Cycle 2 - Day 8

 Yesterday we went to MR for our weekly labs and cocktail.  

As a reminder, new in the past week was the reintroduction of the Revlimid oral medication - the medication we believe was the main cause of Andy's plummeting numbers during Cycle 1.  

Today's labs were much better!

Hg = 11.5 (UP from 10.9)

Platelets = 192 (Down from 278)

ANC = 3.0 (UP from 2.5)

Total Protein = 7.7 (Down from 8.6)

Calcium 7.3 (Down from 8.8)

Calcium and Platelets are in red because we don't necessarily want those numbers to go down.  We were warned about the Calcium after the Zometa shot last week. Which...kinda confuses me because I thought Zolmeta was supposed to help with bone weakness...but...as I stated last week, I just listen to the doctors.  (But if any of my medical friends can make sense of that for me - thanks!)

So - we assumed we were going to get treatment!  

We got taken into the Cancer Infusion area and were given the extremely large corner room.  Despite the frigid temperatures, it as gorgeous...but Andy does like having a tv in the room.  

The nurse came in, took Andy's vitals, which also were reasonably good.  

The other nurse came in, ran through ALL the questions regarding potential side effects, none of which Andy was experiencing, and then said nurse said she was going to the pharmacy to get Andy's medications and she would be right back.  

I was busy coordinating Christmas presents with aunts and grandparents and getting some last minute gifts ordered.  The next thing I knew, the nurse was back and was giving Andy his shots.  

And that was it.  We were done.  

Andy and I walked to the car in a bit of a trance.  This cancer journey is SO weird.  When his numbers are bad, we talk to nurses and they assure us everything is OK and it's part of the journey.  We aren't happy his numbers are bad and we feel really sad.  

When his numbers are good....we don't' really talk to anyone.  It's just this little routine process.  And it's actually never happened before so we didn't really know how to respond.  I mean...happy.  That's how we need to respond, but it's just odd.  No matter how great things are...they still feel weird!

Last night Andy slept relatively well.  Usually on days of treatment the steroids keep in restless and in and out of sleep.  

So.  That's where we are.  Another day on our cancer journey....