I had my second chemo today and it still went really well. I took some yummy brownies for the patients; who are mostly vets; and the nurses. :) I wanted to do something nice since it is so close to Christmas. I got to finish watching the movie I had started at the end of my chemo last week and got a little reading in.
My labs today showed that I had a low potassium level, so the nurse gave me some information on foods that are high in potassium. When I had been home for a while, the doctor called and let me know that he put in a prescription for a potassium supplement. I didn't pick it up yet because I snuck in a nap, and I am not sure that they pharmacy will be open tomorrow, but hopefully it will be. I guess if not I will be eating a papaya a day until I get my supplements. lol. I am not sure that I have ever had papaya but it has the highest amount of potassium per fruit, and it sure sounds a lot better than a banana. (I don't like bananas...I know I'm weird.) I still have the slight numbness in my fingers and toes, which the nurse said I would need to watch...I guess I just need to make sure that it doesn't get any worse.
In case I don't write again before Christmas.....Merry Christmas!!!! And remember that Jesus is the reason for the season. I am reminding myself too, as it is always easy to get caught up in the presents, decorations, etc.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Monday, December 19, 2011
Side Effects/Shots
The main side effect that I've had from the chemo is numbness in my finger and toes. It happened almost immediately and has been constant. It is isn't horrible, and I would much rather have that than nausea. So far I haven't had much nausea. There were a few times when I thought I be getting a little nauseous, but I just took some of my anti-nausea medicine and was fine.
Three days after my chemo I am supposed to take a shot of Neupogen, which is a drug to stimulate growth of white blood cells. I am supposed to take it three days in a row, at about the same time each day. Yesterday was my first shot. I knew that I would not be able to do it to myself very well. I figured I would pass out while trying to put the needle in my skin. That is just the way I am. I get so freaked out with needles and blood. :) Luckily, my husband agreed to give it to me. I think he was a little nervous, but he did it and he kept asking me how I was afterwards. He was really sweet. The main side effect of the Neupogen is bone pain, which they told me to take Aleve and Claritan for. I did go ahead and take an Aleve, and everything was fine. One shot down, two to go....
I want to do some baking before Thursday, my next chemo, so that I can take some goodies with me to the VA cancer patients and nurses. I was thinking Christmas cookies and brownies...sounds good to me. I hope I get it done.
Three days after my chemo I am supposed to take a shot of Neupogen, which is a drug to stimulate growth of white blood cells. I am supposed to take it three days in a row, at about the same time each day. Yesterday was my first shot. I knew that I would not be able to do it to myself very well. I figured I would pass out while trying to put the needle in my skin. That is just the way I am. I get so freaked out with needles and blood. :) Luckily, my husband agreed to give it to me. I think he was a little nervous, but he did it and he kept asking me how I was afterwards. He was really sweet. The main side effect of the Neupogen is bone pain, which they told me to take Aleve and Claritan for. I did go ahead and take an Aleve, and everything was fine. One shot down, two to go....
I want to do some baking before Thursday, my next chemo, so that I can take some goodies with me to the VA cancer patients and nurses. I was thinking Christmas cookies and brownies...sounds good to me. I hope I get it done.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
First Chemo
Today was my first chemo and it went really well. We started later than I thought we would because they went over my treatment and then had to wait for the lab to mix and deliver my chemo drugs. Also, when the nurse attempted to access my port there was not a blood return, so she had to put something in there to open it up. When I finally received my treatment, it went really fast. I don't think it took two hours at all. I did take a book with me to have something to do, but the nurse put the movie Zookeeper on, so I watched that while I was there.
When I got home I had to eat quickly and then go to my post-op appointment for my port, which was really quick. He just looked at it and said it looked good. I told him he did a beautiful job on my stitches, and he said, "I know." lol. He really did do a fantastic job though. :) Then I ran to the post office to get stamps to mail Christmas cards. Finally, I made it back home to relax. I haven't been nauseous though. I feel really good so far... hope it stays this easy.
When I got home I had to eat quickly and then go to my post-op appointment for my port, which was really quick. He just looked at it and said it looked good. I told him he did a beautiful job on my stitches, and he said, "I know." lol. He really did do a fantastic job though. :) Then I ran to the post office to get stamps to mail Christmas cards. Finally, I made it back home to relax. I haven't been nauseous though. I feel really good so far... hope it stays this easy.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Chemo Starts Tomorrow
Well, I am finally going to be starting my chemo tomorrow. I am supposed to start at 10am and it is should take about 2 hours to give to me. I bought a book today so I will have something to do while I sit there. I am hoping that I will have an easy time with this chemo. The doctor said that it should be pretty mild so hopefully I won't feel too bad for too long after.
This time chemo is going to be different if only because I have children. I don't get to go home and just worry about myself...sleep if I'm tired, etc. Now I have two little girls that I still have to watch and take care of. My mother is willing to come help if I need it, but I am kind of hoping that I will be able to manage without her for the first portion of my treatment. She will have to come take care of my family when I have to be in UCLA for the second portion of my treatment. My doctor here thinks that I will be there for a while.
I am getting kind of nervous...
This time chemo is going to be different if only because I have children. I don't get to go home and just worry about myself...sleep if I'm tired, etc. Now I have two little girls that I still have to watch and take care of. My mother is willing to come help if I need it, but I am kind of hoping that I will be able to manage without her for the first portion of my treatment. She will have to come take care of my family when I have to be in UCLA for the second portion of my treatment. My doctor here thinks that I will be there for a while.
