So the plan is in place. Chemotherapy with no change except the venue - the hospital. The only difference is that I am now on a beta blocker which could prevent the vasospasm or it might do nothing at all. Basically, they want to induce the same reaction I had last week but this time they will be recording it as it happens and I will have a bunch of nitroglycerin tablets to suck on so I don’t drop dead on the spot from a heart attack. So I will be hospitalized for the duration of the chemo treatment or two whole days which is what I was hoping for. They theorize I may have vasculitis, and if it is, it’s caused by the 5-FU.
There’s still a lot to talk about. It’s all really up in the air at this point. I could have a reaction or could not. If I have one, it could be better, the same, or worse than what I had last week. They’ll stop the chemo if I have a reaction but then what? It depends on the data they see. There is still a decision to be made here about weighing the risks now versus later. I’m seeing my primary tomorrow to talk about the plan and I will be speaking with a cardiologist before Tuesday to try and get as many minds on this as I can. The goal is to get chemotherapy without dying during it. I think I can pull that off.
Related posts:
Ray,
Good lord, this is a lot for you to have to go through. What can we do to help? Anything? I am so glad for your blog because I read it every day to stay caught up. I’m sending good thoughts your way and I hope to get back up to see you soon.
Shawn
Comment by Shawn — 2008.09.26 @ 7:55 am
Ray–sorry–meant to ask you–when exactly will you be going into the hospital? Or is that not known yet?
Shawn
Comment by Shawn — 2008.09.26 @ 8:02 am
Hi Ray,
I’ve been keeping up to date on your experience. This delay in your chemo treatment brings the phrase “adding insult to injury” to a new level. I am so sorry. BUT. Stay strong and keep after the doctors with all your questions and ideas. Bill and I are thinking about you. Give our love to Christina and the kids. Best, Best, Best, Lucy
Comment by lucy (your sometimes neighbor — 2008.09.26 @ 2:20 pm
Positive Ray,
Glad I saw you today. Loved the foo foo French video.
M
Comment by Mary Griffith — 2008.09.26 @ 4:25 pm
Hey Lucy, Shawn, and Mary. Shawn, all I need is to know you and Slava are there for me. Thanks for the gift and I hope to see you both soon. I’m in Vassar hospital this coming Tuesday and Wednesday.
Comment by Raymond Schwartz — 2008.09.26 @ 8:22 pm
Dear Ray,
Twenty five years from now I will bring up your cancer events, without mumbling my words. We both will marvel that so much time could pass so fast.
Mike
Comment by Mike Powers — 2008.09.27 @ 6:08 am
And Twenty-five years from now I’ll still be repeating that phrase back to you periodically … and then you said, (’course I won’t remember it precisely the way you said it, it will have my own embellishments, if not for the better.) you said, “so, um… what I’m trying to do here, my goal, would be to GET chemo, y’see, without dying DURING said chemo.”
And it may or may not be funny, depending on comedic stylings of the time. But we won’t know what’s funny. We’ll be pretty old at that point.
Comment by Brian — 2008.09.30 @ 3:27 pm