Normally, I try to spin this blog in a positive light (some days that proves to be a difficult task, lemme tell ya!). This is one of those days. I want to be honest with you about my cancer experience, but I don't want this to be a place that I come to complain all the time (what a fun read that would be, eh?). Today, I am going to make an exception. So...if you don't want to hear me bitch, go ahead and skip to another post, right....now.
Remember in the previous post when I mentioned that the effects of the chemo usually take a few days to kick in? Well, they are kicking the crap out of me right now. The effects of the Taxol, mixed with the effects of the Neulasta shot = brutal. I have some minor neuropathy going on in my fingers (and my fingernails feel funny/sensitive, so that might mean that I could be losing them soon). My eyes are driving me crazy (they are bloodshot, dry, and feel like there is a foreign object in them all the time, it's been like this since I was having AC treatments though, so maybe this will go away?). What is really getting to me today though is PAIN. I have quite a bit of bone pain right now. The pain is the worst in my knees/shins, and hips, and in my back. I am having some difficulty walking, so I am laying low. I took some Ibuprofen, but it doesn't seem to be touching the pain. I may resort to something stronger (I try to avoid heavier-duty pain pills for a number of reasons (they make me nauseous and out of sorts, the anti-nausea pills have side effects of their own, etc.) It is a beautiful day today, and I sooooooo wish I could be out working in the yard, or doing anything but sitting here in pain. HMPH. OK...bitchfest is over, for now. I can't promise that it'll be the last time. For those that are still reading, thanks for hangin' in there.
*I ended up calling in to work the next day as well (the first day I have had to "call in" due to chemo), here's hoping it's the only day!
Monday, April 29, 2013
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Mo is kind of an a#@hole.
For those that don't know "Mo" is my nickname for chemo. I'm pretty sure he's male, and he's an asshole. Just go with me on this, K? I'm totally using him, and I'll be kicking him to the curb shortly. On to your regularly scheduled programming.
Well, I started my new "round" of chemo yesterday. It was a new drug for me (YEAH that I am done with the "red devil"/AC - cause that stuff sucked). Not saying that my new drug Taxol isn't going to suck, it'll just suck in a different way. Let's face it, none of this chemo crap is fun. Ha...look at all the off-color language in this blog post so far! Reminds me of a statement in one of the uplifting cancer books I got, it said "Cancer turns on your cusser." It's kind of true. I have a friend who said the same thing, that she swears more now, since her diagnosis. I mean, who has time for subtleties when you have cancer!- LOL
Back to Taxol (my new drug). I'll be having 4 treatments total of Taxol (and Herceptin) and then I'll be technically done with chemo (round of applause please...). I say technically, because I will still have infusions of Herceptin for a year, so I will still have my port until I am done with that (I'll go in for the IV of Herceptin every 3 weeks). It is still a "chemo" drug, but not the harsh stuff that makes your hair fall out, or gets you sick like the other stuff (its got its own set of possible side effects though, of course). I mean, what would be the fun in that, if it didn't?!?
Taxol is a 3 hour infusion (normally), not including the pre-meds that they give you (which takes about 1/2 hour-45 minutes), and then I had Herceptin after that, which will be about a 45 min infusion. Because it was my first infusion of Taxol, they go really slow, to make sure you don't have an adverse reaction. So, what will be a 3 hour infusion, was going to be more like 4 hours for my first day. The Herceptin was going to be about twice as long as well, for the same reason. On the days of my infusion I also have to get a blood draw upon my arrival and then I see the oncologist (more like the NP on behalf of the oncologist, but whatever)...bottom line - IT IS A VERY LONG DAY...even when everything goes as planned. Which, for me...it didn't. :/
They told me the things to look for in case of an "adverse reaction", and they said that everything would most-likely be fine, as only 10% of people experience any kind of reaction. They don't know who they're messing with, do they? I have pretty much messed up ALL of those "statistics" so far!! So...wouldn't you know it...an ADVERSE REACTION.
Here's how it went down: I had my blood drawn as usual, went to see the NP (side note: they noticed a little something "off" with my heart on the echo, they did an EKG, and everything seemed fine, so maybe it was reader error, a blip that meant nothing on the screen, I dunno. All I know is that they said I was good to go with chemo, so off I went). Chemo time. They hooked me up, started the pre-meds. This includes fluids/saline, mixed with steroids (want to know an extra-special side effect from the steroids in the IV? - intense rectal itching. Yep. This is not something included in the info sheet or warning labels either. You're welcome for the public service announcement. I almost titled this blog post "Rectum, damn-near killed em!" - but thought maybe that was going a tad too far ;).
