Wednesday again - Treatment #7

It's Wednesday again. Only this time I really thought it was Tuesday. Holiday weekends can mess anybody up. Friday I had my 7th treatment of Taxol and Herceptin. After meeting with Dr. W, my oncologist, my liver enzymes are close to being normal ( I stopped taking Tylenol) but my white blood count is getting dangerously low. Always something. My Neutrophils have taken a complete nose dive in the last 2-1/2 weeks. This is an expected side effect of chemo. Unfortunately, I am unable to benefit from the infamous $3400 injection that Scott gave me during my first round of chemo. Back then I was on a two week chemo cycle and the injection worked on the second week to build up my cells. Now I am on a weekly cycle. The chemo would only kill off the new cells that the injection was helping to make. We have decided to 'wait and see' what this Friday's blood tests show. Dr. W hinted at a series of injections to improve my blood count but she didn't elaborate. To me all it means is more needles - no big deal. The other alternative is to stop treatments until my body can heal itself.

In the meantime, I keep plugging along. I have started to sleep more on the weekends as my energy level is slowing down. But in true Janet style, I continue to get out of bed in the morning and do what needs to be done regardless of how crappy I feel. By Wednesday, I feel more rested. Though I can honestly say that I could go to bed right now (it's 6:15pm) and sleep until tomorrow. I have been fighting off really cold chills since Sunday and I figure that is in part due to my low blood count. (Are chills anything but cold?) I take my temperature just to be on the safe side.

My other side effects of chemo are also becoming more obvious to me. My legs and head are tingling more and more. As I mentioned in an earlier blog, it should be my fingers and toes that are tingling. Throughout this whole ordeal, I have not been like "most people" when it comes to side effects. My headaches are still around and some days I medicate more than others.

This past holiday weekend we spent at the lake house. It was just what the doctor ordered. Even though I slept an awful lot, it was wonderful to be up there again. The last time I was there was on New Years and that was when I received the phone call that I had cancer. This past weekend, I didn't receive any phone calls!!!

Once again I am asking for your prayers for my friend Susan in North Carolina (Cancer Fight). Her cancer is back and has spread to three more organs. Please read her blog (scroll down to the bottom of mine and you will find the link) and leave her a comment that you are thinking of her and remembering her in your prayers. I am sure she will appreciate it and will love to read whatever you have to say. Thank You!

I passed my liver test!!

I realize it is already Wednesday and that some of you are eager to read the latest news. After one week of not taking any OTC meds or Vicoden for pain, my liver enzymes dropped significantly! Just goes to show what all of us do to our organs when we pop those pills for a headache. Makes me thinks twice now.

I was able to receive my 6th chemo this past Friday since my enzymes were lower. I am now officially half way through the Taxol. As usual, Saturday i pooped out late afternoon. I am taking less Dexmethasone now and my energy level has tanked. Fewer steroids, less energy. Sunday I did the same thing. I seem to slowly get my strength back and by Wednesday (today) I am ready to go. What stinks is only having 2 fairly good days a week. I still manage to get everything done around the house and the errands though i will admit I do less shopping now. Scott likes that! There it less "stuff" in the house, I use less gas (always a plus when my car is lucky to get 14 miles to the gallon) and I spend less money!

I still have headaches and the oxycodone my oncologist prescribed me isn't strong enough. In a pinch, I'll take two :) Allergies are the pits but the allergy pills I take cuts down on the bloody noses I am prone to now. My port (which I affectionally refer to as my alien baby as it sticks out of my chest) has been bothersome. The "take your breath away" sensations of pain have returned. I was talking to a woman last Friday while we were both waiting for treatments and she also has the same issues with her port. Now I don't feel alone.

All in all, I keep going. I have my good days and not so good days. Scott and the kids are great and very supportive and that's what gets me out of bed in the morning.

Mid week Taxol Treatment #5

It's Wednesday and rainy. A rather gloomy day but I am in good spirits. Mother's Day in Racine was wonderful on Saturday. It is always nice to go home. Sunday - the real Mother's Day - I spent most of it sleeping. Not a bad day to sleep but when I did wake up I had a house full of teenagers!

