March 31, 2017 - Last day of chemo

Fatigue has hit new lows -- I tell folks that my 'tires are deflated' but that is probably an understatement.  I received my last dose of chemo and what follows is some information for those who want to know...
I have decided that the areas left after my chemo shots is more like an itchy, red, painful swollen wasp sting.  As Jan says, it looks like my arms and abdomen were part of a paint ball fight!

I inquired about the cost of the AZACITIDINE (I get 150mg in two shots) ... Each two shot day is $2100 or $10500 per cycle...Insurance will pick up some of this - we'll have to see :-(

===========Here is some info on how azacitidine works for those interested=========
Azacitidine is a member of a new class of drugs known as DNA "demethylating" agents.  Methylation of DNA is a major mechanism that regulates gene expression in cells.  When there is an increase in DNA methylation this can result in the blockage of the activity of "suppressor genes" that regulate cell division and growth.  When suppressor genes are blocked, cell division becomes unregulated, allowing or promoting cancer.

Azacitidine's anticancer effects are believed to be twofold.   One way that it works is by demethylation or interfering with the methylation of DNA.  By this process of demethylation, normal function to the tumor suppressor genes is restored, thus restoring control over cell growth.

Azacitidine also belongs to the category of chemotherapy called antimetabolites.  Antimetabolites are very similar to normal substances within the cell.  When the cells incorporate these substances into the cellular metabolism, they interact with a number of targets within the cell to produce a direct cytotoxic effect that causes death of rapidly dividing cancer cells.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

January 28 - Just in - I am going to receive a bone marrow transplant

Image
In the last 2 weeks, we received much amazing news.  In quick succession, we found out: I am going to receive a bone marrow transplant (actually, it is a stem cell transplant) at Johns Hopkins on March 9. All four of our children were matches for the transplant. The one child I didn't expect to be the donor is..... ?  [Listen to the audioblog post below for who it is!] As previously mentioned, the IDHIFA oral chemotherpay worked miraculously on my MDS and the blast count in my bone marrow dropped below the 5% cut-off for consideration of a bone marrow (or stem cell) transplant. As exciting as this is, the reality of the details of getting the bone marrow transplant have set in: Getting all of the extensive testing (CT scans, Echocardiogram, EKG, PFT's, lab, repeat Bone Marrow Biopsy 😓etc) needs to be done prior to the transplant. Finding a place to live for the 2+ months Jan and I will be in Baltimore (so as to get treatments and checkups at Johns Hopkins on
Read more

February 16 - New Information

This past Monday I had a difficult bone marrow biopsy lasting 1 1/2 hours.  Jan and I have been waiting for the results and we got the results late yesterday afternoon My bone marrow revealed that... I AM IN REMISSION! This means that the biopsy found no evidence of cancer in the biopsy and the chimer test shows that there is only donor cells (and none of mine)! Praise and honor to GOD   (and the staff at Johns Hopkins).. If all goes well,  I should be discharged early next week and return home to finish recovery at home and then return to the office on a limited basis (at least at first).  Still a long way to go.... So... YOUR PRAYERS and support have worked.  Jan and my family is greatly relieved and also grateful. Bless you all!
Read more

May 29 - Out of the hospital

It is good to be out of hospital after being in 47 days!  Out of the hospital now 7 days and good to be back with my wife and not having to 'survive' each day in the hospital.  Now, each day I go to IPOP  (the unit called "Inpatient/outpatient").  Lab drawn and any needs addressed from tranfusions to getting IV electrolytes, etc.  Progressing each day.  I am very deconditioned.  I am regaining strength slowly each day.  Currently getting over Graft vs Host disease.  A frequent complication where the donor cell are still 'attacking me'.  It is fine line since there should some GvH disease which helps the donor's cells 'get rid' of my cancerous cells.  Taking high dose steroids but that's the price to pay to get over the GvH disease. Engraftment has occurred!  Effectively, this means that Erika's stem cells have established.  So...Erika's stem cells are currently producing the white blood cells.  The other cell lines (red blood cells
Read more