Jeff is now 3 doses, or halfway, through the dreaded Interleukin 2 (IL-2). It has made him feel terrible. We expected this, but it is still difficult to go through. According to the doctors and nurses he is actually doing better than most patients do on this drug, so despite the chills and fever he is experiencing they are continuing to give him the next dose each 12 hours. They are also giving him platelets this morning because his level has dropped down to the “danger zone” of under 50, where it is more common to experience spontaneous hemorrhage. The platelet infusion will temporarily raise his levels, and they will test again tomorrow, and he will get platelets each day until his levels go back up on their own. That could take a few days, or a couple of weeks. Until then we are treading on thin ice hoping his brain does not bleed again and watching every symptom for signs of another hemorrhage.
This part is why they call it “battling cancer”. We are hoping this is all worth it. Send up some prayers for us.
Love,
Arianna
Updates on Jeff's treatment 