Feb 4 - Denied Again

After spending all of last week and this weekend vigilantly tracking my hydration levels, I was sorely disappointed to "fail" the kidney function blood test this morning and be denied my second round of chemo. The doc ordered hydration today and tomorrow with testing Wednesday and a final decision on which chemo to give on Wednesday. I don't believe Hydration will make a difference. Last Monday, Creatinine level was 2.27. Wednesday before hydration (so after only 2 sessions) it had dropped to 1.97. Today, after 3 more sessions of IV Hydration (along with "normal" drinking) and the weekend where I am certain I achieved 100 oz both days -- the number sat at 1.89 -- nowhere near the 1.27 level required and far above the 0.9 level I had prior to the first chemo treatment. Clearly this is "me" and my kidneys' susceptibility to the Cisplatin...as all other "markers" are in the normal range -- magnesium, calcium, platelets, red blood cells, etc. To be honest, the Chemo nurses believe that "Carbo" is equally effective and far less toxic. I think the key is that the "studies" which put me at 93% probably cure are based on the combination of Cisplatin and Radiation -- and there are no definitive studies with those kinds of numbers for the other combinations. Noting that patients who start on drugs other than Cis do so because their kidney function is already weakened in some way and therefore are not in the group "otherwise healthy, non-smoker, non-drinker except HPV-based Squameous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx"... I am sick of IV's...though...but it is still far too many days out to try to start counting down. I do believe the end of treatment will occur on this calendar page...not sure which day, though. Radiation went on schedule today, although my Squeeze playlist (4 songs) ended before the treatment was up. Better planning tomorrow. I'm thinking Tom Petty.