Xeloda, Oxaliplatin and Theraspheres

We have decided to have a full-on assault.
We will be using Xeloda which are chemo pills taken twice a day usually for two weeks. Then go into Lawrence Memorial and have Oxaliplatin another chemo drug used once every three weeks. At this time will also be doing my outpatient surgery for theraspheres December 1. This time we'll work on the left side of the liver.
As you can see there's a lot going on. So far my biggest side effect was fatigue from theraspheres but oxaliplatin makes it painful to touch cold things and taste cold things. Weird but true.
It may be a month or two before we learn how this is all working. Let's pray for the best.

Scans and labs

I've finished up my ct scan and labs. Really no news till Monday but should have another treatment fairly soon. I'll post when I hear something more.

Update on treatment

It's been over a week since I had my outpatient surgery. There has been some good and bad. The good is few pains although I have had shoulder pain and some pain on my side. The worst side effect has been fatigue. The feeling of always being tired. The nurse gave me some steroids which should pep me up but didn't. I think it actually upset my stomach. She also gave me pain pills (roxicet)which did nothing for my pain and me nauseated. I think I'll be skipping those from now on.

For those interested in therasphere here is their web site http://www.mds.nordion.com/therasphere/

Therasphere consists of millions of small glass beads filled with Yttrium 90 radioactivity. The beads are delivered into the liver tumor via its blood vessels. The longest the beads stay radioactive is 10 to 12 days. The hope is the radioactivity destroys the tumor cells from within with minimal damage to the healthy tissue.

Theraspheres treatment

I've had my first treatment on Thursday. Everything went fine. They put these little radioactive beads in the right side of my liver. In a few weeks we'll put some beads on the left side of the liver. We'll check to see if its effecting the tumors. I really had no side effects except for being tired. On Monday I'll be back at work and will get a flu shot.

Theraspheres

First Treatment Oct 15

I'll receive my Theraspheres treatment on Oct 15. It's outpatient surgery so in by 8am and should be out of the hospital by noon. I started this quest for treatment back in June. Better late than never.

Outpatient Surgery

On Tuesday I had outpatient surgery to map out the veins for when they put in the theraspheres. I also had a few scans. Everything went well but I skipped going to work the next day... too tired and too sore. I am waiting to hear back when the first treatment of theraspheres are but should be in a couple of weeks.

Theraspheres Approved

It took months but the KS Insurance Board, through its mediator KS Foundation for Medical Care, has reversed BCBSKC's ruling on Therasphere and Yttrium-90 therapy. When I learn more I'll do a blog entry. I just wanted to finally say "Blue Cross you lose."