to the neck.

Jan 18, 2010 to Jan 22, 2010 Chemotherapy Course No. 2 - five days inpatient (meaning he stays at the hospital the whole time, overnight as well.)
Main drugs were Ifosomide and Adryomycin.

Feb 8, 2010 to Feb 12, 2010 Chemotherapy Course No. 3 - five days inpatient
Main drugs were Ifosomide and Adryomycin.

[ Feb 22, 2010 Pet Scan and MRI's. ]

Mar 1, 2010 to Mar 4, 2010 Chemotherapy Course No. 4 - five days inpatient
Main drugs were Ifosomide and Adryomycin.

April 19, 2010 Chemotherapy Course No. 5 
dose of ? on day 1 and day 8 with concurrent
[ April 20, to May 7, 2010] Weekday radiation treatments to the leg.

[ May 17, 2010 Pet Scan ]

May 24, 2010 Chemotherapy Course No. 6 - 
Day 1 and Day 8 dose of

Gemzar (also known as Gemcitabine) and
Taxotere, (generic name - Docetaxel)


June 24, 2010 Chemotherapy Course No. 7 - Day 1 and Day 8 dose of

Gemzar (also known as Gemcitabine) and
Taxotere, (generic name - Docetaxel)

July 12, 2010 Chemotherapy Course No. 8 - Day 1 and Day 8 dose of 
Gemzar (also known as Gemcitabine) and
Taxotere, (generic name - Docetaxel)

[ July 22, 2010 Pet Scan ]

Aug 9, 2010 to Aug 13, 2010 Chemotherapy Course No. 9 - five days inpatient
Main drugs were Ifosomide and Adryomycin.

Aug 31, 2010 to Sept 4, 2010 Chemotherapy Course No. 10 - five days inpatient
Main drugs were Ifosomide and Adryomycin.

Sept 24, 2010 to Sept 29, 2010 Chemotherapy Course No. 11 - five days inpatient
Main drugs were Ifosomide and Adryomycin.

[ Oct 4, 2010 Pet Scan ]

Oct 18, 2010 Chemotherapy Course No. 12 - Day 1 and Day 8 dose
Main drug was Irinotecan

Nov 11, 2010 Chemotherapy Course No. 13 - Day 1 and Day 8 dose
Main drugs were Irinotecan and Vinecristine

Dec 6, 2010 to Dec 10, 2010 Chemotherapy Course No. 14 - five days inpatient
Main drug was Ifosomide

Dec 27, 2010 to Dec 30, 2010 Chemotherapy Course No. 15 - five days inpatient
Main drug was Ifosomide

July 11, 2011 to July 14, 2011 Chemotherapy Course No. 16 - five days inpatient
Main drugs were Ifosomide and Etopocide

Lance Armstong only had to have 4 courses of Chemotherapy, according to Carl, who recently read Lance's book.
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