Post #42 - Tomorrow is T minus 1 day

Today Bill started to feel the effects of the chemo. He was very fatigued and had a diminished appetite. In addition to having effects from the chemo he is also taking many pills that cause drowsiness.

On Wednesday, November 3rd Bill started on Dexamethasone (Decadron) 8mg by mouth every twelve hours. This drug is a steroid and is given as an anti inflamatory and helps zofran work better. Bill will be on this drug until day T minus 1, which is tomorrow.

On Wednesday, November 3rd Bill started on Doxycycline Hyclate (Doryx) 100mg by mouth twice a day. This drug in an antibiotic that is given to prevent a line infection from the triple lumen catheter. Bill will be on this drug for about a month.

Yesterday Bill started on Tacrolimus (Prograf) 2.1 mg IV every 24 hours. This drug is given to prevent rejection of the transplanted stem cells. Bill will be on this drug 24 hours a day, via a caddy that he carries with him. At the time of discharge the drug will be changed from IV to pill form. Bill will be on Tacrolimus for about six months. From Wikipedia "Tacrolimus (also FK-506 or Fujimycin) is an immunosuppressive drug that is mainly used after allogeneic organ transplant to reduce the activity of the patient's immune system and so lower the risk of organ rejection. It reduces interleukin-2 (IL-2) production by T-cells".

Yesterday Bill started Ciprofloxacin (Cipro) 500mg by mouth. This drug is given to prevent bacterial infections. Bill will be taking this drug twice a day at least until discharge and maybe longer.
From Wikipedia "Ciprofloxacin (INN) is a synthetic chemotherapeutic antibiotic of the fluoroquinolone drug class.[2][3] It is a second-generation fluoroquinolone antibacterial. It kills bacteria by interfering with the enzymes that cause DNA to rewind after being copied, which stops DNA and protein synthesis".

Today Bill started Cefdinir (Omnicef) 300mg by mouth twice a day. This drug is given to prevent bacterial infections. As of right now, Bill is scheduled to take this drug for about a month.

Today Bill started Acyclovir (Zovirax) 800mg by mouth twice a day. This drug is given to prevent viral infections. As of right now, Bill is scheduled to take this drug for about a month.

Today Bill started Micafungin (Mycamine) 50 mg IV once a day. This drug is given to prevent fungal infections. As of right now, Bill is scheduled to take this drug for about a month.
From Wikipedia "Micafungin has been approved for the prophylaxis of candida infections in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation".

Bill had visitors today. His sister Margy and her husband Gary and our friend Mary Ann. Ed's daughter Cristina also came by.

Today Ed received his last injection of Neupogen. Tomorrow morning at 8:00am Moffitt will start to harvest Ed's stem cells. The process is scheduled to take about 4 - 5 hours.