The treament starts

Yesterday Kerry started his first day of treatment with Interluken 2 (IL2) in Providence Cancer Center here in Portland.  Its a nice newish facility just a few blocks from our house.  He is in Room 711.  The treatment consists of  getting the IL2 three times each day at 7 am, 3 pm and 11 pm.  He gets IL2 through a port in his neck and it takes about 15 minutes for them to drip it in. The first 2 doses went quite smoothly with the only side effects being a bit of a flushed feeling.  Dose 3 came with some chills that started about 2 hours after getting the IL2 and subsided with the help of warm blankets and Demerol. (Kerry says that one of the nicknames for IL2 is Shake N' Bake.) They are also giving him Advil and Tylenol to stave off aches and pains and chills and fevers -- in addition to an antibiotic to prevent an infection in his port.  

This definitely is not the place to come to rest.  I haven't kept track -- but it seems like someone comes in at least every 15 minutes and they have all been very nice and professional.  They check his vital signs every 2 hours, give him his meds every few hours, and bring him meals. They also come in to take him to the bathroom since his is not allowed to get up without a nurse.  One of the side effects is low blood pressure and they don't want him passing out in the bathroom (so far so good) -- but there's nothing like the pressure of having a 20 something year old nurse stand there watching you pee.

He succeeded in amusing the nurse when we checked in. When asked about his religious beliefs he said he believed in Bluegrass and when asked if he had any special cultural practices, he confessed that he believed in the healing power of the banjo.

Last night the kids came to the hospital for awhile and we all watched a bit of NCIS.  Peter was very impressed by all of the equipment they have -- much of it very colorful. 

Kerry asked me to pass on that the side effects so far are not horrible and have all been managed well. When I am not here, we have friends who have volunteered to come in and sit with him.  Its nice to have someone here to be his advocate -- get him water, get the nurse to bring warm blankets, put on a new DVD or get him his Ipod. Our friends and family have been amazing -- sending moral support, food and love.  Thank you all so much.