Chemo 2
12/09/2021 - 01/10/2022
ROUND 2 / RE-INDUCTION: When the initial chemo was unsuccessful, we had to evaluate other treatment options. Since Ian had been in the hospital for 3 weeks and the last week was rough going, his doctor recommended a less intensive drug combo that could be done outpatient. While much safer, it was not nearly as strong. Could it get him to remission? We weren’t sure, so we scrambled for a second opinion. Over the next 24 hours, I tapped into our network and set off a firestorm of emails and phone calls. Ian’s sister Karrin was visiting at just the right time to help me navigate the process. In no time, experts from MD Anderson and Dana Farber were looking at Ian’s file and calling his doctor. While their recommendations didn’t exactly align, they both agreed on one thing - don’t let your foot off the gas. Ian is “young and fit” (insert joke here), so hit him with more chemo, not less. After going down an internet rabbit hole, I was nervous. The risk of severe complications and death from such heavy hitting chemo was real. I never pondered that the chemo could kill him!?! But Ian was game; go big or go home. So it was decided that the next regiment would be an even stronger chemo combo called: FLAG-Ida+Venetoclax.
Without further adieu, the second round began. Ian settled in mentally for another month in the hospital, complete with toxic chemicals, transfusions, loads of meds, beeping machines, 4am vitals, isolation, terrible food, and of course, nausea. Even with a comfy room, terrific nurses and endless football on TV, it was tough going. A parade of relatives came to town over the holidays to see Ian (outside) and lend me a helping hand. As Ian’s better half, I visited every day, twice a day. Since kids were not permitted inside the hospital, Ian only saw the boys when he was able to get outside. Christmas was really hard, but we made the best of it. Ian felt well enough, and the weather cooperated, so our family gathered out in a courtyard to celebrate and open presents. Together with our folks and kids, we had a merry day!
And then came the fevers; nine days in a revolving door of freezing and sweating, with other unpleasant symptoms. An infection was found on the picc line into his heart, which may have been the culprit. On New Year’s Eve, I picked up a nice dinner and we streamed the Phish show, but I ate and danced alone. The kids had gone up to my mom’s to celebrate her 70th birthday (and give me a much needed break)! After a few more days, Ian’s counts recovered and another bone marrow biopsy was performed. The doc said that the preliminary results did not look promising. We hit bottom. What now, clinical trials? Thankfully, the final results told a different story: ZERO Leukemia cells. REMISSION ACHIEVED!!!