The Nathan Report

This week, starting on Mon., Sept. 16, Nathan got a 5 day course of
chemotherapy at the Cross CI. He received VTC, that is, Vincristine,
Topotecan, and Cyclophosphamide. This usually knocks him for a bit
of a loop, but the cancer is being obliterated!

Also, after a consultation at the infectious diseases dep't at
the UAH, it was decided that N. will fairly soon be taken off of
Cholesteramine, an anti-cholesterol drug also used for GI infections,
and put on the antibiotic Vancomycin, as well as a probiotic, a type
of baker's yeast. This will happen when the latter arrives from
Mexico, in about another week. This course of action is in response
to Nathan's chronic c-diff infection.

Sun, Sept. 22 to Tues., Oct. 1, 2002

Nathan remained at home for most of this period, with his health
in a state of relative stability. He began a course of Vancomycin
and also started to take the probiotic Floratin. On Sun., Sept. 31
his temperature spiked a bit, but a pass through the UAH emergency
dep't was sufficient, without an admission. N. is no longer on
Cholesteramine.

Wed. Oct. 2 to Wed. Oct. 9, 2002

Nathan remained at home until Mon., Oct. 7, when he was admitted to
the UAH for a major course of chemotherapy, Vincristine, Acetinomycin,
and Cyclophosphamide (VAC). He handled this fairly well, and was let
out on a pass on Wed., with an eye to staying out.

Overview

Our young fella seems to be holding up fairly well emotionally, with
a bit of psychopharmaceutical help, in the form of Nabilone and
Paxil. He requires a great deal of ongoing care, especially as he is
on a tube feed, and gets Peptamin Junior fed into his stomach through
a g-tube (a plastic thingy through the wall of his stomach, like a
grommet). This must be done 18 hours a day, with the help of a special
little high-tech pump. This beeps consistently for attention!

Thurs. Oct., 10 to Sat., Oct. 19, 2002

Nathan remained at home until Wed., Oct, 16, when he developed
bruising and a temperature, and was admitted to the UAH pediatric
oncology ward, one of his habitual haunts these days. His white
counts had been low, and this series of events came as no surprise.
He was given a transfusion and a thorough checking over, as well
as his regular meds, and sent home on Sat., Oct. 19

Sun., Oct. 20 to Sun., Nov. 3, 2002

Our lad stayed home the whole time, doing well. He had a major
course of chemotherapy (VTC) over the week of Oct. 28-Nov.1. Next
week he is due for Vincristine and another major diagnostic battery.

Mon., Nov. 4, to Thurs., Nov. 21, 2002

Nathan received vincristine on Nov. 4/11, at the Cross CI. On Mon.,
Nov. 18, he went into the UAH for a major course of chemo, VAC. He
was released the next day.

More good news. Nathan's recent MRI found no evidence of the presence
of a tumour whatsoever. Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum! This is the same
finding as before, and damn good stuff to hear. Keep it up, skink!

Nathan's last chemotherpy will be in 3 week and a day, on Fri., Dec.
13. This will be a very ominous day for his cancer cells.

Fri., Nov. 22 to Thurs., Nov. 28, 2002

Nathan went to his father's place for the w/e, and had a good time
messing about with computers and playing dungeons and dragons. He
came back again on Tues. afternoon, preceded by a swim and a trip
to his fav haunt, the Electronics Boutique game shop. He removed the
eye patch from his R. eye for the first time since August, and he was
able to keep it off. Moreover, the eye actually works.

However, on Tues. night at about 9 pm, his temperature spiked to 39.9
and his father got him to the UAH emerg forthwith. He was admitted
with a likely infection, and when he got to the oncology ward about 3,
his blood pressure fell to about 59/27. This necessitated a flurry of
activity, including an IV infusion of saline, and a trip to the ICU
for constant monitoring and some antibiotics and norepinephrine
(synthetic adrenaline). This latter drug raises blood pressure, just
as a good fright would. By Wed. afternoon, N was stable enough to
leave the ICU, but he had to stay, as there was no room for him in
pediatric oncology.

Fri., Nov. 29 to Mon., Dec. 9, 2002

Nathan remained in the UAH pediatric oncology ward until Thurs.,
Dec.5, on intravenous antibiotics, but otherwise doing well and in good
spirits. On Tues. his right nostril and ears were checked and
cleaned under a general anesthetic. He returned home and spent a
regular weekend with his father and his partner.

Tues., Dec. 10 to Sat., Dec. 21, 2002

Nathan had his final course of chemo, VTC, over the week of Dec. 9-13. This took place at the CCI, on an outpatient basis. He didn't seem too knocked back by this wallop of drugs. It really is amazing the things that the human body can get used to! The next week was spent back and forth between his mother's house and his father's, having fun, and conniving to get away with doing as little homework as possible. Once his white blood cell counts are back up to relatively normal levels, he will be truly on the road to a 'normal' life once again.

Sun., Dec. 22 to Sun., Dec. 29, 2002

Nathan remained at home, beginning the long process of recovery from his chemotherapy. Now, his white cell counts are high enough that he no longer requires GCSF injections, and he has a slight cold, but this is no longer a critical issue. Christmas has been fun for him, and school will be a daily concern once again within the next month or so. The next big hurdle will be the removal of his g-tube, and a return to normal eating habits.

This ongoing record will be continued in nathan5.htm