Friday June 19, 09 Second cycle of Gemzar and Docetaxel

Val was feeling well last night and into today as she began the pre treatment steroids at dinner last night. I will attest for her that she is eating much better; french toast for breakfast, egg salad sandwich for lunch with a big peanut butter cookie, and pasta with sauce for dinner with garlic bread. As a treat, I made some chocolate chip cookies and bought some strawberry sorbet for dessert.

Val received both chemo drugs at 80% today. This is considered her second cycle. The treatments are every 21 days one Friday followed by the next Friday is considered one cycle. We asked if we delayed the next treatment by one or two weeks to get her to Maine (if she wants to go for a long weekend) how would that impact her treatment. He said that would be fine and wouldn't hurt Val. The doctor said a repeat CAT scan would be done after cycle number 3 or 4. He also said that he won't change her type of chemo after the Cat scan results. This is the chemo she will continue to receive.

The Doctor explained to Val, Dad and I that Val has a rare type of ovarian cancer that is resistant to chemo therapy. The chemo is not curative, but definitely slowing down the rate of cancer progression. The doctor said of course it is her choice to continue or not the chemo treatments. He instructed her to decide herself when the side effects of the chemo were too much. As of right, now she wants to continue.

Val's hemoglobin went from 6.7 to 9.4 (normal is 11.8-15.8). Val's RBC went from 2.23 to 3.02 (normal is 3.8- 5.2). Her platelets remain on the low side at 102 (normal is 150-400). The WBC went from a 4.0 to 7.1 (normal is 4-10). Her neutraphil count is 3.19 ( normal is 1.8-7.8).
Val received a shot to day which will boost her RBC production over the next 2-3 weeks called Aranesp (darbepoetin alfa). The VNA nurse will come tomorrow on Saturday to give her the Neulasta shot which will boost her WBC count over the next week. The unexplainable low grade fever Val has been running remains unexplainable or could be just her body response to the fight between the cancer and chemo.

It has been a special weekend between Baine's oldest son Cote graduating High School on Thursday night to helping Val and Dad at chemo and at home.
Love and Prayers to Val always.....Salynn