Another hard day

Yesterday was another hard day. We got the results of the CT scan, and as expected, it showed that the number and size of the tumors in my liver had grown. I know all this means is that the last chemo didn't work, and we're just waiting for the new chemo to work. But it's still tough to hear and see it, for real. Also, the CT revealed that the reason I am so short of breath is because I have a pleural effusion (fluid in my lungs). In some ways, it's good to know why. If it gets really bad, I can have it drained; but Glick prefers to hold off on that, and I agree. It's worst in the morning and better at night. I gauge by how quickly I can climb the stairs.

I received the second round of Carbo and Gemzar, along with Zometa, yesterday (we closed down the chemo wing, last ones there!). I won't have treatment next week because Gemzar is killing my platelets, so they need a chance to regenerate. I was a little upset that I wouldn't get the third round, but apparently two weeks on, one week off is standard as well. It'll give my nose a chance to heal - I'm getting quite a few nose bleeds.

As for the swelling in my feet and ankles, I'm starting another diuretic that will hopefully help with that. And the fatigue... this morning I took a shower and thought, I'll just lie down for a minute. Two hours later, I woke up. I'm tired, man.

So that's what's going on. Glick and everyone else continue to stress that these two drugs, which my body has never seen before, are powerful. They can begin to turn things around. It's got to happen.