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!