Back to the pre-meds. Also included is an antacid, and Benedryl...all of these things are supposed to counteract the slim chance that you have a reaction - Ha! Then, they started the Taxol. They start it off at a 1/4 rate for 15 min (I think), then they bump it up to 50% (then eventually to the full dose rate). BUT, for me...as soon as the nurse bumped it up to the 50% rate, all hell broke loose. I started to feel a little funny. Well, I already felt a bit funny due to the Benedryl in my pre-meds (and probably from the 2 Ativan that they previously had given me for nausea). This, felt different though. I am glad that I was paying such close attention to how I was feeling, because if I would have waited, who knows how fast I could have gone "down hill". I felt a bit tingle-y (is that even a word?), my chest felt a bit heavy, my arms started to tingle (at that point, my hubby was chatting it up with the visitor for the guy next to me, and my nurse was getting him ready to go, getting him unplugged from the machines). I quietly called her name (as I wasn't sure if I was overreacting, and I didn't want to alarm everyone), then it felt a little stronger, so I called her name with a bit more urgency. She turned around and at about that time my face was starting to flush, and she called over "back up". At this point, there was no doubt that something bad was happening, my lower back started to kill me, as if someone had my spine in a vice, and my face and neck were beet red. I had about 8 people surrounding me at that point, turning off my chemo, hooking me up to a blood pressure cuff, and a pulse ox machine, delivering some more Benedryl (I fully expect some kind of compensation from Benedryl for using their name so much in this blog ;) and steroids to my IV and doing a whole lot of staring at me, asking me if I was having trouble swallowing/breathing, etc. Luckily, about a minute later, all started to calm down. I've gotta hand it to the nurses, they reacted quickly, and I am thankful for that! They waited a bit, and (after a call to my NP to let her know what went down, and to get the go-ahead to re-start the chemo), they started things up again, slowly, and then bumped it up again (this time, no reaction - phew!). I was worried that they were going to say that we were going to have to stop this drug completely. I would be concerned that if they started a different drug, would it be just as effective?? Fingers crossed that all goes fine with the next 3 treatments - and then I will be done!
So, how am I feeling now (the day after treatment)? Pretty good, all things considered. My nausea doesn't seem to be as bad as it was after AC. I am still fatigued. My back is achy. Over all, I feel a bit better than I did shortly after my AC treatments. Although, that usually didn't hit me until a few days after the treatment, sooooooo, talk to me in a couple days. :)
The Neulasta shot (which I get the day after chemo) and the Taxol can cause pain, especially bone-pain and flu-like body aches. Other things to look out for are neuropathy (tingling and numbness in my fingers and toes - this can be permanent, so I have to really keep an eye out for symptoms), mouth sores, etc. Herceptin can lead to heart issues, so I have to be monitored for that as well.
Oh, I almost forgot to mention, I met a chemo friend! She was seated at the chair next to me, just after all of the "adverse reaction" excitement had died down, thank goodness! I bet that would have been a bit concerning to walk in on, as it was going to be her very first chemo treatment. Her name is Sarah (HI SARAH, if you're reading this) :) She is in her 20's and fighting breast cancer and Mo too. She was getting the red devil, just as I did for my first round, I hope I didn't say too much. I was trying to be helpful, answering questions, and, I'm sure, rambling on about who knows what - LOL. I guess I didn't scare her too much, as we've been texting back and forth throughout the day. Hopefully my blog will be helpful for you Sarah (as I hope it is for everyone, whether you just want updates about me, info for a friend or loved one who is going through something similar, or info for other blog-readers who are somewhere in this cancer journey). Hopefully I didn't freak you out too much! Feel free to text me any time, with any questions you might have, or if you just want to vent!
Well, I started my new "round" of chemo yesterday. It was a new drug for me (YEAH that I am done with the "red devil"/AC - cause that stuff sucked). Not saying that my new drug Taxol isn't going to suck, it'll just suck in a different way. Let's face it, none of this chemo crap is fun. Ha...look at all the off-color language in this blog post so far! Reminds me of a statement in one of the uplifting cancer books I got, it said "Cancer turns on your cusser." It's kind of true. I have a friend who said the same thing, that she swears more now, since her diagnosis. I mean, who has time for subtleties when you have cancer!- LOL
Back to Taxol (my new drug). I'll be having 4 treatments total of Taxol (and Herceptin) and then I'll be technically done with chemo (round of applause please...). I say technically, because I will still have infusions of Herceptin for a year, so I will still have my port until I am done with that (I'll go in for the IV of Herceptin every 3 weeks). It is still a "chemo" drug, but not the harsh stuff that makes your hair fall out, or gets you sick like the other stuff (its got its own set of possible side effects though, of course). I mean, what would be the fun in that, if it didn't?!?
