A Much Needed Break

Dad is doing pretty well, and we're celebrating the half-way point of his chemo treatments.  (Ok, I'm celebrating silently inside my head; he, on the other hand, has a good deal of trepidation about making a big deal about being at the half-way point.)

After a week of feeling absolutely terrible, having no appetite, diarrhea, and low platelets, the oncologist decided Dad could have a one week break from the regimen.  He loved having that week off.  He ate and enjoyed hamburgers almost 5 days in a row!   That metal taste from the chemo subsided, allowing him to enjoy eating again... and eat he did.

Yesterday, he started another chemo treatment, and although his spaghetti dinner was well tolerated, he said he can tell the side effects of the chemo are ramping up again.  Good news is that his platelets were back up to a healthy number - another reason to be happy. 

I was teasing him tonight suggesting that perhaps he'll grow a full head of hair when this is over!  He liked that idea very much and we shared a good laugh.

Happy 4th of July!

Hard to believe it's been almost an entire month since providing an update.   Dad is tolerating chemo treatments pretty well.  He's had lost of odd side effects: sensitive to eating and touching cold things, food tastes funny, he's always cold, nosebleeds, sensation of air blowing up into the nostrils, and a list almost as long as my arm -- all of which (the doctor tells him) is normal.  He's getting used to anticipating when his "real bad" days are gonna be, usually Thursday-Friday-Saturday after getting the pump removed, which happens every other week.

As of last week, his platelets were a little low.   More blood work will be done Monday, and next Tuesday will begin round 3 (of  6).  Looking forward to celebrating the half-way mark!

Other than occasional depression, Dad looks real good to me.

Thanks, as always, for your love, support and cards.