We’re Back for the Consolidation Phase

Today at 8:00 a.m. I drove Jim to his oncology doctor’s office so they could draw labs and admit him to the hospital to begin the Consolidation Phase of his treatment. I found I had kind of a sick feeling of dread as we headed toward the hospital. As I sat in the waiting room with Jim, I had a sense of, “How did we ever end up in the office of a doctor who specializes in cancer?” Sometimes it still doesn’t seem real to me. At the same time, I am grateful that there are doctors who have expertise in this area and medicines that can be given to treat cancer that have helped Jim feel as good as he does. When I remember how sick he was at the beginning of his last hospital stay only 7 weeks ago, I am thankful for how good he has felt over the last 3 to 4 weeks.

When we finally got him registered and taken up to the Oncology Unit, we were greeted by nurses and staff who remembered Jim and welcomed us back. Our friend, Jill, who works on that floor was there and greeted me with a hug. The feeling of dread I had began to fade as we got Jim settled into his room. Chemotherapy began around 2:00 in the afternoon. During this first week of the Consolidation Phase, he will receive only 1/3 the amount of chemo as he did during the Induction Phase. Every 12 hours, he will be hooked up to an IV for about 3-4 hours at a time to receive the chemotherapy. After each treatment, Jim will be unhooked from the IV and have more freedom to walk around and leave the floor if he chooses. We were told that his blood counts will most likely not drop as low as they did before, and if they do, it would be 7 to 10 days after his chemotherapy for the week is over.

This evening, Jim is feeling a little nauseated, but he has been given a medicine that should help to counteract that. He was feeling better by the end of our phone conversation. Thank you for your words of support. Yours cards, emails and comments have been an encouragement to us. We appreciate all your prayers.