Brentuximab number 10 cancelled

After a quick prod of my armpits and groin with no freaky nodes to feel my Dr asks;

"Any drenching night sweats?"

"No"

"Unexplained weight loss?"

"Ha! I wish"

"No recurrence of itching?"

"Nope"

"So everything's ok then?"

"Well, yeah I am fine. I do have constant pain though, kind of feels in my bones" He looks concerned;

"Does it stop you sleeping?"

"No, it's really not that bad, it doesn't stop me doing anything, it's just wearing because its pretty much constant. Apart from that as I say I'm fine, oh well my hair's falling out but hey I have got off lightly so far it's been 6 months of treatment."

"Ok , good...."

"Oh and I'm going deaf......" discussion follows re degree of deafness, conclusion - we won't worry about that for now.......
"yes so really I am ok, oh but I am losing my memory"

Now I have done it! Now he is definitely concerned. I try to dumb it down but it's out there. Clearly it's a cognitive change which in other chemo would probably be put down to 'chemo brain' but with Brentuximab of course there is this weird madness virus to look out for. I didn't remember to tell him I am also having trouble finding words and expressing myself but then again that is very similar to my first lot of chemo way back when sometimes I had to mentally picture an object before I could recall the name for it. Now the words 'thingy', 'jobby' and 'oojamaflip' are frequent in my conversation.

He suggests that as side effects are mild we continue but if in 3 weeks any of the above is worse we omit at least a dose. I agree, and am grateful for his sensible approach and discussion. I slope off to the canteen to wait for my drug to be dispensed from pharmacy.

Ten minutes later he calls me to say he has decided to not go ahead with treatment today but instead order an MRI scan to be on the safe side. On reflection he has decided that I have done so well so far let's not push it. This sounds sensible. The MRI will be in the next couple of weeks, I see the bone marrow transplant team tomorrow,,,,,,so when I next see my Dr in three weeks time, I will have my MRI results pus a decision on which mode of transplant we are going for and then plans and dates can be made. All good :)

love love love
xxx