Labs and OPDIVO

Every 4 weeks, I have my OPDIVO infusion to regulate and control my Melanoma Cancer that I have had for about 6 years...  and, while no one will point-the-finger, the literature indicates that contracting Melanoma is entirely possible as a side effect of taking chemo drugs:  Cytoxin and Fludara.  I received both Cytoxin and Fludara for 6 months when being treated for non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma which I am currently being treated for as well and currently just entered my 13th year of treatments, starting back in 2009.

For half those 6 years, my infusions were given to me by accessing my veins in either the right or left arm until one vein accessing hurt like hell, so I decided to have a port inserted on the right side of my chest.  It is a dual port so that the actual port will last longer or can still be used if one side goes bad.

So, every 4 weeks, I get my OPDIVO and every other month on the day that I get my OPDIVO, I see my Oncologist just to see how I am doing.  I take that opportunity to talk about any side effects that I think have been lingering an especially long time, or if I am experiencing something that I should not be experiencing...  like constant sinus infections.

Because of on-going sinus infections and continued anemia and a low immune system and low platelet count, my Oncologist decided to put me on monthly IVIG infusions.  But today, it is just an OPDIVO infusion and I can go.

I start about about 8:00-8:30 am and since the infusion only last 30 minutes, I am usually out by 9:00 am at the latest and back home by 10:00 am just in time for a late breakfast or brunch of perhaps an omelet and/or grits along with an English Muffin.

We get very used to our routines.