I had a quick visit with Dr. Natale on Monday, May 7, to review blood tests and discuss my “experience” of the first chemo-Shakti infusion on April 23.
First, Dr. Natale said the blood tests were very good, in that there were no signs of toxicity in my body. He said my nausea, dizziness, weakness, and “buzzing throughout my body” were typical. They only lasted a week.
Of some concern was the rash and burning on my face, neck, and scalp — very intense. He thought it was the way my body reacted to the Tarceva-chemo-shakti cocktail, and he took me off of the Tarceva for a week.
He said that we’d lower the dosage of the Tarceva during the next couple of months, while we complete the next three chemo-shakti infusions.
My weight loss continues, effortlessly. I now weigh 158 pounds, a weight I haven’t seen since the mid-70s, while living in India. I expect that I’ll settle in at around 150, and stabilize. I feel quite strong, so the weight loss seems like a good and natural thing. My eating habits have changed massively, without any particular intention. I just listen more deeply to my body as it interacts with food. I experience food as a delivery device for nutrition, and I naturally reject foods I would have eaten only a few weeks ago.
My next chemo-shakti infusion is on Monday, May 14. I don’t know whether the first infusion is an indication of what to expect, or whether the second infusion will be different.
If I do not respond to phone calls or emails for a while, you can assume I got back on the merry-go-round of chemo-shakti fog!
I have another CT Scan and review on May 29; that will be halfway through the chemo-shakti infusions, and two months after the beginning of Tarceva. Last time, we saw that the tumor in my lung had shrunk by 50%.
Maybe this time it will be gone altogether!
Naturally, I am grateful to all of you for your continuous flow of positive messages, good thoughts, and loving wishes!
With love,
Robert