Less is More!

 Hello to all!

 It has not been that long since Kent last posted on the blog, but somehow one day and evening can bring a lot to pass along.

  Kent went in to Lemmon Holton on Wednesday, July 5 and had labs and we met with a nurse and nurse practitioner, due to the small infection that he found prior to getting chemo on Thursday.  The port is access to chemo. If you present chemo into something that all ready was fighting an infection it would  have been another set back for sure.  All that to say Wednesday we already knew that with great labs we were a go for chemo on Thursday!  Kent and I waited quite a while in the waiting room to be called back for chemo.  Wednesday, I could see he was struggling with sitting in a very crowded and loud waiting room with several conversations about cancer and chemo patients of all abilities. On Thursday we choose a spot more secluded near the schedulers and it seemed better for Kent.  Less is more.  

Thursday as we walked back with the nurse that always takes us back Kent was already getting ready to shed as much extras as he could so that when he got on the scale he would weigh less,  I got handed a belt, wallet, watch, sweatshirt, his shoes because less weight means less chemo and more quality of life when Kent gets home.  Less is more! 

Kent and I were placed in our blue chemo pod space.  He sat himself in his chair and got situated. I sat in my chair next to him and then grabbed his med he needed on board before chemo started.  Shortly after we were settled into our spot for the day our awesome nurse came by and said she needed to talk the doc and present what had happed in the last 3 weeks as he was just returning to the US after a couple of weeks.  They reviewed Kent's case and what the NP and Chemo nurse had decided in the absence of  him.  The Doctor decided with how rough things were for Kent that a reduction of 2 of his Chemo drugs would be good for Kent.  He also agreed Less is More.  Let's fight this cancer but give Kent more quality in between treatments,  Less is definitely more.  

I will give a little knowledge on  how this process works as I have had a few questions on what Kent goes though each Thursday he gets chemo.  Kent gets greeted each chemo day by the nurse.  They review what the plan is for that day. It may be less review if he has met with a Doc or NP prior.  They first give him saline and a pre meds which includes roughly 3 medications. Emend, Aloxi, and Dex. These are all some sort of Anti nausea and steroid.  Then they start Avastin which helps block cell growth.  The next step is the Irinotecan, this med is the 1st chemo med that Kent receives. Then Kent is gifted with a pump he wears home with another chemo called 5 FU.  This chemo is administered from Thursday until Saturday Morning when they remove the pump and he then receives a shot at removal time to help boost his Neutrophil count.  Kent and I are always glad our care team knows so much because for us, their care for us and knowing us more is less worry for us.  

Today is Friday..... Last night and today so far has been a huge difference from the last chemo round.  Kent made it home Thursday and he had a great evening which included a small nap, food, and even made the trip into bed vs. sleeping on the couch.  Today he woke up and has had a wonderful morning. He got himself ready with some assistance due to low energy.  His appetite has been good and he is doing very well with a nap and a little Tv and he may even try to watch a training for work.  All things we are so thankful for as 2 weeks ago would not have been possible.  We are thankful for less side effects which has granted Kent More! We could not be more thrilled! 

In my final thoughts I want to reverse my thoughts from my title...... More is less.  We can not say thank you enough.  The more you keep praying the less we worry for a Miracle we keep praying for!  We are so thankful for more prayer warriors. The more you keep praying, I pray the less cancer we find! 

So thank you for the over abundant prayers! We love you all and are thankful for you and our God of Miracles! 

~Leah