Day 15 - Another Round of Platelets and Vincristine

Its hard to believe that today marked Catherine's 15th day of treatment. While it feels like time is standing still, the calendar reminds me that it is now March with Spring right around the corner. Today we made the hour long trip up the oncologist's office in Guilford, Connecticut for another transfusion of platelets, blood tests and a third dose of Vincristine. I am appalled to note that I can't even recall the number of platelets Catherine has received through the first 15 days of her protocol. My best guess without going back through her medical records would be around 6-8. I only mention this to illustrate how important it is for people to donate blood and platelets when they are healthy. Each patient treated for leukemia responds differently to the treament but it is fairly easy to see the amount of blood and platelets consumed each year only by leukemia patients. Theresa and I and the rest of the family are not allowed to donate at this time. While our doctors do not anticipate Catherine ever needing a bone marrow transplant, should the day ever come, the bone marrow cannot be donated by someone who has also donated blood and platelets to her. When this ordeal is over, we definitely plan to become regular donors to the general pool.

Catherine is currently following a fairly standard protocol for the treatment of ALL. She receives oral steroids twice daily for the first 29 days along with several preventative antibiotics to protect her from bacterial infections as her immune system is non-existent. Her ANC (absolute neturophil count) on Monday was 8. To put in perspective, a reading of 500 or greater is needed for Catherine to have visitors or go to a play date. In addition, Catherine has received 2 doses of chemo in her spinal fluid on Day 1 and Day 8 and PEG asparaginase administered into her thigh muscle via an injection on Day 4 (this powerful shot is designed to starve the leukemia cells of its food supply). Lastly, Catherine is on the drug Vincristine. She has received it on Day 1, Day 8 and today Day 15. The Vincristine is administered through her catheter implanted in her chest which leads to a sub clavicle vein. Following her Vincristine treatments, Catherine exhibits the common side effects of the drug including jaw/tooth pain, back pain, headache, weakness and balance issues.

All the medicine and treatments Catherine has received over the past 15 days are beginning to have a noticeable impact on just about everything in Catherine's life. The oral steroids have resulted in an unsatiable appetite. Catherine awakens 2 to 4 times a night with hunger pains which continue incessantly until she falls asleep. My guess is she consumes more calories a day than both Theresa and I combined. One day last week she ate 15 egg sandwiches along with pasta, potato chips and various other snacks. The steroids have also changed her appearance. While she always had a "roundish" face, her cheeks have grown much larger and her belly looks like her dad's stomach. She has a cute little pot belly resulting from the retention of fluids. The medicine cocktail she takes has also sapped all of her energy. She fatigues easily and spends most of the day sitting in her favorite spot on the couch watching TV or playing an occasional game of hungry hungry hippo with me. She has started napping again (she has not napped since she was 2) and even falls asleep 1 full hour before her normal bed time. Perhaps the most frustrating part of the medicine is the impact on her personality. We were warned by the doctors that they will have a very profound and extreme impact on her moods. Boy were they right. In one minute she will be speaking lovingly about her brother Alex to instantly enraged like Linda Blair in The Exorcist by something someone does or says. We know her mood swings are not her true personality but it is still very frustrating and causes angst as we can't console her or calm her down.

Well I have written a decent amount for now. As always, Theresa and I are very grateful for all the best wishes and help we have received.