Office visit 6/28 and the start of chemo round #3

06/28 10:15
ANC 4712

Doc A and Doc P checked on Alan today and agreed the tumor is most definitely getting smaller, so they've decided to adjust the chemo for round #3. Doxorubicin has hard limits on how much can be administered before there is serious risk of heart damage, so we are holding off on it (saving it in case we really need it). Instead, he'll get Vincristine today along with Irinotecan for the next five days. Instead an MRI, Alan got another pelvic and abdominal ultrasound. It's less invasive and still gives us good information. After some initial protesting about being put into the crib for the exam, Alan lay back for the ultrasound and quietly watched the pictures and sounds of his tummy.



We are completing our tour of the HEM/ONC ward by finally staying in the only room we haven't been in before. It's a little small, but that combined with the extended tubing on Alan's IV line has meant he's been able to move around the room. That's given him a little more freedom than previous hospital visits, although it means a lot more supervision by Mommy or Daddy. Updates to the blog probably won't be coming until late at night when he's asleep for that reason!

Alan was busy this weekend and was tired enough from all the fun to nap while laying with his head in Mommy's lap. One minute he was eating puffs, the next he had fallen asleep, his face still covered in crumbs. His appetite, stimulated by the steroids he got last weekend when a high fever brought him back to the hospital, has remained good. He's been very happy, hungry and active all week. Alan handled the Irinotecan well last summer, so hopefully things won't change too much this week.


The hospital's not so bad when you're not stuck in a crib all day!