Round 4: This one is all Toad's #5

If you'll recall, Dr. Ansari started Johnny on an a new medicine to help with the "Anticipatory Nausea" after the rough start to the last round of chemo. It was mostly successful.

Johnny had a GREAT day yesterday (Sunday) . . . He looked good, he sounded good, he even moved around like himself (well, almost). I could tell the new medicines were kicking in. No nausea or vomiting last night in anticipation of today at all. No vomiting today until he actually had the port accessed. We talked this over with the good Dr. and it was decided to go ahead and double the happy pills and to maintain the overall use of Ativan for daily nausea/anxiety.

Dr. Ansari continues to be concerned with the overall amount of nausea that Johnny is experiencing immediately post-chemo. We tried the HABR cream and that only gave minor relief overall, and certainly not worth it's cost when others (covered by insurance) do the job as well. So, we nixed that one. This week we are trying the Sancuso Patch. It is a 5-day patch that is basically a Zofran-class anti-emetic. (We like Zofran.) Fingers crossed everyone. Also, instead of Pepcid OTC, he switched Johnny to the more powerful Protonix (a proton pump inhibitor, for you medical types out there). I think that will also help with the nausea, since it will cut down significantly on the amount of acid reflux he experiences. We are really hoping these are successful. Dr. Ansari would like him to stop losing weight (he dropped another 6 pounds this cycle) and I would like him to take the weight I have gained. If only I could donate to him.

Over the last several days we've talked about how much we would like to know if the chemo is working. We thought it would be about the first of June before a scan was done, but Dr. Ansari wants to know as much as we do evidently, so next Tuesday Johnny is having a CT scan. I am nervous and excited at the same time. I just pray that it shows some improvement, any improvement at all.

We were really happy today with his lab results. His liver enzymes came down a good deal, and his CBC levels went back up to the normal range. Last cycle I thought for sure we were looking at an impending transfusion. He has steered away from that for now. Whew.

Really, the only "bad" thing that happened today was that they tried to give him Phenergan for nausea before starting the chemo agent and it ended up making the neuropathy in his feet go crazy . . . think restless leg syndrome gone wild. He absolutely could not stop moving his feet and legs. It was pitiful to watch. Finally, after a couple injections of Ativan, he settled down and was able to fall asleep. Deep sleep. It was hard to wake him up for the filling of the pump. He basically dozed through that whole procedure.

So, now he is back home and in his own bed. He just asked for the remaining left-over Pete's Patio pizza and a Gatorade. That makes me happy.

Oh, and before I go, I want EVERYONE to mark their calendars for July 9-10. That is the date for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life here in Niles, and we want everyone to be on Team Toad. This is the first time we have had a team in the event and we want to show them how we roll. Coincidentally, July 9th is Johnny's birthday, so you know we will have a birthday bash for him there. Also, it marks one year since his diagnosis. We would like everyone to celebrate along with us in his victory over colon cancer and his impending victory over liver cancer! We need team members to collect donations, walk the track, and hang out with us at Toad Central! More details soon . . . just mark your calendars and lace up your walking shoes!