Cancer Sucks

My brain is mush tonight. We just arrived home after having been gone since yesterday morning. We decided on the UH-1 study for Jacob's treatment, which should hit this cancer fast and hard (with extra radiation and higher doses of chemo and one added chemo drug) but doesn't seem so experimental.

Jacob had his first radiation treatment yesterday and his second today, which means he has just 6 treatments left for the lungs and 9 left for the abdomen. He had his first dose of chemo last night and we stayed in the hospital overnight to keep him hydrated enough, since many of these drugs can do lots of damage without the right hydration. Next week and the week after we won't have to stay overnight for the chemo but in week 4 we will need to stay 4 days. One chemo treatment down, 29 weeks to go.

I learned a lot today. A lot about blood counts and infections. How to give my son a shot (he will be needing a daily shot, which helps improve his blood counts...and I'm the one to do it), and loaded up at the Pharmacy. I couldn't believe it when I went to get his medications and they brought what looked like a grocery bag to the counter...filled with what he will be taking. The shot alone costs $250 for just two days, and he will be needing this almost daily for a year. Luckily, insurance will be covering much of these expenses. There is also several good hospital programs so it was a relief to have a chat with the social worker today and find out several options that will be of help to us.

Jacob has done so well through everything. No throwing up after chemo, so I hope it will stay that way. He was a bit more whiny today but it has to be from the fact that they made him get up every two hours last night to monitor his urine (not fun!). You know what else isn't fun? Watching my little boy go through so much and still try to put on a brave face. Hearing him utter "I have cancer?!" in disbelief when he realized what was going on, because the only experience he has with cancer is his great grandma who passed away just two months ago (it was heartbreaking having to explain to him that he does indeed have this but that this situation is totally different). Being in a double room (I didn't even know they had those anymore!) and having a roommate. Or trying to sleep in a recliner for several hours before giving up and crawling into bed with a 5 year old who is hooked up to different iv lines. Or only eating three pieces of bacon and a chocolate chip cookie that I scrounged from Jacob's meal because it was just too busy with meetings and appointments and caring for a little boy to even find time to run to the cafeteria. I sure scarfed that McDonald's Value Meal down on the way home this evening! You know the motto "Cancer Sucks"...it's completely true.

It's good to be home. We will be heading back three more times this week for radiation and meeting with the oncologist nurses again, but shouldn't have to be inpatient again for a few weeks (knock on wood). There's no place like home.