Today I had my 4th round out of 8.
And this was the last of the 4 Adriamycin-Cytoxin rounds. The next 4 rounds are Taxol, which is, by all accounts, supposed to be much easier on the side effects. No nausea, no mouthsores, less vascularly destructive, much less fatigue, reduced effects on the immune system. The only side effects I heard ( chemo-brain caveat) were possible peripheral numbness, loss of eyebrows and eyelashes and a very rare allergic reaction which is highly managed before and during the 5 hr infusion. Part of this management is that I take a boatload of steroids the evening beforehand.
And I got a very experienced infusion nurse this time! ( And a guarantee of this for the future rounds)
I'm hoping, praying and planning that the infection resolves itself with no major issues and that I start the Taxol rounds in 2 weeks - Sept 9.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Monday -the suspense begins- chemo or no chemo?
So, I have my regularly scheduled pre-chemo appt with my Oncologist and I get myself on the calendar with my Surgeon to take a peek at the map of my surgical site. My Oncologist is optimistic - she redraws the borders for Monday's map and says that as long as I take my oral antibiotics and the infection begins to recede and the fever goes away, we'll be able to complete the 4th round of AC on Wed. However, she adds, if the surgeon lances any pockets of infection then all bets are off and our plan changes.
I really want to get the 4th ( and last) round of AC over with and I want it to occur in the planned cycle time. There is a specific life cycle of the cancer cell that the AC is targeting and I'm afraid that if we miss it there could be some long term risks. Also there is a lifetime limit on the Adria. It is so effective that I want to get it now while I have the chance and I've already got three rounds under my belt. I am not sure I can even get it again. So, that is where my head is at.
I meet with the surgeon who is very cautious. The site is certainly infected but there isn't an obvious pocket to lance. I get an ultrasound and come back. Still, no obvious pocket to lance. We defer the decision 'til Tuesday. On Tuesday, the site is better but very slowly better, I don't have a fever, but still no obvious pocket to lance. Dr's confer. We defer the decision 'til Wed when I am due for chemo.
I understand the concerns and I very much appreciate my Drs' attention to the risks and making the decision that is best for me with no clear odds. It's essentially a case of balancing short term risk ( The risk of the infection getting worse and spiraling into a dangerous spot when my counts go down after chemo) vs the long term risk of me not getting my chemo per the schedule.
Next stop the infusion chair....
I really want to get the 4th ( and last) round of AC over with and I want it to occur in the planned cycle time. There is a specific life cycle of the cancer cell that the AC is targeting and I'm afraid that if we miss it there could be some long term risks. Also there is a lifetime limit on the Adria. It is so effective that I want to get it now while I have the chance and I've already got three rounds under my belt. I am not sure I can even get it again. So, that is where my head is at.
I meet with the surgeon who is very cautious. The site is certainly infected but there isn't an obvious pocket to lance. I get an ultrasound and come back. Still, no obvious pocket to lance. We defer the decision 'til Tuesday. On Tuesday, the site is better but very slowly better, I don't have a fever, but still no obvious pocket to lance. Dr's confer. We defer the decision 'til Wed when I am due for chemo.
I understand the concerns and I very much appreciate my Drs' attention to the risks and making the decision that is best for me with no clear odds. It's essentially a case of balancing short term risk ( The risk of the infection getting worse and spiraling into a dangerous spot when my counts go down after chemo) vs the long term risk of me not getting my chemo per the schedule.
Next stop the infusion chair....
Weekend Getaway to Urgent Care
What would a Jaunt on the C-Train be without a side trip? This time that side trip was a weekend getaway to Urgent Care.
As you may recall, this round started out being the "3rd time's not the charm" round and continued to fit the bill. It all started during the non-chemo week. That's the week when the counts go down, the mouth sores appear, I go to bed at 7, headache, and other assorted side effects take their turn. It's generally do-able, I still go to work, I still feel ok-ish, I just need to take it easy. This third round, I left work early on Thursday and planned to work at home on Friday. By Friday I was really feeling crappy. I kept having to lie down all day. And, I kept taking my temperature all day but had no fever at the critical level - which, by the way is 100.5.
