2nd line Cycle 9, SOPD
Normally, dad would go for the mandatory pre-chemo blood test at Kepala Batas Hospital 2 days before chemo and collect the results the next day. The results prior to Cycle 9 showed a a high count of white blood cells (WBC), higher than the max value of the guideline.
I told dad that it was probably because the body was producing more WBC to combat bacteria/virus that were causing his cough and phelgm. I had to agree with him that there might be a chance that the oncologist might delay Cycle 9 for a week for him to recover properly.
Highly likely that high WBC alerted the doctor because the very first sentence she said was "Uncle, do you have fever?". Fortunately, he didn't. So we told the doctor the above i.e. symptoms persisted for more than a week but becoming gradually less severe. His phelgm, however, was slightly yellow (rather than white). Luckily the doctor gave the go-ahead for him to commence the cycle.
Unsurprisingly, he felt weaker this time (compared to Day 1 of most previous cycles) but no vomiting though. His weight did go down by kg compared to 3 weeks ago, probably due to poor appetite. I urged him to eat more, to help his body to fight off the bacteria/virus too.
The numbness in his legs was particularly bad on Day 2. Although it gradually subsided over the next few days, it evidently caused great discomfort. His appetite continued to be poor during these days :(. Inexplicably, both his index fingers were a little bluish black but were not painful and still could sense pressure etc.
The second appointment with the surgeon (SOPD) was a huge waste of 3 hours of our lives: they didn't get the CT Scan (with contrast) results from Oncology Dept and they didn't have the multidisciplinary meeting to discuss whether they can resect those lumps on my dad's right abdomen. The only new thing we were given was an appointment with plastic surgeon, which was the day before the next SOPD appointment. So that would be another two more weeks of waiting.
By Day 14, thankfully all his symptoms went away except the numbness which was still present but slowly lessening (good!). Appetite improved back to normal. Yay!
I told dad that it was probably because the body was producing more WBC to combat bacteria/virus that were causing his cough and phelgm. I had to agree with him that there might be a chance that the oncologist might delay Cycle 9 for a week for him to recover properly.
Highly likely that high WBC alerted the doctor because the very first sentence she said was "Uncle, do you have fever?". Fortunately, he didn't. So we told the doctor the above i.e. symptoms persisted for more than a week but becoming gradually less severe. His phelgm, however, was slightly yellow (rather than white). Luckily the doctor gave the go-ahead for him to commence the cycle.
Unsurprisingly, he felt weaker this time (compared to Day 1 of most previous cycles) but no vomiting though. His weight did go down by kg compared to 3 weeks ago, probably due to poor appetite. I urged him to eat more, to help his body to fight off the bacteria/virus too.
The numbness in his legs was particularly bad on Day 2. Although it gradually subsided over the next few days, it evidently caused great discomfort. His appetite continued to be poor during these days :(. Inexplicably, both his index fingers were a little bluish black but were not painful and still could sense pressure etc.
The second appointment with the surgeon (SOPD) was a huge waste of 3 hours of our lives: they didn't get the CT Scan (with contrast) results from Oncology Dept and they didn't have the multidisciplinary meeting to discuss whether they can resect those lumps on my dad's right abdomen. The only new thing we were given was an appointment with plastic surgeon, which was the day before the next SOPD appointment. So that would be another two more weeks of waiting.
By Day 14, thankfully all his symptoms went away except the numbness which was still present but slowly lessening (good!). Appetite improved back to normal. Yay!
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