Taxol is a 3 hour infusion (normally), not including the pre-meds that they give you (which takes about 1/2 hour-45 minutes), and then I had Herceptin after that, which will be about a 45 min infusion. Because it was my first infusion of Taxol, they go really slow, to make sure you don't have an adverse reaction. So, what will be a 3 hour infusion, was going to be more like 4 hours for my first day. The Herceptin was going to be about twice as long as well, for the same reason. On the days of my infusion I also have to get a blood draw upon my arrival and then I see the oncologist (more like the NP on behalf of the oncologist, but whatever)...bottom line - IT IS A VERY LONG DAY...even when everything goes as planned. Which, for me...it didn't. :/
They told me the things to look for in case of an "adverse reaction", and they said that everything would most-likely be fine, as only 10% of people experience any kind of reaction. They don't know who they're messing with, do they? I have pretty much messed up ALL of those "statistics" so far!! So...wouldn't you know it...an ADVERSE REACTION.
Here's how it went down: I had my blood drawn as usual, went to see the NP (side note: they noticed a little something "off" with my heart on the echo, they did an EKG, and everything seemed fine, so maybe it was reader error, a blip that meant nothing on the screen, I dunno. All I know is that they said I was good to go with chemo, so off I went). Chemo time. They hooked me up, started the pre-meds. This includes fluids/saline, mixed with steroids (want to know an extra-special side effect from the steroids in the IV? - intense rectal itching. Yep. This is not something included in the info sheet or warning labels either. You're welcome for the public service announcement. I almost titled this blog post "Rectum, damn-near killed em!" - but thought maybe that was going a tad too far ;).
Back to the pre-meds. Also included is an antacid, and Benedryl...all of these things are supposed to counteract the slim chance that you have a reaction - Ha! Then, they started the Taxol. They start it off at a 1/4 rate for 15 min (I think), then they bump it up to 50% (then eventually to the full dose rate). BUT, for me...as soon as the nurse bumped it up to the 50% rate, all hell broke loose. I started to feel a little funny. Well, I already felt a bit funny due to the Benedryl in my pre-meds (and probably from the 2 Ativan that they previously had given me for nausea). This, felt different though. I am glad that I was paying such close attention to how I was feeling, because if I would have waited, who knows how fast I could have gone "down hill". I felt a bit tingle-y (is that even a word?), my chest felt a bit heavy, my arms started to tingle (at that point, my hubby was chatting it up with the visitor for the guy next to me, and my nurse was getting him ready to go, getting him unplugged from the machines). I quietly called her name (as I wasn't sure if I was overreacting, and I didn't want to alarm everyone), then it felt a little stronger, so I called her name with a bit more urgency. She turned around and at about that time my face was starting to flush, and she called over "back up". At this point, there was no doubt that something bad was happening, my lower back started to kill me, as if someone had my spine in a vice, and my face and neck were beet red. I had about 8 people surrounding me at that point, turning off my chemo, hooking me up to a blood pressure cuff, and a pulse ox machine, delivering some more Benedryl (I fully expect some kind of compensation from Benedryl for using their name so much in this blog ;) and steroids to my IV and doing a whole lot of staring at me, asking me if I was having trouble swallowing/breathing, etc. Luckily, about a minute later, all started to calm down. I've gotta hand it to the nurses, they reacted quickly, and I am thankful for that! They waited a bit, and (after a call to my NP to let her know what went down, and to get the go-ahead to re-start the chemo), they started things up again, slowly, and then bumped it up again (this time, no reaction - phew!). I was worried that they were going to say that we were going to have to stop this drug completely. I would be concerned that if they started a different drug, would it be just as effective?? Fingers crossed that all goes fine with the next 3 treatments - and then I will be done!
So, how am I feeling now (the day after treatment)? Pretty good, all things considered. My nausea doesn't seem to be as bad as it was after AC. I am still fatigued. My back is achy. Over all, I feel a bit better than I did shortly after my AC treatments. Although, that usually didn't hit me until a few days after the treatment, sooooooo, talk to me in a couple days. :)
The Neulasta shot (which I get the day after chemo) and the Taxol can cause pain, especially bone-pain and flu-like body aches. Other things to look out for are neuropathy (tingling and numbness in my fingers and toes - this can be permanent, so I have to really keep an eye out for symptoms), mouth sores, etc. Herceptin can lead to heart issues, so I have to be monitored for that as well.
Oh, I almost forgot to mention, I met a chemo friend! She was seated at the chair next to me, just after all of the "adverse reaction" excitement had died down, thank goodness! I bet that would have been a bit concerning to walk in on, as it was going to be her very first chemo treatment. Her name is Sarah (HI SARAH, if you're reading this) :) She is in her 20's and fighting breast cancer and Mo too. She was getting the red devil, just as I did for my first round, I hope I didn't say too much. I was trying to be helpful, answering questions, and, I'm sure, rambling on about who knows what - LOL. I guess I didn't scare her too much, as we've been texting back and forth throughout the day. Hopefully my blog will be helpful for you Sarah (as I hope it is for everyone, whether you just want updates about me, info for a friend or loved one who is going through something similar, or info for other blog-readers who are somewhere in this cancer journey). Hopefully I didn't freak you out too much! Feel free to text me any time, with any questions you might have, or if you just want to vent!
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