I took a nap, I woke up, I took my temperature - 101.1. Yikes! What happened? I tried to reduce it - I drank ice water, put my hands and feet in cold water, I moistened my skin all over with cool water. Nope, still 101.1. So, I called the Onc on call and headed to Urgent Care. When I got there I spied a friend of mine from my "old life" - yeah, that wine tasting/wine party life - who is also an Urgent Care Doctor! I was really happy to learn that he would be MY UC Dr and I knew I would be in good hands! He ran a lot of tests and took a look at my lymph node surgical site which had become swollen and red. He used a marker to outline the redness and we would use that "map" as a guide to see if the infection would shrink from the lines or start to "color outside the lines" ( like we all did as kids!) in response to the antibiotics. I was given IV ani-biotics, released and invited to come back Saturday evening for a continuation of the weekend getaway.
Saturday, I my temperature oscillated between fever and no fever but by the time I got back to Urgent Care it was, again, 101.1. And, that darned infection had the mind of a 4 year old. It had retreated in the upper portion but had very clearly "colored outside the lines" in the lower portion and had grown in total size. This meant more IV antibiotics and some phlebotomy adventures that resulted in some colorful reminders of the evening. At this point the UC Dr ( not my friend, this time) recommended an oral antibiotic for Sunday that had a different spectrum of bacteria in its target. At least I didn't have to go back to UC on Sunday! And it did seem to have a slow effect. The map didn't radically change and my temp fluctuations started to favor the non-fever side more often. Thus my weekend getaway to UC!
As you may recall, this round started out being the "3rd time's not the charm" round and continued to fit the bill. It all started during the non-chemo week. That's the week when the counts go down, the mouth sores appear, I go to bed at 7, headache, and other assorted side effects take their turn. It's generally do-able, I still go to work, I still feel ok-ish, I just need to take it easy. This third round, I left work early on Thursday and planned to work at home on Friday. By Friday I was really feeling crappy. I kept having to lie down all day. And, I kept taking my temperature all day but had no fever at the critical level - which, by the way is 100.5.
I took a nap, I woke up, I took my temperature - 101.1. Yikes! What happened? I tried to reduce it - I drank ice water, put my hands and feet in cold water, I moistened my skin all over with cool water. Nope, still 101.1. So, I called the Onc on call and headed to Urgent Care. When I got there I spied a friend of mine from my "old life" - yeah, that wine tasting/wine party life - who is also an Urgent Care Doctor! I was really happy to learn that he would be MY UC Dr and I knew I would be in good hands! He ran a lot of tests and took a look at my lymph node surgical site which had become swollen and red. He used a marker to outline the redness and we would use that "map" as a guide to see if the infection would shrink from the lines or start to "color outside the lines" ( like we all did as kids!) in response to the antibiotics. I was given IV ani-biotics, released and invited to come back Saturday evening for a continuation of the weekend getaway.
Saturday, I my temperature oscillated between fever and no fever but by the time I got back to Urgent Care it was, again, 101.1. And, that darned infection had the mind of a 4 year old. It had retreated in the upper portion but had very clearly "colored outside the lines" in the lower portion and had grown in total size. This meant more IV antibiotics and some phlebotomy adventures that resulted in some colorful reminders of the evening. At this point the UC Dr ( not my friend, this time) recommended an oral antibiotic for Sunday that had a different spectrum of bacteria in its target. At least I didn't have to go back to UC on Sunday! And it did seem to have a slow effect. The map didn't radically change and my temp fluctuations started to favor the non-fever side more often. Thus my weekend getaway to UC!
Thursday, August 13, 2009
3 Down/ 5 to go ...new fridge...new clothes..and no Dish walks this weekend... I'm testing a longer hike!
Yesterday was the 3rd of 8 bi-weekly chemo treatments.... 5 to go.
The Chemo: So far, I seem to be tolerating the chemo pretty well once it's in my body. In this round, though, the trick was getting the needle in... and pushing the Adriamycin. For the first 2 rounds I had R* - she is great and she can thread a vein like nobody's business. And, she pushes the Adria smoothly and consistently. Not so lucky this time - the 3rd time was *not* the charm.
