Chemo Round #1

After a bone marrow biopsy confirmed that cancer is now in her bones, Celeste started her first round of RICE chemotherapy on Thursday 2/16. RICE is a more aggressive chemo than the RCHOP that she had 6 rounds of last year. RICE is an acronym for 4 medications used over 4 days. On the first day Rituxan is used. For 3 subsequent days Ifex, Cisplatin, and Etoposide are used each day. She finished her last day of this round of  chemotherapy yesterday. She will stay in the hospital and be supported by transfusions and antibiotics until she hits her nadir (low point) and her blood levels start to climb back up. She hasn't had a fever for a few days. That is huge! She continues on 4 IV antibiotics, an antiviral and antifungal. She is still coughing but not as uncontrollably. Oxygen and an inhaler have been the most help.

Today she felt well enough to take a walk around the ninth floor. Her spirits are good. As we sat and looked out a big picture window at the beautiful snow covered mountains she wondered what people do who do not have so many people praying for them. She feels very supported by your prayers. Our whole family feel the strength and blessing of all your love and prayers.

The plan for the future is a second round of RICE chemo and then a 3rd round of chemotherapy in the bone marrow transplant unit at LDS Hospital in preparation for the transplant. We don't really have a time line for that because it will be driven by how fast she recovers between chemo sessions and can be ready for another.