And So The Process Starts

Hello to All,

This week I went to see Dr. Dean, the Oncologist at Sloan.  Nice bloke with an easy going and friendly manner.  Spent time with him and some of his staff going over what to expect from the chemotherapy over the coming weeks. Here's the deal.

They use a GC cocktail which apparently is equally effective as previous cocktails, but far less toxic and therefore has reduced side effects.  I am also participating in a clinical trial for a drug that has shown great improvement with kidney cancer and they are trialing it for bladder cancer.  

Chemo starts 18th May on a 3 weeks cycle.  I get juiced up once per week for the first two weeks along with a pill for the first 14 days.  For the third week the ol' bod gets a rest -nice one.  This completes one 21 day cycle and I have to go through 4 cycles -12 weeks total. They have some other drugs for me to take to help reduce side effects, primarily nausea, and I should expect to be a little tired during this period and usually anemic at the end of the 12 weeks, hence the 4 to 8 weeks waiting period before surgery.  

They said I can do the chemo either in the city or out at the Sloan satellite in Commack which is 10 minutes from home. I am thinking I will transfer to Commack after the first couple of rounds in the city.

On the upside, the Doc said that the occasional glass of wine (note the singular) would be fine and not to dramatically change my diet, except cutting out caffeine. 

So now I have a few tests -Blood work, CT scan and EKG- to complete before chemo starts and away we go.  Oh boy, this is some ride.

My son, Dominic, is visiting me this weekend from Chicago and the weather looks like it will cooperate.  Think we'll have a brill time.

Be well to All,
Chris