At 8:00 a.m., Dad started his Friday at the Moffitt Cancer Center at International Plaza (MIP) with the traditional blood draw, which indicated that he needed platelets and red blood cells.
At 10:00 a.m., Dad had an appointment at South Tampa Dentistry to obtain the required letter of dental clearance for transplant. While at the dentist, he was diagnosed as having thrush, an infection of the mouth caused by candida fungus (aka yeast). It occurs in babies, toddlers, older adults and those with weakened immune systems. Antibiotics, which Dad is taking as a part of his cancer treatment, can upset the balance of microorganisms in the mouth and may cause thrush. The dentist prescribed a mouth wash to treat Dad’s thrush. Dad first noticed the thrush about two weeks ago, but he had not mentioned it to Mom nor me. I am glad the dentist noticed and is treating Dad since thrush can spread to other parts of the body. This is often seen in people with cancer, HIV, and other conditions with weakened immune systems.
Dad was back at MIP at 12:00 p.m. to receive a platelet (one bag) and a red blood cell (two bags) transfusion. The transfusions were not completed until 5:45 p.m. The good news is that he did not have any radiation scheduled.
It never ceases to amaze me how much time is required to treat cancer. Dad’s days are often filled with appointments like today. It is a full time job. I am sure Dad is looking forward to the three day weekend.
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