Chemo side effects

As Alex's face puffs up from the steroids, I can't help but think of the other side effects of the medicine that we are pushing into his body during the Induction Phase...

Prednisone: (oral tablet - 2 times a day) Increased appetite (oh yes, we have seen that), weight gain, fluid retention, full or round "moon" face, stomach upset, irritability and mood changes (yah - we know that one!), less resistance to infection and longer time for healing, craving for salty foods (yep).

Vincristine: (IV drip - once a week on Friday) Constipation (he's on laxatives daily...), stomach pain (we had that two nights ago, he couldn't sleep, and just cried while we had him in bed with us), hair loss (not yet, but any day now...) irritation of nerves: numbness and tingling of fingers and toes, muscle weakness (I think when he complains of his arms and legs hurting, that this is what he is experiencing), jaw/joint pain (he said his "teeth hurt" while in the hospital - we think it was this side effect)

Daunorubicin: (IV drip - once a week on Friday) Nausea/vomiting, urine may turn pink/red for 2 days after treatment (yep), hair loss (any day now) low blood counts 1 to 2 weeks after treatment (we are starting to see that now), mouth soars (we saw that in the hospital), heart muscle damage (they are doing echo cardiograms - a heart ultrasound - to make sure this doesn't happen - his heart is very strong and healthy)

Methotrexate: (Spinal tap - 2 x per month) Mouth sores, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, abnormal liver function tests (twice weekly blood draws are watching for this one)

Asparaginase: (double shot in the thighs - approx twice a month) Loss of appetite, High blood sugar (they are checking his blood work twice a week), allergic reaction (we have an "eppie pen" to give him a shot if he has a reaction - none so far)

Cytarabine: (Spinal tap - once during Induction phase) Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea, mouth sores

He also has: Oxycoten, Zolfran, Previcid, and Miralax...

He had his Chemo appointment today, and his blood counts are dropping as expected - all is going according to plan - I just hate the plan...