Chemo has started and PleurX update

I'm trying to update the blog a bit more regularly now as things are happening quickly with Pam's treatment. In the last update I noted that Pam would be starting a new course of chemotherapy and this has in fact happened - she had a new port-a-cath installed on schedule and had her first infusion of doxorubicin a week ago today.

There does seem to have a bit of a side-effect to this one as Pam has become quite nauseated from time to time. However we seem to have figured out that this is triggered by having an empty stomach. Eating several small meals throughout the day is standard chemo advice and once Pam has started snacking a bit more to keep her stomach full, it seems to have helped somewhat.

One thing I didn't mention in the last update was that Pam's respiratory doc had recommended that she have her PleurX catheter re-installed in her chest, to help drain the pleural effusion fluid that's been accumulating again around her lung. She had that done on 16 April as a day surgery. Unfortunately, although the procedure went very well, the drainage of fluid (done with a vacuum bottle) was extremely painful for Pam and she had to be admitted overnight for pain control. The next day I picked her up from the hospital around suppertime. She was tired but feeling OK.

Subsequently the homecare nurses have been coming three times a week to drain fluid. This has been causing Pam some pain but with a prophylactic painkiller taken beforehand it's manageable. She's been having some issues with getting up and down, as well as being very tired, but we're hoping this may improve a bit over time. Fortunately I'm still working from home (as is most everybody) and it's therefore easier for me to take her to chemo and other appointments - I'm thankful for that.

Now to the more fun part of the post... it was our cat Leonard's 22nd birthday this month! We found her as a kitten at the Birtle Post Office and we couldn't leave her there. We advertised around the town to see if she'd been lost but no responses... she probably was just dropped off there. Anyway we've been looking after her for 22 years now and she's lived in four different homes with us. Leonard is still doing well (she's on a few different meds though) but arthritis and old age have taken a bit of a toll on her grooming ability. Once the vet clinic is able to provide non-essential services again we'll take her in for her twice-yearly grooming/"spa day" :-)

Pam has been keeping pretty busy with her crafty knitting and I'll post some pictures of what she's been up to in the next update!

Stay healthy everybody and look after each other.

Love, D.