pill popping - cycle 1, day 2

If you have undergone chemotherapy, you will know that the hospital visits when drugs are administered are only part of the process. If chemotherapy is new to you, you might be surprised to learn that a lot of other other medication is given around the chemo treatment.  Curious?  Read on!  If you know this already, skip to the bottom of today's post...

Cycle 1, day 2 of Steve's Alimta/carboplatin treatment, and the table at breakfast this morning looks like a pharmacy counter....To give you a better idea of what's involved, here is the medication timetable that goes hand in hand with this particular chemo regime:

Daily for the duration of the treatment and beyond
Folic acid tablets

Every 9 weeks during treatment
Vitamin B12 injections

The day before chemo

• 7-9 am:  2 dexamethasone steroid anti-sickness tablets
• 12-2 pm: 2 dexamethasone steroid anti-sickness tablets

Chemo day 1

• 7-9 am: 4 dexamethasone steroid anti-sickness tablets; 1-2 metoclopramide anti-sickness tablets; 1 ondanestron anti-sickness tablet 30-60 minutes before chemo
• 12-2 pm: 4 dexamethasone steroid anti-sickness tablets; 1-2 metoclopramide anti-sickness tablets
• 6-8 pm: 1-2 metoclopramide anti-sickness tablets
• 10-12 pm:1-2 metoclopramide anti-sickness tablets; 1 ondanestron anti-sickness tablet bedtime dose 12 hours after morning dose

Chemo Day 2

• 7-9 am: 4 dexamethasone steroid anti-sickness tablets; 1-2 metoclopramide anti-sickness tablets; 1 ondanestron anti-sickness tablet 
• 12-2 pm: 2 dexamethasone steroid anti-sickness tablets; 1-2 metoclopramide anti-sickness tablets
• 6-8 pm: 1-2 metoclopramide anti-sickness tablets
• 10-12 pm: 1-2 metoclopramide anti-sickness tablets

Chemo Day 3

• 7-9 am: 2 dexamethasone steroid anti-sickness tablets; 1-2 metoclopramide anti-sickness tablets
• 12-2 pm: 2 dexamethasone steroid anti-sickness tablets; 1-2 metoclopramide anti-sickness tablets
• 6-8 pm: 1-2 metoclopramide anti-sickness tablets
• 10-12 pm: 1-2 metoclopramide anti-sickness tablets

Chemo Day 4

• 7-9 am: 2 dexamethasone steroid anti-sickness tablets
• metoclopramide anti-sickness tablets as required, up to four times daily

Chemo Day 5

• 7-9 am: 1 dexamethasone steroid anti-sickness tablets
• metoclopramide anti-sickness tablets as required, up to four times daily

Side effects

It really is early days, but the good news is that Steve hasn't felt any nausea or been sick overnight.  He enjoyed last night's meal and wine without any metallic off-tastes. We were both in bed about an hour earlier than usual - it's been a stressful time for various reasons recently and neither of us have been sleeping very well, so that's not surprising....

He woke up on and off during the night.  This is his usual sleeping pattern these days, the only difference last night was that he felt more awake during these periods, probably because of the steroids (which shouldn't be taken after 4 pm, unless you like being high on the ceiling very late at night!)  

The vein in his arm where chemo was administered is stinging this morning, but not horribly painful.  Otherwise, no noticeable side effects so far.  

The thought that this regime is going to continue for 5-6 months is not a pleasant one.  However, if we think of it in terms of sessions, then it's one down, five to go - which suddenly sounds much more manageable :-)

Thanks to everyone for your good wishes and support - very much appreciated, as always!