Chemotherapy

We met with Dr. Haider this morning before the treatments. I told him that I had shortness of breath to the point where I could not lay down to sleep last night.

He said that, at least initially, we should avoid doing a pleurodesis which is the procedure that seals off the pleural cavity. It is an invasive procedure that could have complications and will delay the start of chemotherapy. The Avastin, in particular, has a tendency to promote bleeding.

He said that the chemotherapy should slow or stop the fluid build-up. He would prefer that I not even have the pleurocenthesis. I told him I didn't think the I could tolerate anymore breathing decrease. We agreed that we would start the first 2 medications (Taxol and Carboplatin) and I would get the pleurocentesis done ASAP (tomorrow). If after 2 chemo treatments I don't get relief. We will go ahead with the pleurodesis. If the S.O.B is lessened we will stsrt the Avastin.

Dr. Haider showed me the PET scan and the cancer. There is more than I expected. The tumors look more like small nuggets than spots. There is a cluster in the top of the pleural cavity that is just below my right shoulder, which is painful. He gave me the hardcopy reports of the scans as well as the digital files.

Other than nodding off I had no reaction during he chemotherapy administration. The nine chairs in the treatment room were almost always filled with patients ranging from teens to 80s. A few more men than women. Some were there for less than an hour. I was there the whole day.