First Interleukin Treatment

 

I received my first of two Interleukin treatments on Monday the 9th. The process started around 11 AM when a radiology doctor inserted a triple port catheter through my neck to a vein near my heart. It was quick and painless except for a sting sensation when the anesthetic was administered. I was then admitted to the Hospital and spent the rest of the day being tested constantly and getting saline and other solutions intravenously.
Evidently many people require sedatives leading up to procedures. I was offered a sedative before I left my room to the pre-op area when I had my kidney removed, before I was taken to the operating room, before I had a tumor cryoablated, and before my first interleukin treatment. I rarely worry about stuff and always declined. Some of the nurses commented on how calm I appeared and how low my blood pressure was for someone about to be operated on. My natural low blood pressure would turn out to be a problem during the interleukin treatment.
I received three IL-2 doses by intravenous drip, 10 PM Monday night, 6 AM Tuesday morning, and 2 PM Tuesday afternoon. I had to skip the 10PM dose because my blood pressure was too low (80's over 50's). This pretty much wore me out. I lost my appetite, became fatigued, swelled up, and had some nausea. Fortunately, my mom Dee and my wife Sheryl were there to help me in addition to the well trained doctor and nursing staff. Nurse Jana gave me two buttons which sum up mine and many others' feelings "Cancer Sucks" and "Stupid Cancer". Between each dose, blood is tested, waste is monitored, vitals are checked, drugs are taken, and solutions are administered. I also taught my mom to play Rummy.
I would have liked to receive more doses but my blood pressure was too low and more importantly, my creatinine level was too high. Basically, a creatinine blood test measures how well the kidneys are functioning. IL-2 negatively affects many organs including the kidney, so the blood tests are used to monitor what is happening. And because kidney cancer patients receiving IL-2 only have one kidney, it has to be vigorously monitored for fear of failure resulting in the need for dialysis. As soon as the creatinine level continued to move sharply higher, Dr. Harris cut me off of any more doses.
By Thursday morning I was miserable. They said I could go home if my creatinine and blood pressure levels were OK, but I basically said I was going home regardless. When my creatinine level was still a little high, they wanted me to stay. Unfortunately I was not pleasant and demanded the IV catheter be removed so I could leave. Dr. Harris relented and I was home mid-afternoon.
Over the last two days my swelling has decreased significantly, I have re-acquired my appetite, developed and controlled diarrhea, and gained some strength. Sheryl and I have watched several movies and ate out. I continue to struggle with back and leg soreness from the cryoablation and walking. Unfortunately, in two or three weeks I get to do it all again.

Suggestion for others that will have an IL-2 treatment: Be otherwise as healthy as possible before having the treatment. Having the tumor cryoablation the week before the treatment added extreme soreness and mobility problems in addition to the side effects of the treatment. I was also not quite over a cold which made me weaker before the IL-2 treatment started.

As most already know, I am a graduate of Georgia Tech ('88 and '90) and passionate about Tech winning and Georgia losing. I am often disappointed, but it is still fun to dream.

Thanks again for you thoughts, prayers, and support for Sheryl and mom. Please post a response and any suggestions (too long, boring, etc.) My goal is to keep friends and family informed and help for others with kidney cancer.

Scott 

Preparation for the Miracle Treatment

The week of January 2nd 2012 was all about preparing for the Interleukin 2 treatment at Emory Hospital.  On Tuesday, they took blood for analysis, performed an MRI, did a breathing test to measure my lung capacity, and a echo cardiogram/sonogram on my heart.  Everything went so well that I fooled myself into thinking it was going to be an easy week.
On Wednesday I had the large tumor in my left hip frozen.  They called it Cryoablatoin.  The operating room outpatient process included sending a line up through my femoral artery to cut off the blood supply to the tumor.  Then five probes were inserted through my back/hip to the tumor to inject the freezing material.  The result was a success but it really affected my ability to walk, stand up, lay down, and bend over because of the extreme soreness.
Thursday was brutal because of the cryo soreness and a pharmacologic Cardiac Stress Test.  Because I cannot walk on a treadmill, drugs were used to induce a higher heart rate.  The entire process took about four hours and included a CT scan and two PET scans of my heart with a lot of waiting time in between, and radioactive stuff injected into my blood stream so the imaging could see more.  At the critical test, a drug expanded all my blood vessels causing my blood pressure to drop rapidly, my heart to race, sweats, dizziness, and dry heaves.  Heaving while sore was very painful on top of feeling awful.  They did not find any problems, which agrees with my personal and family history.
Fortunately, nothing was found to delay or cancel the miracle treatment.

Here is a picture from my World Series of Poker Circuit Event tournament win at the Caesars Indiana Casino in 2005.  Poker is still my passion and it was awesome to win over $50,000.