Last Friday I had an appointment with Dr. W (my oncologist). Two weeks earlier she started checking my liver. Unfortunately, my liver enzymes are on the rise. After a series of questions regarding Hepatitis A, B and C , vaccines I have had, blood transfusions.... it was decided that I should stop taking all medication for my headaches since acetaminophen can lead to liver problems. This was not an option for me since I still have headaches on a daily basis. So now I am on Oxycodone. My friend Susan (Cancer Fight) is taking them for pain as well. Susan - how do you like them?! All I can say is they give me really weird and quite vivid dreams. During the day I am just a happy, dizzy bald-headed blonde. No wonder people get addicted to this stuff with what it does to you. I am hoping that the change in meds will stabilize my levels. If not, Dr. W. has already warned me I might need to get vaccinated for Hepatitis again and possibly delay chemo for awhile. That would stink since I have already counted the weeks I have left on Taxol and that would mess up my month of July. It's not that I have any plans, except maybe spend some time at the lake house, it's just the idea of having an end in sight and that being taken away from you. No matter what, you do what you have to do and make the best of it.

I am still experiencing hot flashes/night sweats on a fairly normal schedule. I get them every hour or so. How fortunate am I that I can predict when i am going to sweat? They can be brutal and definitely mess up a good nights sleep. I have volunteered to care for a few new born babies who don't sleep the night through since i don't sleep either! Of course, I really don't want a baby in the house but at least the mom gets to smile at the thought of relief! :)

Dr. W and I discussed these hot flashes/night sweats and once again she is baffled why I get them so severely. Since I experienced one in the doctors office, they now know what I am talking about. Though we are going to put me on Effexor before radiation to help control these flashes, I decided I would tough out the remaining Taxol treatments and wait to start the new med. Dr. W would have given them to me but I really didn't want to introduce yet another med with not knowing how they would effect me. She agreed. I am now praying for cold weather and snow!!! Since this is Wisconsin, my prayers may be answered!

Friday is another treatment. Keep your fingers crossed that I pass my blood tests!

Chemo #8 (Taxol/Herceptin #4)

Sorry it has taken me so long to update. As you can see, I have had 8 chemo treatments so far. I have 8 more treatments of Taxol, followed by 7 weeks of daily radiation and then I finish up with a year of Herceptin.

The side effects with Taxol have been somewhat different than with the Adriamycin and Cytoxan. I am still bald but now I am losing my eye lashes. That's ok. It is easier to wash my face at night! I get fatigued sooner and appreciate the fact that I can sleep 12 hours at a stretch on the weekends and take a nap. I still experience headaches but not as severe. The lining of my nose is shot so every time I go to blow it I get blood. Not so good in allergy season. Allergy pills help. The insides of my intestines and stomach are also getting affected and I have meds for that too! The worst part are the brutal hot flashes and night sweats. I have been keeping track of them and they can occur every hour. One day I had in excess of 15!! I feel sorry for Scott who actually chooses to sleep next to me! But then again, his side of the bed is dry. Once I am done with the Taxol, my oncologist is going to put me on Effexor - an anti depressant prescribed just for hot flashes/night sweats. I am hoping I can get on it much sooner.

Taxol can cause tingling in the fingers and toes and muscle/joint pain. These side effects can last years after treatment (Yippee). I have experienced tingling but not not where I am suppose to! Leave it to me to go outside the norm - again. My left arm will tingle and so will my nose - though i think my nose is trying to tell me that I am going to kiss a fool :) My oncologist is stumped. I have yet to have any of the muscle/joint aches and pain but I am sure they will come. Knowing me, I will heavily medicate myself to a happy place!! I have no problem with medicating myself to have a better day!

So far, I have been managing quite well. With treatments every Friday, the weekends can be a little rough but Scott steps up and handles the cooking - or we go out for dinner (always a nice option). By Monday, I am back doing school lunches, laundry and errands. As long as I pace myself, I am good for the week without any need to sleep a day away. However, I do go to bed at 8:30. Now that the weather is changing, I am enjoying myself outside in my flower gardens cleaning them up the for summer. Taxol makes you extremely sensitive to the sun and bright light (I've found that out all ready). As long as I wear a hat and sun screen, I am ok.

We have been very lucky and avoided the last round of colds/flu to go through the schools. My white blood count has tanked so getting sick is not an option. However, my neutrophils are in the "low side of average" so I am still good. I have blood work every Friday so we always know where my blood count is.

Friday I have treatment #9 and I plan on having wonderful Mother's Day weekend. Saturday we are driving to Racine to spend the day with my Mom. What could be better? Nothing in my opinion.