Chemo #6 (Taxol treatment #2)

It's me. Last Friday, April 17, I had my sixth Chemo treatment, my second of 12 treatments of Taxol. It went much better than the first. Scott and I left for the hospital at 7:30 am and finally got home at 4:15pm. Almost 9 hours. Not toooo bad!! I had my usual lab, which I actually got in early for, and I got my infusion bed only 45 minutes late! I thought for sure it would be a quick day. No such luck. I'm not quite sure where the day went. This time it wasn't so bad. The pre-meds (Benedryl and Zantax for allergic reactions) were administrated much slower this time. I still got really lightheaded but at least my head didn't feel like it was going to blow up like last week. I am getting more fluids both before and after treatment to help with headaches. They aren't as bad this time around. Once home, we waiting patiently for our pizza delivery from our friends the McIntoshs'. Mike, Sophie and friend Katie brought over pizza, cookie dough and movies to watch. It was VERY MUCH APPRECIATED! THANK YOU!!!
I made the cookies only to have Andrei eat 90% of them. (He's growing - again :))

Saturday was a great day and Scott and I spent it running errands in my fun car. (Julie, I am glad Matt likes my fun car. It was fun to see him so giddy! Perhaps when the weather warms, we'll put the top down and show him what that car can really do besides look good! OH! and it is a great idea to car pool for track meets!) OK. back to my story. Scott and I both took a nap when we got home. The kids didn't feel like dinner out so we stayed in and laid low. Sunday, Monday and Tuesday I didn't have as much energy though I was still able to get a few things done - laundry mostly. Monday was a sad day for us as we had to put our Cat Cigar to sleep.

Today, Wednesday, I am back at my normal energy level. It helps to have the sun shining! Ran some errands and visited my friends at church. THANK YOU LAURA AND JEANINE for my beautiful new head scarf! Thank you for thinking about me. In fact, Thank You to everyone who has been thinking about me lately. I treasure the beautiful cards I have been receiving and the e-mails from more long lost family!

Friday I have Chemo #7. Only 10 more treatments to go of Taxol. Every Friday. I think it will be close to July when this round of treatment is done and I start the next. One day at a time.

In the meantime, I need another tattoo on the back of my head and I need to find a pair of purple flip flops! (Thanks for the idea Roxanne!!!) Of course, if I can't find a pair, I can always paint my toes purple :)

Catch-Up

It's Janet. So much has happened I thought I would bring everyone up to speed. Because of all the headaches I was getting, Dr. W decided I should have a MRI on my head. My brain is there, though not as smart as it once was, it is healthy. Good news. March 27th was the LAST OF THE FIRST as Scott called it. That treatment really hit me with fatigue and headaches. So...as instructed, I drank water until I sprouted gills. After that treatment, Dr. W. wanted my heart checked again to see what, if any, damage the chemo has done. I was off to the glow farm again. Result, more good news. My numbers actually increased which just goes to show that not all tests are perfect. This past Friday, April 10th, I had my first Taxol/Herceptin treatments. 12 hours before treatment I had to take 5 pills (steroids for allergic reaction) and again 6 hours before treatment. Thanks to Scott for setting the alarm to 4 am to wake me up! The treatment day was 10 hours long. Before treatment they give you Benadryl and Zantac into your IV to ward off allergic reactions. WOW! I am assuming it was the Benadryl that localized between my eyes and created much pressure and pain before dispensing itself through my head. Luckily, it only lasted for about 5 minutes then sporadically off and on to a lesser degree. The Herceptin was given first. Thank Heavens! I was told you have to stick around for an hour after infusion to make sure everything is ok! It was already a long day - another hour and I would have felt like going out to dinner with the nurses! After the Herceptin came the Taxol. By the end of treatment I was tired and my port felt like a sunburn though it looked fine. As usual, the Saturday after treatment, Scott and i spent the day running around and enjoying ourselves. On Easter Sunday I was exhausted. Lucky for me the Easter Bunny did all the work! I slept most of the day fighting off chills. Monday came I was still fatigued and very light headed so I spent most of the day sleeping. It is usually not a good sign to see stars in the bright of day! Tuesday I finally faced the world at 10 am and actually watched TV in bed until 2pm. It was kinda of nice! Today, Wednesday, (Happy Tax Day) I finally feel like myself again and am trying to catch up on laundry before Friday's treatment. I am hoping that I don't continue to have only 3 good days a week. It could be a long Summer if that's the case.

Happy Easter

With the kids on Spring Break this week, it has been rather leisurely around here. I am on day 10 of the last round of the chemo combination of Adriamycin and Cytoxan. The fatigue caught up with me right away after treatment. When I got home form Chemo, I slept for the most part from 2pm that Friday to 10 am on Saturday morning. Then Saturday night I got another 12-13 hours of sleep. The cummulative effect definitely caught up with me! For the most part, it has been a good two weeks. I asked for more fluids during treatment and they helped the headaches.(It also caused my eyes to drain when I laid down! Too funny) I have been trying to stay hydrated and this does ward off the severe headaches I was experiencing. It is really difficult to continue to drink water when you're not thirsty - but you do what you have to do. My energy level has returned and I am going about my day-to-day life. I run the errands, clean the house and figure out what to make for dinner. Sometimes I'll sneak in a nap or read a magazine. All in all, I am doing well.

SpongeBob is no longer on the back of my head. After he disappeared, Aruna gave me an Easter Bunny tattoo, then two Butterflies. I have been searching the stores for more tattoos but can't find any. Where do you get them? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

This Good Friday before Easter, I start my next cycle of chemo. I have 12 straight weeks of Taxol with Herceptin combined. Though my IV port acts up on occasion, I am very thankful I have it. I don't think my veins could have handled the treatments.
I have been reading the side effects of Taxol - achy bones and joints, tingling in the fingers and toes... I am praying that I experience minimal side effects otherwise it could be a very long 12 weeks.

Andrei is walking without crutches or his boot - slowly I might add . Monday he goes back for more x-rays. We'll find out then what the plan of attack is.

One of Scott and my links on this blog is to another Blog "Cancer Fight". Just scroll down to the bottom of our blog page and you see the link. A dear friend of ours in North Carolina is facing her own battle with cancer and has just gotten news that it has returned. We asked that you pray for our friend Susan so that she may also find the strength needed to become cancer free. Thank you.

As always, thanks for keeping tabs on me. Happy Easter to everyone!!! Hope the Easter Bunny visits your house :)