Saturday, November 14th, 2009
Matt received chemo treatment # 8 on Tuesday. His white blood count was back to an acceptable range. Although the treatment went as usual, Matt threw up for the very first time that evening. His skin still keeps getting very sensitive and this time he said even his tongue felt sunburned.
Matt is going to deer camp tonight, celebrating the opening of firearm season and is looking forward to being able to hunt during his "good" week all next week.
Hailey will be performing in "the Nutcracker" at Saugatuck Highschool at 8:00pm on Friday and Saturday night (11-20-09 & 11-21-09). Tickets are sold at the door, so come on and join us if you'd like! Come early to get good seats.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
19. Chemo #8 postponed
Wednesday, November 4th, 2009
Matt was supposed to receive chemo treatment #8 yesterday, but was sent home after they discovered that his white blood cell count was too low. Chemo treatments, which attack fast replicating cells, attack white blood cells among other "good" body cells. Having a low white blood count makes him more susceptible to infection - which makes the fact that both the kids and I got sick and Matt didn't, a testimony to just how careful we have been not to expose him to our germs. Yeah Team Engel!
Matt receives a white blood cell booster after each chemo treatment. Recently, he has switched from Neulasta to Neupogen. Neulasta was making his bones very sore and his skin very sensitive. Switching to Neupogen was supposed to spread out the medication from a single dose to 3 doses over a 3 day period, which actually helped a little. Unfortunately, the Neupogen shots aren't as effective as the Neulasta shot was and Matt's white blood cells dropped so low, that he couldn't continue with his chemo treatments this week.
What is unfortunate, is that the one week delay is now causing Thanksgiving, his Birthday and Christmas to fall on his bad week. Ugh.
Matt is getting 3 more Neupogen shots this week hoping to restore his WBC back to a safe level so he can receive chemo next week. Then he will go back to the Neulasta shot.
We hope all goes well and that Matt does not get a fever/infection... which could land him in the emergency room at St. Mary's in Grand Rapids. Keep your fingers crossed.
Matt was supposed to receive chemo treatment #8 yesterday, but was sent home after they discovered that his white blood cell count was too low. Chemo treatments, which attack fast replicating cells, attack white blood cells among other "good" body cells. Having a low white blood count makes him more susceptible to infection - which makes the fact that both the kids and I got sick and Matt didn't, a testimony to just how careful we have been not to expose him to our germs. Yeah Team Engel!
Matt receives a white blood cell booster after each chemo treatment. Recently, he has switched from Neulasta to Neupogen. Neulasta was making his bones very sore and his skin very sensitive. Switching to Neupogen was supposed to spread out the medication from a single dose to 3 doses over a 3 day period, which actually helped a little. Unfortunately, the Neupogen shots aren't as effective as the Neulasta shot was and Matt's white blood cells dropped so low, that he couldn't continue with his chemo treatments this week.
What is unfortunate, is that the one week delay is now causing Thanksgiving, his Birthday and Christmas to fall on his bad week. Ugh.
Matt is getting 3 more Neupogen shots this week hoping to restore his WBC back to a safe level so he can receive chemo next week. Then he will go back to the Neulasta shot.
We hope all goes well and that Matt does not get a fever/infection... which could land him in the emergency room at St. Mary's in Grand Rapids. Keep your fingers crossed.
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