Cycle 3 Week 3 Chemo Treatment: In Photos

dosage Week 3 by tyfn, on Flickr”>ailment Week 3″> Cycle 3 Week 3 Treatment

It was raining when I woke up to take this photo so I took it inside. This is composed of the dexamethasone and cyclophosphamide that I take weekly as part of my Velcade chemo treatment. As it is the 13th week of treatment, the pills are shaped into a 13.

At the hospital for my weekly Velcade chemo treatment, everything went according to plan. After self-reporting my temperature, oxygen saturation, pulse, and blood pressure, the nurse came to give me a CBC (complete blood count). That is a blood test that provides four main results that monitor how I’m responding to treatment. I also learned that for this third cycle, I would have a CBC each time I went for chemo treatment at the hospital.

While waiting for the results, my Velcade chemo arrived and I received two injections in the left side of my stomach. I always look away and imagine a happy place or happier times in my life.

CBC Results for May 17
White Blood Count 4.2 (normal 4-11)
Neutrophils 1.6 (normal 2-8)
Hemoglobin 116 (normal 135-170)
Blood Platelets 220 (normal 150-400)

After everything was over, I took the bus home – another trip to the hospital complete. Focused on positive thinking. I’m using self-portraits to help with the healing process and keep me happy about life. The complete flickr set is here.

May 9th: Final rays of the day