*[Venting alert!]*This time I had someone else with apparenly less experience. She couldn't find a vein anywhere, then when she chose one she kept trying to get in with no luck, then when she got in she couldn't thread it ( ie push the flexible needle deeper into the vein and following the curves of the vein). Finally she called a co-worker over to hook me up. The second person did find the usual vein and threaded it but it was a painful experience. Then through the whole experience, the needle wasn't fastened to my hand as securely as it should have been so now I have a bruise. And to top it off she pushed the Adria in spurts which also didn't feel too great. I am a bit worried that the vein we used has collapsed but I'll have to wait a few days to see if it comes back. And, I intend to put in a request for the more experienced folks next round! *[ End of venting alert]*
The new Fridge: I love my new refrigerator! This is the only major purchase that I have justified using the "C-card" - ie "I have Cancer so I deserve to have a new refrigerator to help me through this!" It's so great and I was so right in buying it! It has a French door, Bottom freezer, with filtered water ( internal) and an ice-maker. I have never had an ice-maker in my whole life - I'm really looking forward to it! Plus I get to put the old fridge in the garage for food posse deliveries - works so much better than the cooler!
There was a small mystery when it was delivered. When I asked the delivery guys to hook up the water line, one of them was holding the copper tubing and brushed against the bare metal back of the fridge and completed a circuit! He got a full 110 shock. Wisely(!) , he declined to hook up the waterline! But there was still the mystery.
Luckily my friend Peter stopped by with his electical meter and after a little while narrowed it down to a plug that was making the metallic surfaces on the fridge hot/live. A peek under the hood revealed vintage 1947 knob/tube wiring attached to a modern 3-prong plug. Since the old wire had no ground wire, a previous owner had attempted to jumper neutral to ground. Turns out hot and neutral were reversed and he jumpered hot to ground! I never noticed this in 12 years while my old fridge was plugged in there. Anyway, it's now all sorted out and my handyman will hook up the waterline tomorrow. Yay!
New clothes - So, in the silver lining department, I have lost 20 lbs during this ride on the C-train. Who knew what not drinking, eating healthy and still exercising would do? I shoulda tried this more earnestly before... without the big C :) Anyway, I've lost weight and my clothes have been getting looser but I haven't really had the motivation to get new clothes yet. That is, until my friend from work, Jill -"The Voice of Reason", called me over to her desk and said, " I could pants you right now and your moons would be hanging out for all to see... I think it's time for you to get some new clothes... I'm gonna come over to your house and drive you to the store... and you're going to get some new jeans, at least!.. What time is good for you?" I cracked up laughing and then thought... Hmm maybe she's right. Well, she came and we conquered - and more importantly, she stayed and gave the thumbs up/thumbs down on a whole bunch of my old clothes. Two large black garbage bags of clothes left my house and I got to wear some new clothes this week! Thanks Jill!
Walks - This weekend I am going to try out a longer walk than the Dish and see if I'm up for it! I hope so....!
Thanks to all of you for your encouragement and support! It's a long journey and I really appreciate it!
The Chemo: So far, I seem to be tolerating the chemo pretty well once it's in my body. In this round, though, the trick was getting the needle in... and pushing the Adriamycin. For the first 2 rounds I had R* - she is great and she can thread a vein like nobody's business. And, she pushes the Adria smoothly and consistently. Not so lucky this time - the 3rd time was *not* the charm.
*[Venting alert!]*This time I had someone else with apparenly less experience. She couldn't find a vein anywhere, then when she chose one she kept trying to get in with no luck, then when she got in she couldn't thread it ( ie push the flexible needle deeper into the vein and following the curves of the vein). Finally she called a co-worker over to hook me up. The second person did find the usual vein and threaded it but it was a painful experience. Then through the whole experience, the needle wasn't fastened to my hand as securely as it should have been so now I have a bruise. And to top it off she pushed the Adria in spurts which also didn't feel too great. I am a bit worried that the vein we used has collapsed but I'll have to wait a few days to see if it comes back. And, I intend to put in a request for the more experienced folks next round! *[ End of venting alert]*
The new Fridge: I love my new refrigerator! This is the only major purchase that I have justified using the "C-card" - ie "I have Cancer so I deserve to have a new refrigerator to help me through this!" It's so great and I was so right in buying it! It has a French door, Bottom freezer, with filtered water ( internal) and an ice-maker. I have never had an ice-maker in my whole life - I'm really looking forward to it! Plus I get to put the old fridge in the garage for food posse deliveries - works so much better than the cooler!
