Now that the chemotherapy and radiation have ended, Steve is able to eat again. He is already eating small meals and his energy level is much improved. Yesterday, they went to Dr. Hu's and had a positive meeting. Steve was cleared to go back to work on April 2nd with the stipulation that he be allowed to rest when needed. Dr. Hu is monitoring his blood work as the platelet levels dropped from the chemotherapy. He took more blood work Friday and called this morning to let them know the platelet level dropped again to the 46,000 level and his creatinine levels were off. They need to see their primary doctor, Dr. Cox on Monday to check again and drink plenty of fluids in the meantime. Steve is able to drink now, since the nausea is gone. He couldn't in the last week since even a little fluid sent him off the the bathroom to throw up. We expect his blood work to return back to normal because he is off the chemo and because he can eat and drink normally again.
The schedule for the next round of care is a MRI April 20th. There is a 50/50 chance of getting a false positive reading for a tumor left over from the symptoms of the radiation, which causes swelling. After that, Steve will have two rounds of maintenance chemotherapy: two cycles of 5 days of pills followed by 23 days off for 2 months; then another MRI. Then they reassess how often those cycles are repeated based on the findings. The dose of the chemo will be higher for the 5 days than the dose he just finished. We will see how that effects him.
His last radiation was Friday morning. FREEDOM!! They gave him a certificate of completion and a pretty bunch of daffodils to celebrate. The last week's dose of radiation was called Boost, which focused only on the area of the tumor (not the 2 cm around it).
Plans for this next week will start to normalize with taxes to be done and Spring Break for their boys. Steve will do whatever he wants! He will eat and exercise (he was already on the treadmill this morning) and start to have fun. Good times again.
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