This Monday Sara started chemo round number 4 (1 more left and then she has a CT scan to check the status of the cancer on her liver). Due to the cumulative increasing severity of the side effects from chemo, the oncologist decided to decrease the dosages by 20%. Sara was suffering from nausea, a pretty severe rash, mouth sores, and other side effects. The worsening rash, a side effect of Erbitux, can actually become a serious situation for someone with a weakened immune system because the rash can become infected and land her in the hospital. So last week Sara started a week-long course of Prednisone along with antibiotics and a topical cream to address the rash. If the rash didn’t improve, then the Erbitux would be withheld on Monday, though that would add to the chemo round schedule and delay the CT scan into January.

Sara is very motivated as we all know so she started the Prednisone right away. Unfortunately, after a few days she had a bad reaction to the Prednisone, sending her back to the oncologist, who suggested she halve the dose and see if the rash still improved. Just another week in the life of a cancer patient – trying to manage all the medications and their side effects! It is definitely an on-going juggling act. Luckily last Friday the oncologist gave Sara the green light to start chemo on Monday as scheduled, though she had to promise to keep a close eye on the rash. Yesterday was pump removal day, though she did get a dose of her usual steroid.

2 weeks ago Sara wasn’t feeling well enough after the Wednesday appointment to visit her horse and foal in Spanaway, so this time she very happy to be able to do so. In fact it was the foal’s weaning day, as Sara’s horse left the farm in order to start a new “career” in dressage where she is being leased out for the time being. By all reports the separation went well, all things considered, and Sara was on the receiving end of lots of snuggling from her foal, Star, as seen in the picture below.

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