It’s been a busy medical week for Nelson and Ann Sophie with multiple appointments at the Mayo Clinic. Today is day #10 of Nelson’s targeted immunotherapy treatment, and like everything else, there’s an upside and a downside.
The upside is that it’s (hopefully) targeting the cancer cells in Nelson’s body, teaching his own immune system to fight back. The downside is that in these last days, after having had only mild nausea on the immunotherapy, now he’s vomiting again with greater intensity. Though Nelson had been off of all nausea medicine, not needing it, now the strongest of three med choices still isn’t helping.
In addition, his legs have become more swollen than ever (he called them tree trunks), so one appointment this week was to alleviate that. He received an IV combination of albumin (protein) and a diuretic to drain some of the fluid, which is leeching out of his veins and settling in the tissues—thanks to the cancer. The IV infusion lasted about an hour.
Since the IV, Nelson has lost eight pounds of fluid, which helped his swollen legs some. He’ll receive a second IV diuretic along with more albumin on Monday. If fluid continues to drain from his legs, bringing them closer to normal size, Mayo’s will custom-make compression stockings for him, which should help in the future.
Nelson’s left arm is also swollen, but for a different reason. A sizable blood clot is inhibiting the circulation in his arm by clogging three veins near the shoulder. (See picture.) But we learned something phenomenal about the human body today.
The doctor said that in two-thirds of people who have blood clots, the clots never resolve, even with blood thinners. In those cases, then, the body gradually begins to reroute the blood to nearby veins, expanding their use enough to move blood around the clotted area. (See the doctor’s pencil lines on picture.)
Nelson and Ann Sophie actually got to see these new veins in imaging tests today. To prevent additional clots, Nelson has learned that he’ll be on blood thinners for the rest of his life.
His medical team began the immunotherapy with a half-dose ten days ago, waiting to see if his system could tolerate it. The plan was to move to a full-dose regimen this week, but because of all the vomiting, that strategy is on hold for now. He takes one pill every morning exactly two hours after eating, and another every evening in the same way, putting the pills 12 hours apart. Ann Sophie has become a clock-watching cook and follows medical instructions perfectly.
Nelson says Ann Sophie could be an official member of the palliative care team with her expertise in administering meds and caring for Nelson’s every need, making him as comfortable as possible. She is still expertly draining his left lung daily, as well as managing their extensive home pharmacy of pill bottles. And she’s his strongest cheerleader throughout every day, without fail. We are all deeply gratef for her.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Romans 15:13)
