Plateauing?

We're just moving along steadily here this past 10 days.  The chemo side effects that Ed is experiencing continue for the most part to be intensifying some.  That is, the neuropathy lasts longer, the slight nose bleeds last longer.  On the other hand, the fatigue seems to have plateaued and many days Ed is able to work throughout the day without much in the way of rests.  (We are both slow starters of the day, but that has been the case for years.)  Similarly, the white blood cell and the neutrophil counts go up and down depending upon the closeness to the chemo, but are never quite up to normal, but are not sinking on average, either.  His weight remains pretty steady, although his appetite is a little dimmed in some ways, notably toward sweet things, which he has always favored.  I, for example, had no concept of dessert for breakfast until I met Ed.

Although Ed thought that the CAT scan would wait awhile, he and the doc decided to schedule it for this past week (Wednesday), so the results of that will be available this coming Tuesday at the next chemo.  As near as I can tell, the strong chemo could continue for a month (assuming the CAT scan shows it is having an effect), and then would come the time to move back to 'maintenance chemo' (which means the 5FU but not the oxalyplatin).  At least the protocol for the fabulous French Study involved 6 of the combined chemo treatments over 3 months and then maintenance chemo with regular scans and a return to the strong chemo when tumor activity appears, assuming the person's physical condition will tolerate it. 

Thus, changes could be ahead.  Actually, some changes are coming this afternoon as Ed's daughter Annika and her (19 y/o) sons, Calvin and Spencer will be arriving this afternoon for a few days of work.  They are going to have to clean the roofs of all three buildings here.  They are young, and strong, and enjoy riskiness.  Well, at least the sons are/do.  Annika is yet younger than us and probably strong enough for her age, but maybe not so risk-prone. In any case, Ed will probably outwork them.