Chemo drug shortage? What?!

Last week someone mentioned to me in passing that there was a chemotherapy drug shortage and that they hoped that it wouldn't affect my dad.  I listened to this information but didn't really process it and couldn't remember hearing anything about it myself online or on the news.  Well guess what?  It is a real serious problem, and my dad finds himself on the front lines.

The details are still fuzzy and I hope to get more details from his doctor on Monday. Yesterday, at my dad's chemo session, the pharmacist paid him a visit to let him know that they did not have any more of one of the drugs that he gets weekly.  The pharmacist showed my dad a letter from the VA to the pharmacy about the shortage, and there was actually a line in it that said "we do not know the reason for the shortage".  Great, he can't get the medicine he needs, but they don't know why.  I feel like I want to go on and on about the drug companies but I don't really have the facts to back myself up, so I'll save my rant until then.

So my dad was unable to complete this cycle of treatment, and in fact has the next 18 days off.  This is to clear the medicine out of his system so he can begin a different course of treatment.  On the 30th he will meet with the doctor and will then begin taking the chemo in pill form.  I don't know how I feel about this because we just got the information last month that the treatment he was on was really working, and it stinks to have to change to something new that we know nothing about!  I'm trying not to stress until I get more information but that isn't in my nature!

Its been a while!

Well my dad made it 8 treatments without many side effects.  On the 9th, he started to feel nauseous and it has lasted ever since (He had his 10th treatment on Wednesday).  I feel bad for him because the medication does not seem to be helping.  It is by no means debilitating but it makes me nervous because he hadn't been eating much before the nausea set in.  He has lost over 35 pounds since he started treatment, and even though he is by no means skinny, no one wants him to lose any more weight.

On the bright side, these side effects have come on slowly and haven't been too severe. Knowing that the treatment is working, makes everything a little easier to deal with, or so my dad tells me!

On the super bright side, TJ is taking my dad to NYC for a Yankees game on Wednesday.  The doctors agreed to push his treatment to Friday so he can go! My dad is a big fan, and hasn't been to the new stadium yet. I think its very sweet of him to take my dad, knowing the challenge of taking someone who doesn't feel well and who also has a physical disability.  Bonus points for TJ!