Well I’m in Sloan Kettering as I post this, and finished with the first of three infusions of Eutoposide. This is the E in RICE and I will be getting this all three days I’m here. Tomorrow I get Carboplatin, as well as the start of a 24 hour infusion of Infosfamide. I suppose the 24 hour infusion is the reason RICE can’t be given on an outpatient basis. I will have an IV running continuously from now until I leave late Monday afternoon, even when I’m not actually having the chemo. I don’t think I’ll be getting much sleep.
Evidently RICE attacks cancer cells at a different stage of their reproductive cycle from RCHOP – the little information cards say, “May stop cancer cells from growing by interfering with DNA.”
I arrived at about 1:30 this afternoon, waited for two hours downstairs in the admitting area until the bed was available and then came up. Earlier today I was able to get in a quick trip to the gym, and then went to see Tim play in his last football game of the year, which started around 10 this morning. (A digression – Tim is in Ossining Little League football, and it is really a good program. He had a great time playing both offensive and defensive line. He is a third grader in the 3rd-4th grade grouping and he got plenty of playing time. In one of the games he played every down on offence and defense. It is a tackle football league. Next, CYO basketball!)
Yesterday I received the Rituxin infusion (the R in RICE) at the Phelps satellite center office of Sloan Kettering. No problems with it, and afterwards went to a brief birthday party, watched Tim at his first basketball practice and then went for a really good cardiovascular session in the gym.
So I was able to get in two trips to the gym between Friday evening and Saturday morning, which I am pleased about. I don’t know how I’ll feel when I get home Monday, or when I will be able to get back to the gym. Hopefully right away but can’t be sure how I’ll react to the RICE.
I am very keen to keep up my fitness work to the absolute extent possible while I am undergoing therapy, including during the stem cell autologenous transplant. This will be difficult, since the hospitalization could be for up to 30 days, and for much of that time I am not going to feel too hot.
I spoke to Dr. Zelenetz about this when I saw him on Thursday. I said, “Through this whole RCHOP chemo I’ve been going to the gym five or six times a week, what can I do when I’m in for the stem cell thing?” He said, “they can supply you with an exercise bike for the room.” So I said, “I’ve been thinking about maybe bringing some dumbbells when I get admitted.” He looked at me like I had a second head growing out of my neck and said “Well I don’t know about that. You’re going to have all sorts of lines running into you… It is a transplant. It’s not a trip to a health spa.”
In hindsight, that was pretty funny.
Me in Room 1235A. Ivana, an RN on the 7am to 7pm shift took this. I don’t think I look as bad as this picture has me appearing – and I feel good.
Can’t resist posting this of Tim today, having flattened the defender, Lording it over him.
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