MESNA (oops I mean mesna)

Christian cannot hear this word without it stimulating his GAG reflex!  One of the chemotherapy drugs that Christian has on days 2-5 of chemo is called Ifosfamide or I-fex.  This drug somehow neutralizes the toxicity of the I-fex and protects the bladder. It is given both before a dose of I-fex and 8 hours after.  The pre-dose is administered through the IV line at the cancer center it only takes 20 min. or so.  However, the post-dose is given to you in a little white lunch sack and when you open it, you see - the syringe from hell!!!  Below is a picture of the label.

I love that this oral medication has the words TOXIC and BIOHAZARD on it.  You would think that instead of waking up in the middle of the night to orally ingest it,  you would should handle it with a team of these guys!

Toxic is as Toxic tastes - Christian HATES this stuff - it is probably the worst part of chemotherapy; taking this stuff.  He has tried mixing it with orange juice, he's tried chasing it down with soda, he tried putting toothpaste in his mouth - which only made him hate brushing his teeth!  He's tried and tried and nothing seemed to make it easier.  However, someone at the cancer center mentioned "Atomic Fireballs"!!!!  His lovely sister Chantelle found some of these beauties along with another trick or two and it has become bearable.  The hope is that someone out there who has to go through TIP Salvage Chemotherapy will find this blog and learn how to take it night after night without gagging.!

Step 1.  Suck on Atomic Fireball for 10+ min.

Step 2.  Squirt Chloraseptic as far back in the throat as possible and on the tongue - this has a lovely numbing agent to it.

Step 3.  Squirt down the syringe of Mesna - and quickly, before you can taste it: swallow

Step 4.  Chase it down with some Izzie soda.

PHEW - done for tonight.  Now, go back to bed and try and get all of the above tastes out of your mouth so that you can sleep!