Round 9

We cashed in our frequent flier miles and are back at Hotel SCH for more methotrexate - week 16 of treatment. Chemotherapy ends at week 30, so let's give it up for being half way there! (Obviously written in the musical styling of Mr. Bon Jovi.)

Last week's admission was all over the place. With previous methotrexate rounds, the nausea has been relatively minor. Charlotte has been able to get up, move about the unit, and has kept in good spirits. Not the case during Round 8, as nausea hit her pretty hard. We're talking three NG tubes over two days kind of hard!

Along with tweaking the anti-nausea regimen for the week, we are also trying out a new formula. It has the same caloric value as the previous formula, but it is meant to be gentler on the stomach. (Gee, what a concept.) Charlotte is responding well to this change so far, but we're keeping her feed rate pretty low right now.

Charlotte has been playing positive role model to her sweet friend since we've been here. I'm trying to workshop a group name - Sarcoma Sisters? Bone Tumor Baddies? Get at me with suggestions. Regardless of what they are called, they are darling & are forming a very sweet relationship. They both seem lighter & more at ease knowing the other one is close by. I have noticed, too, that Charlotte is much more open to talking about her cancer now that she has a friend experiencing the same thing.

We'll be here another couple of nights before a brief break at home. Next week will be the final round of cisplatin! Doxorubicin (aka the red devil) will continue, but after next week will be an out patient infusion as opposed to an admission. Baby steps. Every day in here is a day closer to being done!