Chemo #3 today...and I am halfway through!

Well, I went in early today to meet with my Oncologist, Dr. Wright, and to have my 3rd of 6 scheduled chemo sessions. Becky and I got there at 8:30 AM, and after some financial paperwork, I went back for blood work.
I have to remember not to look at blood coming out of me...it just makes me faint...not "go out" faint, but really seriously think about taking a nap, queazy lightheadedness. Especially when they are jacking in to my port...that stuff comes out quickly...right next to my heart. Fun fun.
Anyway, they did the blood draw for the BRCA genetic mutation test today. We should have the results within a few weeks. This mutation causes a propensity for breast and ovarian cancer. I have no ovaries anymore, and no boobies right now...so lets hope nothing else crops up!
Met with the doc. He indicated the bloodwork continues to look good...my Red Blood Cells were a bit low, and I asked him if there was something I could do to work on that--he said stop chemo. Hehhee. I told him that he did not have to offer twice! So, I guess my hemoglobin is okay, so he is not worried about my RBC. Other tests look good. My sinus infection is also clearing up...so that is nice...still quite a few more days of Augmentin (antibiotic) to clear that up.
I bitched again about the Neulasta shot causing intense "bone pain." Reminded him about Claritin, and told him I would keep him apprised of how it works. He said that he has mentioned it to others in the office and they had not heard of it. I told him he should do a study...and figure out what is in Claritin that reduces the pain effect.
I asked about traveling during December, after my 4th chemo (which we moved up a day to possibly accommodate my traveling out to Texas during the December holidays). He said, "No restrictions." I like that! So, it depends on how I am feeling and how much time I can get off work during the holidays. We shall see.

Next Steps:
Neulasta Shot on Friday (11/27; would have this tomorrow, but the office is closed...)
Chemo #4 (and next Oncologist Dr. Appointment) is on 12/16 at 10AM; Neulasta shot following day
Chemo #5 (and Dr. Appt) is on 1/7/10
Chemo #6 (final scheduled! with Dr. Appt) is on 1/28/10
Radiation should start approximately 3 weeks after last chemo!

Well, tomorrow is Turkey Day...and Beck and I will be getting up early to go to her 5k Turkey Trot Race...then we both will do the 1 Mile "Gobbler" fun walk/run. I think I will walk it! After this...we have turkey, greenbean casserole, sausage stuffing, veggies, blueberry pie and pumpkin pie, and onion dinner rolls. Yummy! Gimme a lazy day after an early start!

P.S. My head hair is falling out again...so what is left of it may be gone soon. Hmmm...I am diggin' the berets and hats!

a week of mild side effects...thank you anti-fungals

Well, this week started off okay...just some interesting side effects. The "mild bone pain" from the Neulasta shot was delightful. I can't wait to experience that again...I wonder if they will be able to reduce it or something, as that pain was quite interesting. I don't really know how to describe the feeling from that stuff...your bones ache from the inside...I think my marrow was screaming out in some sort of unhappy key. My bloodwork Thursday showed a very high White Blood Cell count...so we'll see how it does over the next couple of weeks...and yes, I guess I have to have WBCs...hmmm.
I bleed very easily right now...scratches, picks, bumps. Lots of fun bruises too. I find that I have to be very careful not to cut myself. I still have a bruise on my inner elbow where Nurse Tech Evilness pulled blood a week and a half ago. I wonder if they can find a good vein in my ass, so I don't have to keep going around looking like a junkie. Hmm.
Starting on Monday, my face broke out...my mouth and nose went completely dry, and my eyes started to get these lovely crusties. Then I started in with some symphonic gas...very pleasant farts, I must say. I wish I could produce those on demand...could end some unfortunate situations more quickly. Must research this. Diarrhea started Monday night...glad it waited until I got home from work. Good stuff. Even better on Tuesday when (while working at home) my body decided that it was gonna let loose right then no matter what. I have to say, my pants did NOT deserve that. And Sarge, I love ya, you are a wonderful dog, but please, if that happens again, I will clean the floor myself. You need not "help."
Truly nothing more disgusting than crapping your own pants.
I called the Doc's office to discuss the gas/bloating before the diarrhea started...they switched me to a bland diet--yum, 36 hours of broth...then Immodium to stop the spraypainting.
So on Wednesday, I realized that I recognized a lot of the symptoms I was having. Lucky me, I had a "Systemic Yeast Infection." Funny, I had it everywhere except where you'd expect. Eyes, nose, mouth, butt? Oh, now that is fun. Apparently, the steroids may have set that off...or my knocked-down immune system.
I had nose bleeds from it on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday...fun. Now I was really looking like a junkie, crusty face, crusty eyes, arm bruises and all. I remember having Systemic Yeast Infections like 16 years ago...from steroids then...hmmm. Gave me bad gas and diarrhea and all of the other symptoms except nose bleeds...
Saw one of the other Oncologists at the Dr.'s office Thursday...to be sure it was a Yeast Infection...and it was/is. She started me on fluconazole to kill off the infection...and it is working very nicely. Nose feels about 50% better today, mouth is much better (Thrush sucks), eyes are happier, face still has some issues (hey, that is what makeup is for), butt is happier. I like a happy butt. No more diarrhea, gas or bloating. Doc said that they may have to keep me on fluconazole (an anti-fungal) during chemo to ward off these issues. High dose too...200mg. Hell, if it works, I am not going to complain.
Also during the Dr. visit, she reviewed my bloodwork and the ultrasound results for my thyroid. I have a 3 cm node on my thyroid that needs to be biopsied soon. Doc didn't look worried, and just said that they needed to look into it further. I really hope it is nothing...I don't have a whole lot of body parts left for folks to just keep yanking out of me. If they have to take that...I "get" to have another surgery (on my NECK eek)...and then I would have to have synthroid the rest of my life. Sheesh. Let's just hope it is nothing...OK?
Bloodwork good.
More bloodwork on Thursday...then next chemo on Thursday after that (November 5th). No date/time yet for the thyroid biopsy, but will have that very soon.
Went up to the office 3 days this week...yesterday (Friday) was the longest day at the office...and I really felt pretty well. I do get very tired EARLY...like around 8 or 9 PM (especially if I have not had a nap during the day), and I am waking up fairly early too. Sleeping okay, better the past couple of nights...been taking Ativan to help me sleep more consistently...I had been waking up every 1.5 hours or so.
My sister left on Tuesday to go back to Texas, take care of a few things, get her truck and slowly head back this way to stay with me during this. I miss her already and am looking forward to having her back. Cheri went home very early Wednesday AM. I really enjoyed having her here...it is so nice to have a friend like her my life. I hope to be able to go see her and her hubby Kevin while they are still living in Alaska. And maybe they both can make their way out to FL next time!

