How much blood can I give?

Today was a big day in the life of this lab rat.  My CA125 was down, cancer was stable, so I was allowed to go on to the next two rounds of treatment.  I had blood drawn yesterday, and five or six blood draws today as I started cycle 3.  Blood draws tomorrow and thursday in the morning.  How much blood do I have and how quickly can it be replaced when I am already anemic?  I guess they, the vampires of the study world,  know our bodies can do it.  In the meantime I am relieved but exhausted, hoping for a long hot summer where I feel well enough to enjoy it.

Life of a lab rat

this is something I never saw in my future.  I could see myself donating organs after I was dead but not experimenting on me while alive.  I always thought people who were in clinical trials were sad and somewhat desperate.  Someone who knew they were dying and and had nothing better.  In some ways that is so me.  I know that without some new and different treatment I will just get sicker and die and it won't be pretty or glamorous.  It will be painful and unpleasant.  Instead, I respect everyone who is donating their body for scientific purposes to advance healthcare for all.

Lab rat #1 is home after first treatment

Happy to be in my flannel sheets with unlimited tv channels but glad to have been a good lab rat for the week.  A few more weeks and a few more treatments then we will find out if the drug is working. It is definitely a different process then regular treatment, lots more blood removed, different level of care, testing etc.  Not as sick as from most drugs or tired so far so good.  Today the facility was so busy in the infusion area one would think they were doing a chemo sale, maybe a two for one?  What kinds of fun can a lab rat have?  Hope to find out.