Phase 4 has started

Today Emily started the 4th phase of Chemo. She had to go in at 8:45 for labs. They wanted to get a baseline on her blood levels before they started the phase. Emily also had a physical exam by her NP and Dr. Link. They both said she looks great.

Dr. Link also wanted to do a chest X-ray to see how things were looking inside. To remind you Emily still has a mass in her media stinal cavity. The results of the chest x-ray show that it is even smaller than the last X-ray. When she had her PET scan in April it was not cancerous, and given the nature of Lyphoma tumors, it is safe to assume it is still not cancerous. If it were it would be growing like crazy, not staying the same basic shape but getting smaller and smaller. She will have a PET scan in about 10 weeks at the end of Reconsolidation.

It is still not %100 certain if she will go on Lovenox. The original plan was for her to go on a preventative dose, but Dr. Link doesn't think she needs to be on it. There is a lot that has changed since the first phase, and he thinks she is at a lower risk for a recurring blood clot. Some of the things that are different are she is much healthier, she has no tumors and nodules in her chest, and she doesn't have a PICC line as she did in Phase 1. To him this contraindicates Lovenox. I have a feeling we could have some say in this if we disagree, and we have a few days to think about it and can talk with him about his decision. I talked in detail with the NP about the decision and the reasons behind it this afternoon.

After the exam, Emily had to go to the day hosptial for IV Chemo. She got doxorubicin. She also has to start taking Dexamethasone three times a day.

Our next visit to the clinic is on Friday.