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John was "sprung" from his isolation room at St. Joe's and is now back home.  His white cell count and nutrophil count (kind of like "baby white cells") are, while still low, acceptable.  He should be back at work on Friday.  Apparently this kind of a reaction, including his rash due to 5FU, is not uncommon.  It would have been nice to have been given a heads up that this COULD happen.
While in hospital, John was transported each day for his radiation treatments.  I started my day meeting him at the cancer center then went over to the hospital to spend the day.  I took responsibility in supplementing his meals with oatmeal raisin and chocolate chip cookies from the cafeteria.  Which was a good thing.  The old joke that hospital food will kill you is really not a joke at St. Joe's; it's reality.  The hospital cafeteria received a facelift and food overhaul about a year ago.  But the overhaul has not extended to patients' food yet.  Meals, usually with some kind of mystery gravy and obligatory vegetable of peas, beans or carrots (I would not survive!) also came topped with a fossilized-thinly-sliced-red-beet garnish and a sprinkling of diced dried chives.  Thank God he's home.  Tonight's dinner will be twice-baked stuffed potatoes with bacon and sauteed mushrooms...
Next on the agenda will be his Taxol and Carboplatin infusion next Wednesday.  Your prayers, wishes, and friendship are carrying us through.  Until later, we send you loving thanks....Nancy