On June 8, 2023, I commenced round 5 of treatment, mirroring the regiment of round 4. This involved receiving a high dose of cytarabine every 12 hours for 3 hours per cycle, totaling 4 cycles. As with round 4, I would be an inpatient at the Oncology/Hematology ward at UW Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin.
Before my admission, I underwent standard blood tests and had an office visit with Dr. Rajguru to establish a baseline for my body’s condition post-previous treatment and pre-upcoming treatment. Remarkably, my platelet count had risen to 206, a significant improvement from the mere 2 count a few weeks prior. While this result was an outlier compared to my subsequent platelet tests, it was a welcome surprise. However, my other blood test results for white blood cells, red blood cells, and hemoglobin remained low and outside the normal range. The hemoglobin results correlated with my overall energy levels, as I found myself easily fatigued.
During my consultation with Dr. Rajguru, the topic of adjusting the dose of cytarabine for future rounds arose. The standard dose for the clinical study was 2000, but given my experience with a significant drop in platelets following the first round at this dose, I opted to reduce it to 1500 per cycle. This adjustment aimed to minimize my need for platelet infusions while ensuring an effective amount of cytarabine entered my system.
My hospitalization proceeded smoothly, with only one issue unrelated to the treatments. I chose to begin my IV and treatments in the hospital room’s reclining chair. However, when I transitioned to the bed around 10:00 p.m. on the first night, I noticed discomfort. I could feel the support bars under the mattress, particularly under my shoulders and hips. Attempting to endure this discomfort, I eventually had to call my nurse around midnight to address the issue.
Fortunately, my nurse, Mike, provided exceptional care during the night shift. After investigating the bed’s problem, Mike managed to find a spare bed on the oncology ward and promptly replaced it. Following some adjustments to the new bed’s configuration, I was comfortably settled and able to rest peacefully.