Bad times and better times

We began treating my cancer with two drugs; the infusions of Gemzar that we had already used, and 5FU, a new drug that is added to my TPN and is slowly delivered over a 24 hour period. At first, we were using a full dose (400mg) every day. that lasted for about two weeks until I grew so weak and depressed that I could no longer tolerate it. I began asking Cindy to lessen the dose to half and then finally to stop the drug altogether. Once the 5FU was stopped I began to regain my strength and my spirits improved.

We met with Doctor McElveen and we agreed that I should restart the 5FU, but just half a dose and do it every-other-day instead of every day.

We restarted the half dose (200mg) in my TPN bag again this past Friday evening. I was awaken Saturday morning at 3:00am with pain and nausea so bad that all I could do is sit up in bed and cry. Cindy got up and got me a Fentanyl patch and a Zopherin and was finally able to get back to sleep. Most of the pain was gone when the alarm clock went off later that morning, but I had pain and fatigue all that day. I am glad that it was only half a dose and that I don't have to do it every day!

My neighbor and fellow cancer fighter, Wayne Whitten died this past Friday afternoon. I will miss him very much, but am glad that his battles are now over and that he is at peace. His funeral service is this afternoon. We will attend that and then rush over to Oak Grove Elementary School to meet Lydia's 5K Teacher and some of her new classmates. Lydia is so excited about going to the "Big School". It is neat that Cindy, David (my oldest son), Jennifer (my oldest daughter) and Lydia will all attend Oak Grove Elementary School.

Well, that is all for now. I am doing much better now and am looking forward to cooler weather. Once we get back to nothing over 90 I will try to get out and go golfing. I think I could shoot 9 holes right now!

If any of my readers has dealt with 5FU I would very much like to hear from you about your experiences with that drug. I have had extremely dry skin on both hands, fatigue, body aches and nausea. Please let me know if you have had similar effects.

Your brother in Christ,
Mack