First Week of Treatment

Sharron began her chemotherapy treatment for multiple myeloma on January 7, 2009. A few weeks prior, she had a blood transfusion and an intravenous treatment of Zometa which would help to manage her anemia and high calcium levels. This medication should help minimize her pain because it pushes the calcium that was infecting her bloodstream back into her weakened bones where it belongs for strength. Her oncologist has prescribed a treatment plan that involves 3 medications over what will repeat as a 3 week cycle: Dexamethasone- a series of steroid pills, Velcade- an intravenous biological agent that blocks the growth of cancer cells, and Doxil- the intravenous chemotherapy drug that targets and kills myeloma cells.

Immediately following her first treatment at the Kaiser Oncology Infusion Unit, Sharron walked several laps around the room with her walker and minimal assistance. Her energy and attitude were high as she said “I think I feel better already!” She is on a steady amount of Zofran which is a medication that greatly minimizes the nausea that typically accompanies chemotherapy, so the biggest side effect she is experiencing is fatigue. With the increasing weeks of chemotherapy the doctors believe her pain levels should significantly decrease. This means that she will hopefully be able to take less pain medicine and feel more stable and mobile. Each day is different in terms of her energy and appetite, but on days when certain foods sound appealing we are trying to bulk her up as she has lost weight over the past few months. Everyone seems to agree that along with medication her diet, mobility, and attitude play significant roles in her healing. So with one week down we say- LET’S KEEP IT UP!