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!

Appointment with the Oncologist, Test Results, and Chemo 1 of 6

So, October 15, 2009 was my first date with Chemo. The afternoon of the 14th, the Dr.'s office staff called me and asked me to come in earlier. I failed to ask "why" they wanted this, so I proceeded to freak myself out about the reason they may want to have me come in earlier (this appointment was also where I would hear about my PET/CT/Bone Scan tests.) Yeah, Josh, my Mom and Cheri worked on convincing me that it was just because of cancellations or needing to move around the schedule for something.
I put the Lidocaine Cream on my port area about 1.5 hours prior to my appointment...my mom suggested this based on her experiences with her Dialysis.
Anyway, had my usual bloodwork then my meeting with Dr. Wright, my Medical Oncologist. Cheri and my sister Becky were there with me and they both met him. I asked immediately about my test results, and he said I was "fine." He was surprised I had not been called with the results. I was so relieved to hear that there were no other cancers showing up on my tests...so freakin' relieved!!! There were a couple of anomalies...some nodules on my thyroid, doc said he does not think they are cancer...lots of folks have nodules there, but he wants an ultrasound done "soon." There were some other minor things that I can follow up on later, but my bloodwork was just fine, so there are no real concerns. No other cancer...no metatastes. Thank the universe!!!
So, lots more questions for the doc--mostly about what to expect from the meds, when I should call or be concerned about side effects, etc. He basically said that he did not want me to have side effects or be too affected by them, so he said to let the nurses or him know right away. The nursing staff would be going over all of the potential side effects, when to take the additional medications I had picked up the day before (on what schedule, etc) and other issues.
Went back to the chemo-administration area...nurse put some spray on the site they "jack in" to, and I did not feel a thing when they went in. Hmmm. Not so bad! So treatment started with Aloxi (anti-nausea) then Decadron (steroid to combat any possible reactions to the meds). Then the Chemo: Taxotere...next was the "Loading Dose" of Herceptin (was supposed to get Carboplatin first, but it was not ready yet, and the Herceptin was), then the Carboplatin. About 20 minutes into the Carboplatin, I started having a weird reaction...I felt so freakin' hot from the inside (like a Hot Flash times 10), this weird pain down my left arm...and I started to get tunnel vision. AND, my eyes felt like this strange "wetness" behind them...like cold wetness behind my eyes (weird?) I think I could have passed out, but then again...I may have been able to keep from doing it. My sis went and got the nurse who stopped the meds right away. She gave me some Saline fluids until they could get the doc to check on me. We decided to start again, and I got the same type of response but cut in about half. So, they gave me an IV Push of Decadron. Now...earlier, I had the Decadron over about 20 minutes, this was a push--immediate, and no one told me that there could be some side effects from that!!! Such as: my crotch suddenly felt like I had fire ants biting me all at once!!! Then it spread to a couple of other spots, including the top of my head. That was freaky...I guess if I had known I was going to have "ants" in my crotch and on the top of my head, it would have been easier to handle mentally!
Well, after that wore off a bit, they started me back on Carboplatin again slowly...then they sped it up, no weird response. The Nurse Oncology Trainer sat with me and indicated that she though it might have been the Herceptin that caused me to have the response. Who knows. I suppose I will find out next time.
Anyway, Chemo lasted until 5:45 PM...so I was on the IV from 12PM until then. Wow. Long time. Oh well...one chemo down, just 5 to go of these combo treatments. Still have 16 doses more of Herceptin though.
Ok...so my hair will be gone sometime between 10-18 days after the treatment yesterday...I've decided I am going to be a monk for Halloween. Just need some orange fabric to make a sheath to wear--with my bald head!
After Becky, Cheri and I left, I had Becky go through the drive through at Wendy's...my friend (and fellow Breast Cancer Survivor) Cindy K told me that I might want cold things...she was so correct! I got a Frosty and finished it within about 6 minutes. Damn, that was good. We also went to the CVS on the way home to pick up some Benadryl...to counteract some of the additional side effects I tried to have during treatment.
So, last night was okay really. I just had to take all of my anti-nausea meds and Benadryl...and I slept GREAT. I really did not expect to, and the nurses told me that I may not--but I was fine!
Still felt like I had a furnace burning inside of every single cell of my body...hotter than Hell...oh well. Just keep that fan on me and sweat it out! Drinking lots of fluids to stay hydrated and work everything out.
No real nausea last night...just gassy in my lower intestines and burpy with lots of heartburn. That, I can handle.
Cancer Sucks...at least it appears to have all been cut out so far...now we are covering the "just in case" portion. I really could be quite happy never doing this over again!!!

