Week 4 to Week 8 - Account of Chemotherapy given for Multiple Myeloma

Week 5

12th September 2012

Fifth Velcade injection (Dose 2mg) administered through the Vein on Mummy’s hand using a 5ml syringe and a Scalp Vein Set followed by Dexamethasone 20mg tablets on 12^th and 13^th September 2012, respectively.

While there was no blood in stools reported that week by Mummy, she continued to experience abdominal pain and we continued with the Norflox and Colimax course from 14^th September till 18^th September 2012 for relief.

Week 6

19th September 2012

Sixth Velcade injection (Dose 2mg) administered through the Vein on Mummy’s hand using a 5ml syringe and a Scalp Vein Set followed by Dexamethasone 20mg tablets on 19^th and 20^th September 2012, respectively.

Again, like last week, while there was no blood in stools reported that week by Mummy, she continued to experience abdominal pain and we continued with the Norflox and Colimax course from 21^st September till 25^th September 2012 for relief.

When we were seated outside the H-2’s clinic that day, I also learnt another startling fact that made me understand how Doctor’s gauge the financial capabilities of patients and their caretakers so soon. I learnt through my interaction with another patients’ caretaker that though H-2 had recommended that we buy Injection Velcade (the imported variant containing the drug named Bortezomib) that was costing us Rs.25000 per 2.5 mg dose, there was also Indian pharma companies making generic variants of Bortezomib with which were approximately /6^th the price of Velcade; the ones who could not afford the original variant opt for these ones.

Also by now, Mummy’s veins in her left hand were rupturing and it was getting difficult to insert the scalp vein set, H-2 suggested we opt for a 23 Number Gauge Scalp Vein set made by a Malaysian Company named ‘TOP’, we searched everywhere for it and then finally my brother found it at a Government Hospital Pharmacy and purchased enough from there to last us for the remaining leg of the treatment.

Week 7

26th September 2012

Seventh Velcade injection Dose (2mg) administered through the Vein on Mummy’s hand using a 5ml syringe and a Scalp Vein Set followed by Dexamethasone 20mg tablets on 26^th and 27^th September 2012, respectively.

No bleeding was experienced by Mom in her stools since she was using Mesacol suppository over the past 3 weeks. This medication seemed to have successfully healed the solitary rectal ulcer detected in Sigmoidoscopy done on 27^th July 2012 at Hospital No.3. I concluded that my Mummy never had Rectal TB and the Rectal bleeding she was having was never because of Rectal TB either, she just had a stress-induced Rectal ulcer, which burst at the thought of being admitted in the hospital on that fateful afternoon of 26^th July 2012 in the Washroom of the OPD Waiting Lounge at Hospital No. 3

However, her abdominal pain continued; I think I had identified my own reasons behind these abdominal pains after a lot of reading on this subject; the reason being that Chemotherapy drugs besides targeting the cancerous cells in our body, also target a lot of healthy cells in the body and stomach lining being made up of very sensitive cells is the one that gets affected the most and the quickest post chemotherapy.

Week 8

3rd October 2012

Eighth Velcade injection Dose (2mg) administered through the Vein on Mummy’s hand using a 5ml syringe and a Scalp Vein Set followed by Dexamethasone 20mg tablets on 3^rd and 4^th October 2012, respectively.

During the course of this week, upon the advice of H-2, we gave mummy’s samples for Serum Protein Immunofixation Electrophoresis (SIFE) Tests and Free Light Chain Immuno Assay Tests to be performed.  H-2 told us that these Tests were usually performed mid-way through the treatment to check on the progress/efficacy of treatment being administered to the patient. SIFE Reports showed ‘NO M-Spike’, which implied the treatment was progressing well.

H-2 also wanted Mom to be put on a medication called Zometa (with chemical named Zoledronic Acid) that inhibits the release of Calcium from Bones; he told me it will help Mummy. I went home and read all about it on the internet, the side effects of this medication were far too many including warnings regarding this medicine not to be given to anyone with kidney related issues and with my mother already having Chronic Kidney Disease due to her prolonged NSAID intake as described earlier and too many other problems already, I strongly opted against it and told H-2 that we are not keen to start on it. Again, H-2 did not quite like me saying this because normally patients or their caretakers here in our country just go by the Doctor’s choice of medication and do not oppose or counter-question their choice, but I was. It didn’t bother me, for it was all about the well-being of my mother and the responsibility was squarely on my shoulders.