October 26, 2015 Clinic appointment at Duke

BJ had a clinic appointment at Duke today for labs and baseline tests before the treatment portion of the trial. He still isn’t feeling well today. His platelet count had dropped again so he just finished getting a unit. He has lost 8 pounds since we were here last on 9/15. His lips are cracked open and bleed anytime he opens his mouth wider than just normal talking. In looking at his tongue and inside his mouth, the doctor said it’s no wonder he’s not really interested in eating. His taste buds are gone, and the beginning of mouth sores are present as well. He compared it to everything tasting like wet cardboard. Thanks chemotherapy for the side effects, but it has also lowered his white blood cell count to 0.4. With that WBC count, he is neutropenic (non-functional immune system).

They decided to admit him today so they can monitor platelets and while he’s inpatient, he will receive some IV nutrition to help him gain weight. He will also have a CT scan of his chest to see how his lungs are healing from the fungal infection.