Round Two: Infusion #2 Day 1

Today's lab results were good giving evidence that my bone marrow continued to produce white blood cells after the injections were completed, overall the white blood cell count was 5.7 and the neutrophils were up to 3.8. I am very happy with the results.

The trial drug infusion went well today. First I was pre-medicated with Benadryl and steroids followed by a short waiting period and then the one hour infusion of the trial drug began. At about twenty minutes into the infusion I began to feel a warmth at the base of my throat and top of my chest, at the same time my heart began to beat faster. Randy got Kari's (my assigned oncology nurse for the day) attention and she immediately stopped the infusion and checked my blood pressure which was up to 148/83. The PA and another nurse consulted with Keri and it was determined to give me another 80 mil of the steroid which would bring me up to the same level I was given the first time I had the reaction. Following the additional steroid there was a short waiting period and then I was able to finish the infusion. Once the infusion was completed I waited the one hour observation period and left with a blood pressure of 117/78.

I also had a brief check-in with Susanna, Dr. Patel's PA. Together we decided that it would be best to begin the Leukine injections before my cells plummeted and I had no immune system. I like the idea of not having the extreme fatigue an additional bonus is that I will have the injections every other day versus everyday. Saturday will be the first injection followed by Monday and Wednesday then I will have labs and see Dr. Patel on Thursday.

Tomorrow I will receive the chemo drug and Herceptin following pre-medication of Benadryl, steroid and Ativan to prevent nausea.

It was a good day today and I expect it to be so tomorrow! Thank you for your prayers, encouragement, cards, and positive thoughts.

PS It must be the good health combined with the steroids ... I ate a large dinner followed by ice cream and cake and one hour later I'm starving! I'm going the protein, chicken, cheese and sundried tomatoe wheat thins ... then I'm going to have a root beer float.