Chemo Part 2

So I made it through the 1st 4 treatments. Next up 12 weekly treatments of paclitaxel, sometimes referred to as taxel.

I mentioned trouble with food aversions in my previous post. Those foods that I consumed on the premises cause strong reactions to me. I can barely grate cheese with out gagging. And the trail mix that I could eat by the handfuls is just not as appealing as it once was. I don't think I could eat a gold fish cracker either. I was worried about this food problem cause I am there for a few hours. If I kept eating during chemo what would be left to eat when I was finished with chemo? So my answer to this is to have a treat before and after to make it worth my trip. And I make sure it is an indulgent one, not just a piece of fruit which was a typical snack for me. So I get donuts for Jim's work and am sure to have my sugar pill topped off with some candy. Afterwards I go for ice cream. These treats sort of serve as my lunch.

The oncologist said to me "Your glucose seems a little high, this could be the steroids." to which I replied "It could be the candy I had before coming in too." He smiles and says "yes."

I might add that now that I am weekly treatments I only see my oncologist every 3rd or 4th visit.

So I will take you over the typical chemo day again.

By now Parker is out of school so he gets to go play for a day too.

We try to be out of the house by 7:30, but I am not a morning person. The alarm goes off at 5:45. And often I don't sleep well due to steroids or worrying about stuff or staying up late cause I don't want to deal with cancer, so it turns out to be a short night. I am just poky in the mornings. We are lucky to be out the door at 7:45. This puts Jim a little behind, so I drop him off at work and then take the boys to a member's house where they spend the day. People have been so wonderful to help us out in this way. And I have had several to pick from, so no one gets burnt out.

After dropping the boys off, I go to the grocery store to get snacks. I then make phone calls from the call or go into to Jim's work to surf the internet and snack.

Then I walk up the hill to chemo. This is the view from Jim's parking lot. I actually go in entrance 2, but the trees were too tall to see that.

Then I turned around and snapped a photo of Jim's work sign.


I actually go in Entrance 2 for specialty services I guess.
First stop is blood work. I seem to cycle through phlebotomists. I have the same person for a few times and then I get someone different for a few times. They are checking my blood to make sure I am healthy enough for chemo. Some of the things they look at, white blood cells, red blood cells, platelets, iron, liver and my reserve white blood cells. It is all very interesting how the body works. There have been a few times that my white blood cell levels are low, but my reserve is high, so I am still able to have chemo. Then a few weeks later my white blood cells have rejuvenated and my reserve is low. My iron has been holding steady at around 11, this explains why I have more energy than before. My liver has been running high, but it working overtime with all these drugs. This is all very fascinating to me.

Then I head downstairs and get my bracelet for chemo. The lab is always quick and there seems to be a line to get my bracelet. So I go to the lab and then when I have a little more time I get my bracelet. I believe the purpose of the bracelet is to identify me, also in the case that I would need to go to the hospital I am wearing all the pertinent information they would need to admit me, my medical number, my name, my birth date and the date of service. I also have to give the nurse my birthday and name before she can administer the chemo. This is just a safety check I am sure.

In the waiting area, I have made some friends. I don't know their names, but recognize their faces. We exchange pleasantries and talk about how treatment is going. Some I don't talk to, but recognize.

There is a man there in his 60s. His body didn't' respond well to the chemo. He wears a mask and is stuck at home because his immune system is very weak. He comes in to get shots a few times a week. This will go on for quite some time. They don't know how long his treatments will go.

There is a man that drinks Pepto-bismal, but I never see him in the treatment room, so his blood work must not be strong enough for chemo.

Most of the ladies either have hair or very nice looking wigs. There are only a handful of us baldies. I get too hot with something on my head. Plus this is kind of my battle wound that I have earned and am working very hard to overcome.

Most days I am not seeing the doctor, but the nurses are sure to follow up with these standard questions; how are you feeling, are your bowels moving ok, are you in any pain, are you having any side effects. They also take my temperature, blood pressure and pulse. I have to wait for my lab results before they can get started.

This time around they are giving me Benedryl, Zoloft and a steroid before chemo. The bendryl makes me sleepy. Plus I am still taking an anxiety pill before hand to get me through this. I have taken more naps on this group of chemo.

I usually take my lap top and get caught up on facebook, blogging, listening to Pampered Chef things, planning the music for church and email. I also text during chemo to pass the time.

Afterwards I feel sleepy. I walk down to Jim's work and take a nap. I started out on the floor, but his boss didn't think I should have to hang out on the floor, so there is an empty office with a nice leather recliner in that I use to take a nap in. They are taking good care of me.

After my nap and depending on the time, I go to Myer Dairy and get some ice cream and sometimes have a little time by myself to go shopping. What a luxury!

Then I return to Jim's work and wait for quitting time. We then go pick up the boys and dinner from a church member and head home for a low key evening.

I just have to take the steroids the night before and morning of. My dose has been cut back because my face is kind of puffy.

The day after chemo my face is really red from the steroids.

And lately the metalic taste in my mouth is back. It seems to come about Thursday evening and stay until Sunday morning. This is one of my least favorite side effects. And there is not much I can do about it.

My belly still hurts now and then. I don't seem to respond well to belly medicine, like Zantac. I take it, but get no relief. I sometime sip on Ginger ale and that seems to help. We found some that contains Ginger. Again this only seems to last for 3 days and then I am fine.

And for some reason I have noticed I am grouchy on Saturdays. I think I get tired of feeling the way I do and just want to be normal. And maybe I give myself permission to feel this way cause Jim is home and I have someone to complain to. Anyway grouchy mom and have a bad effect on everyone else at home. I figure I am entitled to a few days like this.

And then I still get tired and need a nap. There are occasional days where I just really feel run down and perhaps I have pushed myself doing too many fun things.

Lucky for you Parker asks a ton of questions about chemo and since kids are not allowed inside the chemo lounge, I have pictures to show you of my adventure.


As I write this I am just about to the end of my chemo experience. I hope someday I can look back on this and say it saved my life or at least prolonged it here on earth. If I can make it through the next 10 days, it will all be over.