Naaman went in Thursday with a ANC count of 500 and a target of 750 to start the next phase called interim maintenance. Thankfully he tested at 800 and was given the green light to start. This also makes us happy because we won’t have to be in the hospital during the Thanksgiving week.
With the new phase he has his usual mix of drugs including the clinical trial drug Ruxolitinib but he also has started a new drug called Mitoxantrone. The difference with this drug is that it is a bit more intense. This drug
- Requires Naaman to have 24hrs of a continuous IV with this drug requiring a multi day hospital stay.
- This drug requires an immediate flush of the system and constant hydration because it can be toxic over a long period.
- It is also neon green and looks like something you’d see in an alien movie. You also can’t expose it to light so they put a bag over it.
With that said Naaman will be in the hospital from Thursday until his system is completely clear of the new drug. We are hoping this will be earlier in the day on Sunday.
Naaman is in good spirits for being in the hospital for so long, mixed with some bouts of nausea and crankiness (to be expected). He enjoyed eating some pancakes, reading books in his rented police car, walking through the halls, charming the ladies and playing with all the toys. Nicole is a trooper for staying with him while I was working.