Today Mr. T starts the nasty chemo called 'cyclophosphamide'. He will get this drug once a day for 4 days. There is nothing nice to say about this drug...it's a poison...but it's necessary. It's a very strong chemo drug...meant to destroy his immune system in preparation for his bone marrow transplant. Along with this drug...Mr. T will also take Dexamethasone which is a steroid.Many people taking cyclophosphamide do not have serious side effects. Side-effects include chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV), bone marrow suppression, stomach ache, diarrhea, darkening of the skin/nails, alopecia (hair loss), changes in color and texture of the hair, and lethargy. Hemorrhagic cystitis is a frequent complication, but this is prevented by adequate fluid intake and Mesna (sodium 2-mercaptoethane sulfonate). Mesna is a sulfhydryl donor and binds acrolein.
Cyclophosphamide is itself carcinogenic, potentially causing transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder as a long-term complication. It can lower the body's ability to fight an infection. It can cause temporary or (rarely) permanent sterility. Although it is used to treat cancer, it may increase the risk of developing another form of cancer, sometimes months to years after treatment.
Other (serious) side effects include:
pink/bloody urine,
unusual decrease in the amount of urine,
mouth sores,
unusual tiredness or weakness,
joint pain,
easy bruising/bleeding,
stopping of menstrual periods,
existing wounds that are slow healing.
Cyclophosphamide is itself carcinogenic, potentially causing transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder as a long-term complication. It can lower the body's ability to fight an infection. It can cause temporary or (rarely) permanent sterility. Although it is used to treat cancer, it may increase the risk of developing another form of cancer, sometimes months to years after treatment.
Other (serious) side effects include:
pink/bloody urine,
unusual decrease in the amount of urine,
mouth sores,
unusual tiredness or weakness,
joint pain,
easy bruising/bleeding,
stopping of menstrual periods,
existing wounds that are slow healing.
Today Mr. T ordered breakfast from the menu...then he had a small pepperoni pizza followed by a 6 inch meatball sub & later he had 2 hotdogs from the vendor. Right after he threw up everything! They gave him gravol...and then morphine.
Later he asked me to get him Timbits which he kept down. I had thought or believed that he would be a lot sicker...but so far...so good! Every kid is different. Some kids are very sick when they are on this drug...and others seem to sail through it. You just never know!
1 comment:
I've kept coming by and looking for posts and suddenly there are a ton of posts for me to read. Matty, I think you might have the start of a book here with Tayten's daily fight and your growing expertise in the subject. We here in Ohio are still praying for your whole family and trying to understand the courage you all show. God Bless you! The name might confuse you, but I think you know that this is Kacey and I feel some secret posts coming on at my place. (((((HUGS)))))
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