Monday, October 1, 2012

Tomorrow is the new "Big Day"

When you have cancer, there are lots of "big days"......first doctor appointment, biospy results, CAT scan results, MRI results, PET scan results, treatment days, etc.  Well, tomorrow is another big day.  Steve starts a new treatment tomorrow....Zelboraf.  Zelboraf is an oral targeted therapy medication.  This medication is only used in those with the BRAF mutation.  You can read more about Zelboraf here http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0041057/

Steve and I are both anxious about this new treatment.  We are anxious to see if it works, but we are anxious waiting to see how the side effects are.  Side effects are different for everyone, but the biggest side effects of this medicine is severe joint pain, hair loss, fatigue, severe sun sensitivity (like literally fry within a few minutes in the sunlight), skin rashes, and it can cause a different type of skin cancer (geez).  Steve is back to work full time and is going to try and work full time through this treatment.  The side effects should be manageable (we hope!!).  I hope he is not too uncomfortable. I feel so helpless when he is not comfortable. 

In one way, this should be a walk in the park compared to the side effects from biochemo, but again he was not working during biochemo (except from home) and now he will be working in the office while dealing with these side effects and it scares me.  It kills me to know he will be sitting at work and possibly suffering miserably.

These are all "what if's".  We know for sure he will have some or most of these side effects, but the severity varies from person to person and also depending on dosage.  To start he will be on the maximum dosage 4 pills in the am and 4 pills in the pm.  I have not yet read any person staying on that dosage.  It is such a strong drug, that everyone ends up having to lower their dosage.  I guess the next few days/weeks will give us a better idea on what he can expect.

I HATE CANCER.

5 comments:

  1. Good luck to you and Steve....be strong!! Your family is in my prayers...love ya!

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  2. Good luck steve!!!!! Love yall !!!! Let me know if yall need anything. ANYTHING AT ALL. ill keep the girls if yall need for a night. I could use a little Sadie ray time :)




    ~Theresa~

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  3. "courage is being afraid but going on anyhow" everything will work out....sending lots of prayers & hugs your way!

    Xoxo Raquel Loya

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  4. I hate cancer too...my thoughts are with you and your family!

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  5. Steve and Jennifer, You're always in our thoughts and prayers. Stay strong and let us know if we can do anything for you. I pray that this new treatment will "finish it and do the trick" and that you won't have any side effects. I believe with all my heart that God has a plan and purpose for all of us and all of the things that come our way. I continue to pray for a complete healing for you. Phillipians 4:13 (Amplified Version): "I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses inner strength into me, that is, I am self-sufficient in Jesus Christ's sufficiency". Give the girls hugs and kisses from Uncle Tim. Love you guys, Uncle Tim

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