My third chemotherapy session was last Tuesday, the 4th of October. So far, again not much in the way of side effects. I was able to have good gym sessions since then, and will go again later today.
I do have some numbness in the tips of my fingers. Dr. Chia (the MSK oncologist I saw on Tuesday) suggested taking vitamin B-6, which I have started. I also had a rash, mostly on my back, and there was a slight concern about it being a reaction to one of the meds. But it seems to have gone away.
On Wednesday morning I went down to MSK in Manhattan for my appointment with Dr. Nikolaides, one of the kidney docs whose been following my Nephrotic Syndrome. I got down to Sloan Kettering, through the appointment, and back home in record-breaking time, proving once again that every day should be a Jewish holiday. Which was good, since Paul’s wake was that afternoon.
The news was good – she had the bloodwork from the prior day and said that when Wednesday’s results were in there was a good chance we’d be lowering the meds I was on. And that was the case – on Friday she called and said there was “no protein in my urine to speak of” and that my cholesterol was down to “about 150” (Nephrotic Syndrome raises your cholesterol – mine had gone up to 400 in July) and I could discontinue the cozaar and lipitor. So all in all, excellent news.
I gave Dr. Nicolaides a gift when I saw her – a small book entitled “The Doors to the Sea”. My last visit to her six weeks earlier, I’d mentioned that I was already working on a book list for myself for the stem cell hospitalization session after chemo ended, and she asked me what I’d be reading.
“The Doors to the Sea” is an essay by an Orthodox theologian with the subtitle “Where was God in the Tsunami?” It’s kind of an interesting coincidence that I had been reading it when the personal tsunami of my brother’s death occurred. Dr. Nicolaides had told me she is Greek Orthodox, so I figured I’d give her a copy. She seemed to appreciate it.
So as far as my chemotherapy, thing are going well.
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