Shew!

Bone Scan, Monday, 10-12-09

The Bone Scan was scheduled for 9:45 AM on Monday, 10/12/09...my friend Cheri came in to town on the afternoon of the 11th, so she accompanied me for this test. This was again done at St. Joseph's Hospital Medical Arts Building. We went upstairs fairly quickly, I was ushered back to the same place where they did the PET Scan on Friday...they gave me the shot (again, it was encased in a leaded sheath)...then they told me to leave for 3 hours...walk around a mall or something, and drink lots of fluids. I had no idea that we had to come back after the injection! Oh well...Cheri and I went and hit the local JC Penney...heck, they were having one of their killer sales, so we went to town! On the way back to the test...we stopped in for a snack at Sonic.
So, the Bone Scan itself was a bit strange...this large plate comes down toward your face while you are laying down on the table...it takes about 30 minutes or so for all of the pics to be taken. The computer was near me, so after the pics of my head and upper torso were done, I was able to crank my neck around to look at the screen. Odd...I got to see my skeleton. That was cool. I could also see my bladder very clearly...the contrast was really hanging out in there. At first it freaked me out, but I figured...yeah, that would be my bladder.
So, Cheri and I left after this to go by Whole Foods...and then head back to the house. I was extraordinarily tired after this. I just lay down in bed and chatted on the phone until I crashed out. I felt like I had been hit by a truck by about 8PM that night. I slept until about 2AM, woke up and went back to sleep until about 9AM. I felt much better Tuesday morning...did a bit of work from home.
Anyway...still on the waiting game for results...

ECG and PET Scan 10-9-09

On October 9, 2009, I went in to St. Joseph's Hospital Medical Arts Building for my ECG and PET Scan. My friend, Lynda R. met me there to keep my nerves from going too crazy. I am glad she was there, although, I did feel kind of bad for her having to wait on me so long. The ECG was fairly quick...and there were no problems with the technician getting an image of my heart.
The PET Scan was interesting...this was the test I had to stay away from pregnant women and small children after the test...they brought the contrast injection out in a lead sheath...funny...they can inject me...! Well, I had to lay down for 1 hour and be as still and as quiet as possible for that time. Lynda got to watch me nap for an hour while the contrast worked through my system. So then, the PET Scan. I had to hold my arms above my head for about 25 minutes...they would have let me hold them to the side, but they get better images with the arms up...I am supposing they did the CT then the PET together. It was uncomfortable, but it was not too bad. My arms were totally asleep afterward though.
Anyway, just have to wait on results...

More tests...or how to make Tory glow?

On Monday, 10-5-09, I got a call from St. Joseph's Hospital to set me up for an Echocardiogram, a full-body PET Scan and a Bone Scan. The PET and Bone scans are both "nuclear" tests that involve injections...so they cannot be done on the same day. Luckily, the folks at St. Jo's were nice enough to lump a couple of them together for me.

I have my Echocardiogram at 10:30 AM on Friday, 10-9-09, and, after a short break, I get injected for the PET Scan that I will have at about 1PM. In preparation for the PET Scan, I have to be super "lazy" all day today (Thursday), the day before the test. I also have to fast for 6 hours prior (except for water), and I am not supposed to "hang out" with small children or pregnant women after the test. The small children/pregnant women thing is a bit disconcerting. I mean...inject ME with the stuff...but then don't get around munchkins after...you might royally screw them up!!! I did ask if I could "plug myself in" to the hospital power grid and run the facility for a while after the test...um, they told me I might just be able to do that! Hell, if I have to have the stuff...at least make it useful...gotta love "nuclear medicine!"

The Echocardiogram is basic stuff...an ultrasound of my heart. Goopy goo--hope they warm it, I have been so cold-sensitive lately. I have had one done once before...I just remember being told my ribs are very close together, so they had trouble getting a good looksie at the ol' ticker...they ended up doing a lot of the looking from the bottom of my ribcage. We shall see how it goes this time.

