I had the treatment with a regular IV since I never was able to get the port in place. My nurse says I have a fabulous vein deep in my arm that will take me through all the treatments if that's what I want. I have to think about it some more. I guess I will have to get at least 7 more IVs, since I now learn that I have to go in 10 days after each treatment to get blood drawn and see how I'm doing.
I took the girls into the chemo doctor's appt with me yesterday, so she could reassure them and answer their questions. I thought the doctor did a great job. Then I took them into the chemo treatment lounge. It is a big room with lots of windows overlooking an outdoor patio with tables and plantings. There are big reclining chairs with bed tables and chairs for setting your stuff. Katie said it reminded her of the first-class section of an airplane (although the chairs are along the walls and more like 4 ft apart). People were sitting around chatting with friends or reading or watching TV, looking like they were waiting in a airport rather than getting chemo. So I think that helped the girls get a visual of what mom was doing -- not laying on a table dying.
Of course, nothing in my life can be easy, so we had a huge snow last night -- about 12 inches. Schools were closed and my friend who was to take me to the treatment was 20 minutes late to pick me up. Then she got her car stuck in the snowbank where she pulled in too close to pick me up and I had to push her out. In my clogs, since I thought "Oh these will be good -- I can just kick them off or slip them on at the treatment." I had to hop through the snow bank, then teach her to rock the car, wondering if I was going to get run over today instead of getting chemo. We finally got her out of the rut and I had to run down the street after her since she didn't want to stop in the middle of the street. We crept along the unplowed streets and got to the appt 15 minutes late. But some nurses had called in and several patients had canceled, so I was practically the only person in there for the first 2 hours.
A treatment goes like this: I get settled in the recliner (stay dressed in regular clothes), get a warm blanket for my legs and feet and a pillow for my lap. The nurse places the IV and starts a bag of saline along with some meds for acid stomach and allergic reaction and for nausea. Nausea seems to be their biggest concern these days. I took pills yesterday, today and tomorrow, 2 kinds of nausea drugs today, then I have other pills to take for the next 2 days, also pills for whenever I feel nauseous and a cream for "break through nausea" just in case! And they wonder why many breast cancer patients GAIN 25 lbs! A little nausea might be a good thing...
After those have had time to go in, they start the first treatment, which is taxotere. That goes for about an hour, then they start the cytoxan. During the whole time, I just read a book I was enjoying, but they have TV and I had a book on MP3 player that I could have used. I also had lunch -- part of the treatment cost -- as well as tea and cookies and went to the bathroom a lot, dragging my IV rack along with me.
The whole thing took about 5 hours. That's a little longer than normal because they had my height/weight wrong on their initial charts apparently, so then they had to redo the drugs. Normally I will start the whole morning with a blood draw and analysis to make sure I'm well enough to get treatment, but I did that last week. So, 5 hours will be a normal session. I will have another Dec 30 -- a total of 4 treatments, 3 weeks apart, finishing up in mid-February.
The day after each treatment, I go in for a follow-up shot to boost the white blood production. Since that happens in the bone marrow, the shot can have bad repercussions. I had it described as a flu or a week-long hangover. However, I also heard that taking a Claritin immediately before can reduce symptoms completely.
I also have to drink 60 oz of fluid a day and stay away from: coffee, tea, & other caffeine; spicy foods, acidic foods, eat 5 small meals a day, rinse my mouth with warm salt water after every meal and before bed, and eat carbs to absorb the excess stomach acid that chemo produces. I can't remember what else. Sheesh. Oh, and stop my nervous habits of chewing my cuticles and my mouth. Sigh -- what's a tactile nervous person to do? I quit smoking, quit drinking too much. I thought cuticles and mouth biting were at least safe, if unattractive. I guess I need to email and blog more! :^)
On a happy note, with all these delays I was able to have a very nice Thanksgiving and visit to the Glenwood Hot Springs with old friends from the Front Range. Also got to get through both the major fund raisers I'm responsible for at my church, the Auction on Nov 7 and the Craft Fair Dec 5, as well as Katie's Choir Extravaganza (5 performances) and Larissa's birthday. So my major responsibilities there are concluded. Not that I'm not going to have 11 8th graders over for a belated birthday party, prepare soup for the Solstice Celebration, have my own Christmas party from the Auction, and help with the Christmas Eve Carol & Reading service. (And continue hassling with the IRS and the bill collectors.)
But my next treatment won't be until after Christmas, so I'll be healthy and fit for those parties and for my lovely niece who is coming out for Christmas to help us out and visit and hopefully get the girls out of the house for activities!
I'm hoping I will be well and active for the next 3 weeks, in which case I won't blog again until after my next treatment. So... Happy Holidays to All! Say a prayer for your health and for mine. Love & cherish your friends and family. Peace be with you.
Too funny, that you wondered if you were going to get run over rather than get your first chemo. Well, that takes a bit of stress off -- "Hey, we got here without sliding into another car -- the rest should be a piece of cake!"
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