The Colorful World of Chemotherapy

Before you click to open the entire post, I have posted pictures that aren't truly disgusting, but everyone may not enjoy.  Not the so disgusting that you may want to pass out type of disgusting.  That being said, people who pick medical careers often find bodily fluids more interesting than the general population.  We casually talk about bodily functions at times that others find socially unacceptable, such as over dinner.  So I'll write about the day, and then you can decide if you want to open the rest of the post and see the pictures (I'll warn you, the build-up is more exciting than the picture).

J had his first dose of chemotherapy for this cycle yesterday afternoon.  His drug was methotrexate.  Since I was sick the last time he was having chemotherapy, this is all new for me.  Methotrexate has a nice greenish hue.  You can see through it. You may be tempted to call it "witch's brew" or "toxic waste", but I would be offended if you thought it was radioactive.  The methotrexate ran for about four hours Sunday afternoon.  During the treatment J played games with a friend.  They played "Liar's Dice", "Battleship" and "Head's Up".  What is it that enables him to carry on fairly normally, even while getting dosed with such awful medicines?  Zofran.  Miracle drug there.  The oncologists have repeatedly said that if he's sick and miserable, they are not doing their job, because we can treat the awful side effects, and it's working.

This morning he couldn't eat until he had his spinal tap for another dose of chemotherapy through his back.  We thought it would be nothing to eat until the treatment was done at 9 am.  Then we found out it would be at 1 pm.  And he would remain without food until then.  Poor guy.  The spinal tap happened without trouble, they even removed some staples from his incision, and then he was back for more chemotherapy.  This was doxorubicin.  It's red.  Almost looks like blood, but you can see through it and it's a little brighter of a color.  J did great with that as well.


So here are some before and after pictures of the chemotherapy.  Before is how it looked before it was in the body.  After is how it looked after it was in the body.  Yes, not all that gross, unless you think looking at urine is too disgusting (I've given you plenty of warning).

Methotrexate (look at the greenish color in the skinny tube and the larger reservoir to the right of the middle pump)

Nice neon yellow color.

Doxorubicin (don't confuse it with fruit punch)

Nice orangish hue.

See, not really that bad.