Skip to main content

Doxorubicin for Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Sarcoma

Doxorubicin, The Red Devil in VDC Chemo for a rare soft tissue Sarcoma cancer.



When I saw the Doxorubicin, I thought of that woman, in the IR who was so distraught about her son. I started to get that sense of seeing myself coming and going in the caregivers and family of the other patients. 

This chemo can be toxic to the heart, there is a lifetime limit of doses. I was told 6 doses for Mathew. I suppose when you are hoping for a year or two of survival, long-term effects of treatments is a secondary concern.  I wasn’t afraid of it yet. It wasn’t until I saw how Mathew reacted to this chemotherapy and thought about the potential for cardiac toxicity.

It was a long day, Mathew slept as much as possible. I read, drank coffee, and went to get us something to eat from the cafeteria. 

When the treatment was through, I packed up the rolling bag and pushed Mathew in the wheelchair out to the valet to bring our car. On the way home Mathew complained about his chest hurting and could hardly put together two words. It was as if he had gone 10 rounds with a heavyweight boxer. Like he was punch drunk. Overtime whenever he had this chemo I was afraid his heart would give out on him. It wasn’t until months later when I asked Dr. Reed that he told me that if that any heart damage would be several years away.

I was the only person who went with Mathew for these treatments, the only person who saw the horrible side effects. 


Since watching Mathew go through these procedures and treatments with the knowledge his time was limited under the best case scenario, I can’t imagine complaining about any pain, sickness or discomfort.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Replace the 3 Lumen Pic Line with a Port

Mathew's 3 Lumen Pic Line was replaced with a Power P.A.C. Both Mathew and I were given Medical I.D. cards to carry at all times. I have mentioned before that texting from the DRC is almost impossible. The staff told me it used to be the X-ray department so the walls are leaded. Again, the phone tree would have helped so much. I texted the following information to my niece, my sister and Mathew’s Dad and Stepmom. And probably Joseph and Carlos. I know that could have been reduced to two texts, three at the most. At the time  I didn’t know about group messaging as my phone was an old Android. Texts Between me and Diane Hi. We are at the hospital early because Mat is in a lot of pain.  We think the bill stent may have moved. Sent 3-31-14 Because he was NPO for other  procedure they should be able to fix today. Sent 3-31-14 In the DRC sending texts is almost impossible so if you don’t hear from me for a while don’t worry. If ...
Post a Comment
Read more

A Cancer Poem by Mathew Rodgers 2014

From Mathew’s Journal 4-5-14 “I lie awake in my pain bed metallic noises chirping from my strange computer  companion”
Post a Comment
Read more

Thoracentesis to Remove Fluid on the Lung

2-28-15   From the Notebook Fluid on right side of lung Needs to be drained, done from the back Can be done bedside Send out for testing CAUSE? could be a bodily reaction - most likely this because fluid wasn’t present when he arrived or could be tumor has entered the lung. Mathew had been complaining about his right shoulder hurting (this was from the fluid on his lung). He thought it was from the previous October when he was taken by ambulance from work when they thought he was having seizures. He wondered if the EMT's had hurt his shoulder when restraining him. He will reference this in his music and writing. A local oncologist is brought in who says he will be starting Mathew’s treatment. More news on the diagnosis: -Neg for lymphoma -not traditional carcinoma -uncommon sarcoma -pancreas -looking for rare cancers Again my ignorance, I thought that a rare cancer would get more results. Backward thinking. Here is a photo of t...
Post a Comment
Read more