There was a small mystery when it was delivered. When I asked the delivery guys to hook up the water line, one of them was holding the copper tubing and brushed against the bare metal back of the fridge and completed a circuit! He got a full 110 shock. Wisely(!) , he declined to hook up the waterline! But there was still the mystery.
Luckily my friend Peter stopped by with his electical meter and after a little while narrowed it down to a plug that was making the metallic surfaces on the fridge hot/live. A peek under the hood revealed vintage 1947 knob/tube wiring attached to a modern 3-prong plug. Since the old wire had no ground wire, a previous owner had attempted to jumper neutral to ground. Turns out hot and neutral were reversed and he jumpered hot to ground! I never noticed this in 12 years while my old fridge was plugged in there. Anyway, it's now all sorted out and my handyman will hook up the waterline tomorrow. Yay!
New clothes - So, in the silver lining department, I have lost 20 lbs during this ride on the C-train. Who knew what not drinking, eating healthy and still exercising would do? I shoulda tried this more earnestly before... without the big C :) Anyway, I've lost weight and my clothes have been getting looser but I haven't really had the motivation to get new clothes yet. That is, until my friend from work, Jill -"The Voice of Reason", called me over to her desk and said, " I could pants you right now and your moons would be hanging out for all to see... I think it's time for you to get some new clothes... I'm gonna come over to your house and drive you to the store... and you're going to get some new jeans, at least!.. What time is good for you?" I cracked up laughing and then thought... Hmm maybe she's right. Well, she came and we conquered - and more importantly, she stayed and gave the thumbs up/thumbs down on a whole bunch of my old clothes. Two large black garbage bags of clothes left my house and I got to wear some new clothes this week! Thanks Jill!
Walks - This weekend I am going to try out a longer walk than the Dish and see if I'm up for it! I hope so....!
Thanks to all of you for your encouragement and support! It's a long journey and I really appreciate it!
Friday, August 7, 2009
A note of gratitude to my food posse!
Once again, I have eaten very well this week and wanted to thank my food posse - all the friends looking out for my culinary needs! Julia A brought a huge container of homemade chicken soup, Amreen cooked daal and cabbage for me, Melanie brought collard greens, quinoa with zucchini and mint, her famous healing carrot soup and a daal, Chris brought a delicious lasange, Julia L brought a huge pot of homemade minestrone and Dan cooked a lovely roasted salmon with veggies and heirloom tomato salad for me. Thanks to all for keeping me well fed with healthy delicious homemade meals - it means so much to me!!
The strangest food posse incident came when I was walking Melanie to her car and suddenly, in the middle of suburban Menlo Park a woman drove up, leaned out the window and asked if we would like to buy some homemade tamales... made with olive oil...healthy. Huh, Menlo Park? Since Melanie is a connoisseur of Michoacan street food... we had to buy one of each and try them! The corn tamale was extraordinary and all were delicious. It was surreal... and fun.
The strangest food posse incident came when I was walking Melanie to her car and suddenly, in the middle of suburban Menlo Park a woman drove up, leaned out the window and asked if we would like to buy some homemade tamales... made with olive oil...healthy. Huh, Menlo Park? Since Melanie is a connoisseur of Michoacan street food... we had to buy one of each and try them! The corn tamale was extraordinary and all were delicious. It was surreal... and fun.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Take it off! Take it all off!
That's what I said to my hairdresser last Friday and that's just what she did. We're talking about my hair here :) I decided to get the buzz cut after several days of the kind of shedding that makes my cats envious. It's been almost a week now and I'm getting used to wearing the "work wig" during the days and various head toppings when I'm not at work. I'm especially having fun with the weekend halos which are like half wigs that are worn under a hat or scarf. They are much more comfortable than the full wigs and a tenth of the price - so I have two! Maybe I'll get some more...And *when* I find my digital camera I'll post the new looks.
This cycle went a bit more smoothly than last cycle - I was more prepared for the side effects and planned for getting more sleep!. Now that the hair drama is over, I'm back to ordering the new refrigerator. Hopefully it will be installed in the next week!
This cycle went a bit more smoothly than last cycle - I was more prepared for the side effects and planned for getting more sleep!. Now that the hair drama is over, I'm back to ordering the new refrigerator. Hopefully it will be installed in the next week!
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