Interleukin 2 - round 2 - Day 3

November 12, 2014, our stay at Duke University Cancer Center

Yesterday Kevin's creatinine levels were high, so they decided to skip dose 5 and have his levels rechecked in the am.  Today his levels were at 3.9, which is above the cutoff of what they consider safe for someone with only one kidney.  The doctors said that his body has told him he's had enough, so they are stopping the treatment.  This is considered normal, and that some people can't even handle 2 doses the second time around.  One of the PA's even said that she worries about people who don't have any reactions because this treatment is meant to have a quicker reaction as you progress, it shows that the immune system is indeed boosted.  Because the body reacts quicker the second time around, most people only do about half of what they did the first time.  Kevin did 9, so the doctor thought this time he would get to 4 or 5 and he made it to 4, he did awesome.

We are going home either today or tomorrow.  They need to keep him in for observation and to make sure his levels get back to something more acceptable.  They said they are going to recheck his levels later on today, and if they are more normal, we can go home.  If not, they will most likely keep him over night until tomorrow morning when they recheck all his levels again.

Last night we were able to get some sleep, well Kevin's has been pretty much sleeping since his first dose.  So at least if we have to stay over night we will be able to get some sleep or as much sleep as one can get in the hospital.

Thanks for reading  :)