rx Week 4 by tyfn, prescription on Flickr”>Week 34 of chemo
This hasn’t been the greatest week, however I’m focused on staying positive. This morning I woke up and took my dexamethasone (10 at 4mg each) and cyclophosphamide (575 mg, 12 total) pills with breakfast. This is my 34th week of chemo treatment, so my pills are shaped into a 34. After breakfast, I headed out for my final Velcade chemo treatment for this 7th cycle.
The drugs I take for my chemo treatment
I arrived at the Cancer Centre and learned that for the 4th consecutive week I was getting bloodwork done, which would give me my counts (basically how my body is responding to my chemo).
Counts for October 11th
White blood cells 4.3
Hemoglobin 118
Neutrophils 4.1
Blood Platelets 209
While waiting for the nurse I checked my blood pressure, pulse, and temperature.
When the nurse arrived she took my blood, went away and then came back about 5 minutes later to give me my injections. As it was the 4th/final week of treatment for this cycle, the injections were in the right side of my stomach.
Just to give a recap, I am living with Multiple Myeloma (blood cancer). Since February 2013, I have been on my 4th chemo treatment called Velcade, which are weekly in-hospital injections, in addition to a variety of other pills I take to supplement my chemo treatment. You can read the background on my diagnosis and previous treatments on my blog.
You can view photos from my most recent self-portrait project on flickr.
You can also view photos related to my ongoing treatment here.