The PET Scan sounds rather entertaining...laying down for up to 45 minutes with whirring/banging and other fun stuff similar to the MRI. Oh, that is after being injected with the radiotracer glucose stuff. Fun fun! It is interesting to note, that the PET Scan cannot detect cellular-level cancers...it locates masses...they can be small masses, but as I was keenly made aware, much of the cancer in my left breast was so new it was only detectable on the cellular level...the pathology studies were key in seeing all of the processes going on. So, we are looking for masses...breast cancer likes to spread to the liver, bones and brain...no more cancer dammit...mine is not allowed to have spread! If so, the chemo will kill it. I am determined!

Since I feel so great (sarcasm) about tests like these, I asked my friend Lynda R. to accompany me Friday. She will meet me at St. Jo's in the morning...I know it will probably be a bit boring for her (I know, I get to have all the fun!); however, I am truly grateful that she will be there with me. It just helps my nerves to not sit there all quiet...reading some goofy article in "Redbook" and psyching myself out in the worst way. Thank you Lynda! You will help to preserve what little sanity I have managed to maintain this year!!!

Ok...Monday the 12th is when I get the Bone Scan. Same place, at St. Jo's in Tampa...I get more radioactive tracer injected into me (woo hoo!) and they look for both "hot" and "cold" spots on the imaging. Interesting...tumours (benign and malignant) are indicated by hot or cold spots depending on blood supply to the area or the amount of the tracer they absorb. Hmmm...learning more than I ever wanted to know about nuclear medicine...

My friend Cheri F. is coming in to town on Sunday the 11th, so she will have the treat of hanging out with me on Monday for the Bone Scan stuff. Again...I can literally drive myself bonkers during tests like these...I have a tendency to pull inward emotionally and sleep for ridiculous amounts of time after even basic tests. It will be nice to have Cheri there with me!

Well...that's all on the upcoming tests for now...I am off to be super lazy. Hmmm...what to do?

NO MORE DRAINS!!!

YEAH! Those darn drains came out yesterday without too much fanfare. The doc just cut the stitch and pulled back quickly. I felt no pain from him removing the drains...just a strange funky feeling under my skin. I did not watch them come out...I really did not want to. I have watched other folks have various surgical drains removed...seemed horrific to me, so I just watched the ceiling. Not bad. I really had no idea what it would feel like, as I had heard all sorts of things. One person told me it tickled. I suppose that could be...but no tickle for me, just strangeness.
The stitch on the left side did give me a bit of a start...just a sharp jab-like pain after he cut it. The doc was nowhere near me when it hit, so I really don't know what that was about. Just decided to jab a bit.
So, the doc just put bandages over the sites and sent me on my merry way...after he asked me about what I thought of his friend, and my new Medical Oncologist, Dr. Wright. I told him that he seemed very bright, friendly, and he seemed to know his stuff. I told him I appreciated the referral to him and would let him know how things go over time.
So, how does it feel to have my damn Jackson-Pratt drains out? Just WONDERFUL!!! It is so nice to be able to put on "normal" clothes and not have to cover up lines and bulbs. It was just so freakin' discouraging every time I would get caught on something. And, when you had to shove them up against you to try to "hide" them to go out in public...well. Makes me think there has to be some way to create something that would work better...maybe my sister and I could develop something for other folks...something to help out in the shower too...that was a royal pain in the ass having to figure out what to hook them to while I was showering. I ended up using black satin cording around my neck or a lanyard to hook them on while in the shower...but really? There should be something that would work better and be more comfortable. Must remember to research this. Hmmm...
Anyway, I feel like a new woman! Boobless (for now), but a new woman nonetheless!

My Drains are coming out!!!

Yay! My drains are coming out tomorrow! They are each draining less than 30 ml per 24-hour period, so it is time for them to remove the Jackson Pratt Drains. I've had them for just over 2 weeks now...hell, I've had one on the left for 4 weeks so far. So, at 1PM, they are coming out. I will be going over to Tampa to see Dr. Cox, who will be removing them for me.

Aaah...no more drain lines or bulbs to try and hide through creative wardrobing. No more danglies. Woo hoo!