Dr Isaacs phoned today and said he can administer the Adcetris on Monday 27th Feb at 3pm.
The drug will be air freighted down from Auckland on the day. He assured me that the courier company has been given multiple warnings/instructions on keeping it chilled. At least now that we have four cycles worth safely in cold storage in Auckland we aren't at risk of loosing the whole lot again.
Healthwise I'm doing OK. Although I'm sweating and itching more and have a more productive cough than previously, I'm sure it's just asthma. A couple of other health issues have actually improved with the prednisone reduction, so over-all I'm fairly happy. A niggling ankle injury I've had for since May last year is finally coming right allowing me to exercise more, and walk without a limp.
My daughter Ashleigh and her fiancee arrive from Brisbane next Sunday for a two week stay. I'm quite looking forward to catching up with her and meeting Michael. I'm hoping the chemo doesn't have a big effect on me and we can spend some quality time together.
...Ron
Monday, February 20, 2012
Sunday, February 19, 2012
It's Here!!
I received an email from Anita, the haematology pharmacist at Wellington Hospital, on Friday evening.
The Adcetris has arrived safely and a the right temperature this time. All going well I should have my first cycle sometime next week. I'll post the details once I've been advised by Dr Isaacs.
PS: I've decided to use the name Adcetris when referring to the drug Brentuximab Vedotin in my posts from now on. The Doctors here all call it Brentuximab but it would seem that the rest of the world prefers the name it is marketed under, so to make it easier for people searching for references to the drug by that name I shall use Adcetris from now on.
..Ron
The Adcetris has arrived safely and a the right temperature this time. All going well I should have my first cycle sometime next week. I'll post the details once I've been advised by Dr Isaacs.
PS: I've decided to use the name Adcetris when referring to the drug Brentuximab Vedotin in my posts from now on. The Doctors here all call it Brentuximab but it would seem that the rest of the world prefers the name it is marketed under, so to make it easier for people searching for references to the drug by that name I shall use Adcetris from now on.
..Ron
Friday, February 17, 2012
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Treatment delayed. Grrrr!!!!
You just would not believe it! I was scheduled to start Brentuximab tomorrow afternoon Monday 13th Feb.
As fate would have it I received a phone call from Dr Isaacs on Friday to say that we would have to hold off treatment as the drug may have been compromised in transit.
Apparently somewhere along the line the consignment worth $66,000 has not been kept in a temperature controlled environment. It is recommended that it be stored at between 2-8C. This was not followed and now the pharmacy is desperately trying to find out from the manufacturer if the drug would have been damaged as a result.
Personally I don't want to find out that it's lost it's efficacy by way of failing to respond to treatment!
I've passed my concerns on to those that need to know and personally I think it should be binned and a new order placed immediately. Whether that happens or not depends on what the drug company has to say.
I'm sure they will want to sell another 4 cycles, so I'm expecting them to say throw it out too.
This in no way affects Sarah and I financially as it is the hospital that made the purchase and they would then invoice us once dispensed. At this point in time it looks like the shipping company and the hospital will have to fight it out and ultimately someones insurance will be footing the bill. Certainly not us.
Meantime I'm doing OK. I'm super itchy and my asthma is worse, both as a result of the lower prednisone dose I'd say.
I'll update once I know more. ..Ron
As fate would have it I received a phone call from Dr Isaacs on Friday to say that we would have to hold off treatment as the drug may have been compromised in transit.
Apparently somewhere along the line the consignment worth $66,000 has not been kept in a temperature controlled environment. It is recommended that it be stored at between 2-8C. This was not followed and now the pharmacy is desperately trying to find out from the manufacturer if the drug would have been damaged as a result.
Personally I don't want to find out that it's lost it's efficacy by way of failing to respond to treatment!
I've passed my concerns on to those that need to know and personally I think it should be binned and a new order placed immediately. Whether that happens or not depends on what the drug company has to say.
I'm sure they will want to sell another 4 cycles, so I'm expecting them to say throw it out too.
This in no way affects Sarah and I financially as it is the hospital that made the purchase and they would then invoice us once dispensed. At this point in time it looks like the shipping company and the hospital will have to fight it out and ultimately someones insurance will be footing the bill. Certainly not us.
Meantime I'm doing OK. I'm super itchy and my asthma is worse, both as a result of the lower prednisone dose I'd say.
I'll update once I know more. ..Ron
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