Chemo Camp

Curt went to his first session at Chemo Camp on Wednesday. That's right folks! A chemical romance is what they had for a Valentines Day. Nice, eh?

Here are some bullet points on the way the day went:
(Taken from an earlier e-mail from Holly)

• Chemo Camp was a little understaffed due to the snow & ice, so the IVs took a good 1.5 hours longer than we were told to expect as we had to wait.
• The atmosphere in the "chemo room" was pleasant, all the nurses were nice, and they sat beside another couple who's husband had a Whipple (the surgery Curt was SUPPOSED to get in early January) last summer at Hopkins and is now also on Gemzar, and a few other drugs. They were quite informative.
• Curt was hooked up to the IV, given saline solution, then the Gemzar, and finally some anti-nausea medication. He took it like a man =)
• At the beginning of the treatment Dr Spira came in to chat with them; he's got a great bedside manner and he discussed the TS gene Curt tested positive for (different than the BRAC-2), which is not a negative thing, it only means down the road a 2nd line of treatment may be recommended.
• The only hiccup, despite the slow process, was that the oral chemo Tarceva had not been timely coordinated by Dr Spira's nurse/Aide, so Curt was not able to begin that Wednesday. Holly was able to pick up the prescription yesterday though, and he began it last night.
• Curt felt great yesterday until about 2:15. He was fatigued. He slept well for 3-4 hours, then got up and had dinner with Holly and watched some tv, then back to bed. Today he's at home.
• He's taken some of the anti-nausea pills he was prescribed, but only as a precaution. So far he hasn't been overly nauseous, mainly just tired.
• Next week he gets blood drawn Wednesday and has Chemo on Thursday.