This induction is different. It is the name of the first cycle of treatment in Jaidyn's chemotherapy. It will last 36 days and include a number of different types of Chemo's and medications.
The general side effects include:
Hair loss. Since chemo kills any quickly dividing cells in the body. Hair producing cells just happens to be one that divides quickly and chemo cannot tell the difference between hair and cancer.
Lowered blood counts.
- Red blood cells (RBC's) can be transfused. Low levels can cause fatigue, low blood pressure, paleness. She will likely need multiple transfusions
- Platelets (PH) which help the body to clot. low counts puts her at risk for bleeding, bruising etc. Jaidyn were normal but can drop after treatment. they also can be transfused.
- White blood cells (WBC's) which help fight infection. They cannot be transfused. Jaidyn will be monitored closely for infections caused by her own body's germs. Most importantly her Actual Neutrophil count (ANC) which is a specific type of WBC. If lower than 0.5- Jaidyn is at risk for infection. For example if she were to get a fever she would get an IV immediately. If we are at home we have to come to hospital right away to start IV
Nausea- which is treated with gravol
Her risk of infertility is very low
No increased risk of cancer in future offspring
She will have a Single Venous Access Device (SVAD) surgically implanted in her chest sometime this week, where the port tunnelled into main vein into blood stream. Chemo is quite hard on veins so this makes this much easier. As well as this will reduce the times she'll need to be stuck with a needle to give or get blood. They will "access" the port with a needle if they need to provide intravenous meeds. A numbing cream is placed on site prior to accessing so Jaidyn will feel virtually nothing.
With the initial treatment, the cancer can release salts into the system she will be given more IV fluids to help flush those out. Blood will also be taken more frequently monitoring blood counts.
This first month is so intense because they plan to empty out Jaidyn's bone marrow completely of the Leukemia, in order to allow normal cells to grow. A bone marrow transplant (BMT) is not part of treatment at this point.
Her Chemo's/Medications:
Vincristine (VCR) does not effect her counts or cause nausea. It will be given once a week for four weeks, by IV. No long term side effects. Can cause constipation (Great!!! like we don't already deal with that) Can also effect long nerves in body causing tingling to hands/feet, jaw pain and clumsiness when walking. (all temporary)
Dexamethasone: Is a steroid given orally at a high dose, twice a day for the first 28 days. It was found that this steroid has actual cancer killing traits. It can irritate stomach so she is given Ranitidine (acid reducer) twice a day as well. Dex can cause moodiness/personality changes, increased appetite, increased blood pressure and blood sugar levels.
Peg L'asaragenase: Given by IV once during the first month sometime next week. can cause allergic reactions/anaphylactic shock. can cause abdominal pain.
Methotrexate (MTX) given intrathecally (IT) into spinal fluid. It is less damaging to brain and very rare to have mental deficits in future.
Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (septra): is an antibiotic she will take twice a day, three consecutive days a week for the entire two years. It can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rash and pain in abdomen.
She also has morphine for pain as we are not able to give her any Tylenol or Advil as they mask fevers. A fever needs to be treated right away with antibiotics so an infection does not spread.
So there we have it. Jaidyn's first month protocol. And it started today.
With the initial treatment, the cancer can release salts into the system she will be given more IV fluids to help flush those out. Blood will also be taken more frequently monitoring blood counts.
This first month is so intense because they plan to empty out Jaidyn's bone marrow completely of the Leukemia, in order to allow normal cells to grow. A bone marrow transplant (BMT) is not part of treatment at this point.
Her Chemo's/Medications:
Vincristine (VCR) does not effect her counts or cause nausea. It will be given once a week for four weeks, by IV. No long term side effects. Can cause constipation (Great!!! like we don't already deal with that) Can also effect long nerves in body causing tingling to hands/feet, jaw pain and clumsiness when walking. (all temporary)
Dexamethasone: Is a steroid given orally at a high dose, twice a day for the first 28 days. It was found that this steroid has actual cancer killing traits. It can irritate stomach so she is given Ranitidine (acid reducer) twice a day as well. Dex can cause moodiness/personality changes, increased appetite, increased blood pressure and blood sugar levels.
Peg L'asaragenase: Given by IV once during the first month sometime next week. can cause allergic reactions/anaphylactic shock. can cause abdominal pain.
Methotrexate (MTX) given intrathecally (IT) into spinal fluid. It is less damaging to brain and very rare to have mental deficits in future.
Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (septra): is an antibiotic she will take twice a day, three consecutive days a week for the entire two years. It can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rash and pain in abdomen.
She also has morphine for pain as we are not able to give her any Tylenol or Advil as they mask fevers. A fever needs to be treated right away with antibiotics so an infection does not spread.
So there we have it. Jaidyn's first month protocol. And it started today.
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