On the Right Track

Another day better than the last ... Mark was able to get a smoothie down today.

Mark was evaluated at the Huntsman today and his white cells have hit bottom at 0.21, less than what he hit with DPACE. (DPACE is consolidated chemotherapy that Mark was given just before the stem cell collection in early January.)

Today Mark had the first of many stomach x-rays to keep a watch on his bowels. Dr. Zangari wants to continue treating him with caution.

He has not been able to take any of his meds orally, so most have been given to him through IV. Mark was given a Fentanyl patch for pain that so far is not doing much for him. He was also given the Neulasta shot today which will stimulate the bone marrow and likely cause bone pain (hopefully not as bad as during DPACE). He will try to take some meds this evening to prevent some of the bone pain and hopefully he will be able to keep them down.

The good news is that Mark's nausea is finally gone. The bad is that the chemo drug, Melphalan, strips the lining all the way from the mouth to the intestinal tract, and Mark continues to have to deal with spitting up the nasty effects of that. Chewing on ice helps with preventing mouth sores but there's nothing you can do to help the intestinal tract.

Dianna will continue giving Mark his meds through an IV until Thursday. They have been told that her doing this has been a big factor in keeping Mark out of the hospital. Dianna -- we all appreciate what you are doing more than you'll ever know!

So to sum it all up, Mark is not throwing up as much, has started eating a little, has some pain that is about to get worse, and he is extremely weak.

Oh, and Mark is still bound and determined to make it to the Dunes in 3 weeks even if he has to be delivered there in an ambulance. That's better than having to be driven OUT of the Dunes in an ambulance!