July 9

We have started round 5 of 6. Last week we had more diagnostic tests – a CT scan of his chest and neck, a pulmonary function test, and an echocardiogram. I learned yesterday that his heart looks fine. There is some residual calcification in his neck lymph nodes, which they said is fine as long as they don’t get bigger again. Apparently also his lungs have some minor obstruction, similar to an asthma patient, they said. But this has also been consistent throughout the process. They only just told me about it yesterday.

Nausea is getting worse for him. For the first few cycles, he was not having any symptoms at home. The last cycle, though, he started taking a nap when we got home. Last night I heard him throwing up, and he threw up again today. I asked him if this is the first non-chemo day when he has thrown up, and he said, “No.” He slept for about 20 hours after we got home yesterday. He was up for a short while after we got home, then he went to take a nap. He did not get up for supper. This morning he got up, came downstairs and promptly went back to sleep on the couch. I sent him back to bed to sleep and he finally got up about 1:00. He had no breakfast yesterday, he was not hungry for lunch, but he humored me and ate a snack pack of peanuts. He missed supper last night, and breakfast this morning.

I am so glad we are almost done. Only three more rounds (six weeks) left, and then his body can start getting back to normal.