My hair: my scalp has been feeling weird all week...like a dull aching feeling. So, I got a wild impulse to have my hair chopped short...heck, I figure I could try it for a week or so before it fell out. Not really my style, to be honest...it is "fun," but I really do like having long hair. We shall see. Other body hair is starting to thin out, so I am curious when I get to go "monk!" I will give my sis the honor of shaving my head when it starts to go...I think...;-) I am getting the hats ready!

Off to eat some "real food" and not broth. Thank goodness I can eat again!
~Tory

Chemo Weekend Uno...not too yucky...but it sure does smell bad ;-)

Well, this weekend was my first "recovery period" after chemo session 1 of 6. I felt pretty good getting up on Saturday, although I had heartburn and gas times 10. I was able to manage most of the symptoms with the medications that were prescribed...I even felt well enough to go out with Becky and Cheri to have lunch, do some touristy stuff, visit the SunCoast Seabird Sanctuary and the beach! Now, when I got home after that, I slept for about 14 hours (on and off).
The "bone pain" from the Neulasta is the absolute PITS. "Mild" is an understatement from hell. I trudged through it Saturday, but Sunday it was worse. I did some research on the Internet and found that some folks had good results taking Claritin (yep...that stuff). So, I researched that to ensure there were no counterindications with the meds I have had or am currently taking, I found none, so I tried the Claritin. It helped a bit...not a whole lot, but some.
Sunday was mostly a rest day. I napped and played on the computer some. I was really super gassy yesterday...reminded me of when I used to have my gallbladder :-) Oh well...
Battling a little with constipation...taking Colace to help...ate apples and spinach with dinner...I may regret that for a bit today, but it beats being stopped up. Meh. Funny how life changes you...used to be worried about this and that, and now all I want is "normal bowel movements!" LOL.
Still have some bone pain today. Less than yesterday, but the more I move around, the more it seems to alert me to its presence. Sheesh...feels like massive growing pains. I am not in the mood to grow anything, dammit.

~with love from the farty boobless one with "mild bone pain" in Florida,
Tory

The Day After My First Chemo

I have to say that I feel great today. Just a bit gassy (farty and burpy), but for those of you who know me, I doubt that seems abnormal. I will say that I have not been this gassy since I had my gallbladder removed some time ago. I just don't have the stomach problems I used to. I still have reflux and heartburn, and this stuff is pretty bad (what I am experiencing now), but hey, I'm not barfing (which to me, is pretty good!)
I was very "flushed" this AM...red as a beet (nurses later told me that this was likely due to the steroid, Decadron). A little hyper also from the steroid.
I drove myself over to Tampa to get my Neulasta shot and to talk with the woman trying to schedule me for my thyroid ultrasound. The Neulasta shot was quick and easy...nurse told me to take some Advil with food to combat any possible side-effects (mostly "bone pain"). I did and still do have some minor pain in my lower back and pelvic region, but Advil has helped so far.
St. Joseph's Medical Arts folks were able to get me in for the ultrasound right after my injection, so I went over there to have that done. That was fairly quick and easy...the tech said there were quite a few nodules, but that is not necessarily abnormal. Hey, we'll see. At least if there is thyroid cancer, they just yank it out and there is no additional treatment needed other than taking synthroid the rest of my life (that would suck, don't get me wrong, but it beats some alternatives I can think of!!!)
Anyway, went over to the office for a while to check in with folks and catch up with my boss and our CEO. That was nice. My boss and I had discussed a few things earlier over the phone, so I have my marching orders. Started to get a bit tired, so I left for home.
Feeling a bit tired tonight...and intermittently warm then cold...skin feels hot to the touch. I am still very gassy...oh well, I will just let folks know it is my "calling card..." so if you smell something bad, it may have been a small gift from me & my bowels (courtesy of my cancer treatment, thank you!) Ugh, heartburn is the pits though. This stuff is pretty damn harsh. I thought I knew my heartburn...but alas, this shit means business. Must drink more Mylanta. May have to go for the Gaviscon soon.
Oooh...need cold drink now.
More soon!