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.
9122

Post July 12 Chemo

Carl had outpatient chemotherapy on Monday, July 12, 2010. The main drugs Carl got were Gemzar (also known as Gemcitabine) - and Taxotere, (generic name - Docetaxel). He came home and biked and had a great dinner. I think the Dexamethasone, (a steroid) prescribed by the oncologist, really help him. Wow.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010, Carl went to work, biked when he came home, and ate very cautiously. He says he feels well when he doesn't eat much.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010, Carl went to work. He was beginning to get tired earlier, and he ate cautiously, and he went to bed before 8:00 PM, but he did get some exercise (biking) in. Since I think exercise is important in fighting cancer, I am glad. And if nothing else, Carl slept very well tonight. I don't think he even heard any of the thunder that sounded like it was coming from right overhead.

I wrote this in July, and never posted it. I guess now is better then never.

Vacation, Fathers Day, and Chemo

Carl's outpatient chemotherapy on May 24 and June 1, 2010 left him feeling the worst he felt post chemo. His leg was in such sad shape that the chemotherapy scheduled for June 14, 2010 and June 21, 2010 was canceled - his leg needs time to heal. He couldn't bend his knee or exercise. Fortunately, as June progressed, Carl leg improved, and he get lots of rest. Carl went to work the week of June 14, and on Thursday, June 17, he went to Church for the first time in a while. Miranda's VBS (Vacation Bible School) sang at the service.



Friday, June 18, 2010, Carl's hair was falling out so fast that he asked me to quickly shave it before work. It was about an inch long, and now it is gone again. However, because the chemotherapy was canceled, we were able to visit a friend up North at her house on a lake near Crivitz - a mini vacation.


Saturday and Sunday, June 19-20, 2010, We were up North! It was beautiful and very restive. Carl slept a lot. Carl had a nice Father's Day.

Sunday night we had a father's day party with friends. Here is the whole family on Father's day.


Wednesday, June 23, 2010, Carl was finally able to bend his leg enough to exercise on a stationary bike at the YMCA. (We recently got a membership).

Thursday, June 24, 2010, Carl met with the Dr.; his leg had healed enough and he got a dose of Chemotherapy. The main drugs Carl got were Gemzar (also known as Gemcitabine) - and Taxotere, (generic name - Docetaxel). He last got this drug combination on June 1, and felt very unwell after it. We are hoping this time his reaction will be more tolerable. The oncologist reduced the dosage of Taxotere.


Friday, June 25, 2010 Carl went to work and got his Neulasta shot around 6:00 PM. This is the shortest time we have had to wait for the Newlasta shot, I guess we should bring all four children more often.

(Carl is hamming it up for the photo below - I promise... The nurse was wonderful.

Saturday, June 26, 2010: This was the Day that Mequon has their 4th of July celebration - (The Fun before the Forth, they call it.) Carl felt OK for the parade and park visit, and went to sleep early while I went to the fireworks with two of the children.


Sunday, June 27, 2010: Carl got up after a lot of sleep and made it to church - It's very peaceful and easier to do when the four children are sleeping in. Then Carl came home and took a nice long nap, woke up for several hours around dinner time, and felt well enough to eat. His leg feels much better, (he can bend it!). The current chmoetherapy makes him feel light headed and tired, but so far he is doing better then last time, (knock on wood). Tomorrow should be the worst day, if past trends are any indication.