Having learned from the experiences of round 4, I approached round 5 with a better understanding of what to expect in terms of side effects. I continued to inject myself with Zarxio for 10 days to help rebuild my white blood cells. Similarly, I would only take the study drug acalabrutinib during the first 7 days (1-7) and the last 7 days (22-28) of the round.
Anticipating the impact on my platelet counts, we had already scheduled a platelet infusion at UW Hospital for day 12. My platelet count on day 9 was 47, and as expected, it dropped to 8 by day 12. This time, I required 2 bags of platelets for the infusion, which proved effective. Subsequent counts showed improvement, reaching 22 on day 14 and 35 on day 16. It was a relief to only have one infusion appointment this round.
During my infusion appointment, locating a suitable vein for the IV proved challenging. A specialized device, resembling an iPad with an ultrasound wand, was used to find a suitable vein, numb the area, and insert the IV, all while monitoring the process on the iPad screen. Moving forward, I made sure that all IV placements would utilize this specialized device.
Aside from the expected side effects like early post-treatment nausea, extreme tiredness, and general itchiness without a visible rash, I managed well.
On day 22, I resumed the study drug, and I successfully convinced my oncologist to allow me to work from home on a part-time basis.