Last Intensification Chemo and Rock Bottom
Thankfully we have 14 days left of intensification but chemo is done for this phase!
Cooper has lots of chemo ahead but this was certainly the worst of it and we hope everything will get easier from here on out.
Just an idea of what Coop has been through in this phase:
16 rounds of IV chemo
2 anesthesia days with spinal chemo
13 days of at home oral chemo
10 days of steroids
Cooper took his last dose of cy"terrible"ine (which he calls it) on Saturday. He was having the at home nurse come to the house and give chemo through a shot daily. He handled both the needles and the drug like a BOSS! Cooper felt well enough to even get some time outside to play when we had some beautiful weather. We were so happy that Cooper not only had energy, wanted to play and felt good but that he wasn't sick or laid out on the couch like we thought for 2 weeks. That being said, his levels really started to tank between the first 4 day chemo set and the second. Last week we went in for labs and Coop needed a blood transfusion, mainly to get his hemoglobin up and we also started the second round of daily chemo in clinic.
Today we went in for what we thought would be out last hospital day of intensification...not so. We are needed back again this week. They expect that he will need more blood by the end of the week. Cooper's levels have hit rock bottom. This is what they want his levels to do and it is not concerning to the doctors. Cooper needed platelets today as his platelets were at 10 (normal is 200-300). We suspected that he would need them because he has had a lot of bruising and petechiae as well. His ANC was 0 (normal is 1,500-4,000) and his white blood cells were almost wiped out as well. Essentially this is his immune system and also his ability to fight off infection. For the docs, an ANC of 0 is pretty much just a normal Tuesday, but it certainly makes us nervous as he is neutropenic and at a high risk of infection and fevers right now.
So the good news is that everything is doing exactly what it is supposed to. The bad news is that his levels are extremely low and he is at a super high risk of infection. So for now we just wait, and hope that he doesn't get sick and that his body recovers quickly. Thanks for all of the prayers and good vibes.
Cooper has lots of chemo ahead but this was certainly the worst of it and we hope everything will get easier from here on out.
Just an idea of what Coop has been through in this phase:
16 rounds of IV chemo
2 anesthesia days with spinal chemo
13 days of at home oral chemo
10 days of steroids
Cooper took his last dose of cy"terrible"ine (which he calls it) on Saturday. He was having the at home nurse come to the house and give chemo through a shot daily. He handled both the needles and the drug like a BOSS! Cooper felt well enough to even get some time outside to play when we had some beautiful weather. We were so happy that Cooper not only had energy, wanted to play and felt good but that he wasn't sick or laid out on the couch like we thought for 2 weeks. That being said, his levels really started to tank between the first 4 day chemo set and the second. Last week we went in for labs and Coop needed a blood transfusion, mainly to get his hemoglobin up and we also started the second round of daily chemo in clinic.
Day 7 of chemo
Cooper after his last dose of chemo for intensification.
We had a great celebration dinner complete with a cheese plate and a Shirley Temple:)
At the hospital today getting platelets. Cooper also took some every flavor beans to the hospital because he thought is would be fun to have his doctors eat some gross jelly beans. They were great sports about it!
Today we went in for what we thought would be out last hospital day of intensification...not so. We are needed back again this week. They expect that he will need more blood by the end of the week. Cooper's levels have hit rock bottom. This is what they want his levels to do and it is not concerning to the doctors. Cooper needed platelets today as his platelets were at 10 (normal is 200-300). We suspected that he would need them because he has had a lot of bruising and petechiae as well. His ANC was 0 (normal is 1,500-4,000) and his white blood cells were almost wiped out as well. Essentially this is his immune system and also his ability to fight off infection. For the docs, an ANC of 0 is pretty much just a normal Tuesday, but it certainly makes us nervous as he is neutropenic and at a high risk of infection and fevers right now.
So the good news is that everything is doing exactly what it is supposed to. The bad news is that his levels are extremely low and he is at a super high risk of infection. So for now we just wait, and hope that he doesn't get sick and that his body recovers quickly. Thanks for all of the prayers and good vibes.
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