Etoposide
What this drug is used for:
- Testicular, bladder, prostate, lung, stomach, and uterine, cancers. Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, mycosis fungoides, Kaposi's sarcoma, Wilm's tumor, rhabdomyosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, neuroblastoma, brain tumors.
- It also may be given as high-dose therapy in bone marrow transplant setting
He ironed his dress clothes so I was encouraged he wanted to work after his treatment today. When I saw him put his laptop bag in my vehicle along with his tie, I was truly encouraged he wasn't going to attempt to drive.
We got half way to UAMS and he almost shouted out... "I didn't take my Dex!" It's a must when taking chemo. I just told him to tell the nurse and they could give him some. Sooooooo, I dropped him off at the door and we were both merrily on our way. I headed out to work.
So, yesterday, today and tomorrow he gets the Etoposide and Cytarabine, but separately. Then, remember, he gets the big one on Wednesday. Do you remember the name of that one?
My little 89 yr. old volunteer came in and before I left at noon I called Poppy to see if things were running smoothly. He explained to me they tried to give him Zofran (for nausea), but he declined it. Told them he had it at home. I asked him to look at his meds sheet and he would see that Zofran is greyed out with "administered in Inf. 4". So, with my instruction he told them he did in fact need it. I stopped by Burger King and got him a Whopper and a chocolate shake. That was good medicine for him today... LOL
Just as I sat down to eat in his POD with him, his IV pole started beeping and his two bags were empty. He had to have a half bag of fluids, too. The nurses are so good to us they let us finish our sandwiches before they unhooked him for the day. We started gathering everything up to leave and he asked me if he had to go to work. I told him I really hadn't planned to go back to work. He shared with me he felt gloomy. So, we made a couple of stops on the way and came on home.
He has gained 12 lb. since Saturday. His face is getting more plump. He looks very healthy with his rosy cheeks. The Dex is doing it's job. But, so is the chemo. His platelets are gradually dropping. By this time next week he will be bottomed out with his counts.
I checked his pill packet when we got here. I discovered he didn't take any of his pills Sunday morning or this morning. He thought he did take some this morning. The nurses laughed when I arrived because he claimed he missed his Dex because I fixed him a good breakfast and it got him off track. So, I've converted back to putting his pills in a Night/Day cup. The little red solo shot cups marked with a permanent marker.
We both know now why he slept so good last night without being hyped up all night. I'm hoping not taking the Dex yesterday at all doesn't cause a bad side effect. We can't do anything about it now. Just move forward.
He slept in the recliner this afternoon for a good while. I came upstairs and laid down, but I just can't sleep when the sun is up. We sat on the love seat tonight and watched some TV. I couldn't keep my eyes open so I got up and fixed dinner.
Gonna call it a short night. He's on the phone working and I still can't hold my eyes open. We have both been sneezing, so I hope we aren't coming down with the sniffles. I think the problem is the weather being so dry. He thinks I need to take some of his antibiotics... I just might do that...
Good night and Love -- Pepper
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