Delayed Intensification

Carter is currently in delayed intensification. He has made it through the first half of it. He was on steroids for two of the four weeks and is still suffering from the side effects. The steroids make him moody, his legs hurt, and he thinks he is starving. He went off the steroids Tuesday so hopefully he will begin to feel better soon. The chemo has really knocked him out this time. He is very tired. He will start the second part of this phase when his ANC is high enough. Once this starts, he will be accessed in his port and a nurse will come to our home for four days to give him his chemo and then he will have a three day break and then it will start all over again the following week. After this, he will have a two week break and if his ANC is ok, he will start interim maintenance. He already did interim maintenance once and it was not bad at all!!! He felt pretty good the whole time and even grew some hair back during that phase (only to lose it again now!). Once we get through interim maintenance, he goes to maintenance!!! This is a really big deal. He will only have to go to the clinic once a month for his chemo. He will still have to take oral chemo at home but it will be so much better. I am counting down the days!!

Interim Maintenance

Carter's feeling great. We are currently in the interim maintenance phase. He will get one more dose of chemo on Monday and then this phase is finally over. Then, Carter will get a break for 16 days!! After that, he will start a phase for the next two months called delayed intensification. The doctors have warned us that this is one of the worst phases as he will be back on steroids in addition to chemotherapy. Please pray for protection from the effects of all the drugs!