I am getting kind of nervous...
Friday, December 9, 2011
A Plan
I was a little bit upset this morning when I listened to my voicemail and a message that I received at around 4 pm yesterday said that I was supposed to show up and start chemo this morning. I hadn't talked to my doctor about my treatment plan; he had left a message yesterday morning telling me he had a plan but not what it was. He wanted me to call him back but I thought I would wait a day because I was busy getting ready for my husband's Christmas party for work and I had waited over a week for him to get back from vacation, so I figured he could wait a day. Then when his nurse called me this morning, she said the doctor was so worried about me, he thought I was in the hospital or something....please!!! So I called the hospital I was supposed to report to and let them know that I was not coming this morning and that I needed to talk to my doctor because I didn't even know what was going on.
My doctor got in touch with me and apologized for the misunderstanding about the appointment and about the other doctor not taking me on as a patient. He let me know that he was communicating with the doctor from UCLA who will handle the other part of my treatment and that they had come up with a plan. Instead of repeating treatment with the ABVD chemo they are going to use gemcitabine and navelbine. He said that this treatment should cause less damage to my heart than ABVD. The treatment will be given once a week for three weeks and the fourth week is off. It will take about 2 hours to receive the chemo. I'm not sure how many cycles of this I am doing, but I will ask on Monday. Sometime while this is going on, I will have to go to UCLA and have my stem cells harvested. The second part of my chemo will be high dose and I will need the stem cells to help me recover.
My doctor also let me know that my treatment will most likely leave me infertile; not the first part but the second. So then there is the question on if we want to harvest and store eggs; if we can afford it.... Still a lot of things to think about.
My doctor got in touch with me and apologized for the misunderstanding about the appointment and about the other doctor not taking me on as a patient. He let me know that he was communicating with the doctor from UCLA who will handle the other part of my treatment and that they had come up with a plan. Instead of repeating treatment with the ABVD chemo they are going to use gemcitabine and navelbine. He said that this treatment should cause less damage to my heart than ABVD. The treatment will be given once a week for three weeks and the fourth week is off. It will take about 2 hours to receive the chemo. I'm not sure how many cycles of this I am doing, but I will ask on Monday. Sometime while this is going on, I will have to go to UCLA and have my stem cells harvested. The second part of my chemo will be high dose and I will need the stem cells to help me recover.
My doctor also let me know that my treatment will most likely leave me infertile; not the first part but the second. So then there is the question on if we want to harvest and store eggs; if we can afford it.... Still a lot of things to think about.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Pray and be Thankful
With Thanksgiving last month and people being thankful... I was having a hard time being thankful... but I still have so much to be thankful for.
I have a wonderful husband and two precious little girls. They are what makes my life happy and complete. I love getting to be a wife and a mother. These were my two top goals to accomplish in my life...and I have accomplished them. Although I do still have room for improvement.. :). I have a mother who is willing to drop everything in her life to come help me, and take care of me and my family. I also have a father, two brothers, a sister, six sister-in-laws, four brother-in-laws, a mother-in-law and almost 13 nephew and nieces who I love and I know love me too. (Number 13 is due soon!)
My husband has a good job and is able to support us. We live in a nice home and our car is paid for! We were able to finish paying off my medical bills last year...huge relief!
I came across a blog yesterday...a lady who was diagnosed with Hodgkin's, the same cancer I have. I immediately began to empathize with her... feeling we shared a common story. However, as I continued to read I learned that a few months after she was diagnosed, her 11 month old daughter was diagnosed with neuroblastoma. So, not only did this mother have to deal with her cancer, but her daughter's as well. I can't even begin to imagine how hard that would be as a parent...to hear that your child has cancer. I told myself to pray and be thankful.
Then today I heard a story of a young lady who's cancer has not been responding to her chemo treatments. I guess she has tried all of them and none of them have worked. The doctors told her they will try the first ones again and if there is still no result...they will make sure she is comfortable. I told myself to pray and be thankful.
Life could be better....but it could be worse. I need to remember that and remember to be thankful .....and pray for others and myself to beat cancer!!
I have a wonderful husband and two precious little girls. They are what makes my life happy and complete. I love getting to be a wife and a mother. These were my two top goals to accomplish in my life...and I have accomplished them. Although I do still have room for improvement.. :). I have a mother who is willing to drop everything in her life to come help me, and take care of me and my family. I also have a father, two brothers, a sister, six sister-in-laws, four brother-in-laws, a mother-in-law and almost 13 nephew and nieces who I love and I know love me too. (Number 13 is due soon!)
My husband has a good job and is able to support us. We live in a nice home and our car is paid for! We were able to finish paying off my medical bills last year...huge relief!
I came across a blog yesterday...a lady who was diagnosed with Hodgkin's, the same cancer I have. I immediately began to empathize with her... feeling we shared a common story. However, as I continued to read I learned that a few months after she was diagnosed, her 11 month old daughter was diagnosed with neuroblastoma. So, not only did this mother have to deal with her cancer, but her daughter's as well. I can't even begin to imagine how hard that would be as a parent...to hear that your child has cancer. I told myself to pray and be thankful.
Then today I heard a story of a young lady who's cancer has not been responding to her chemo treatments. I guess she has tried all of them and none of them have worked. The doctors told her they will try the first ones again and if there is still no result...they will make sure she is comfortable. I told myself to pray and be thankful.
Life could be better....but it could be worse. I need to remember that and remember to be thankful .....and pray for others and myself to beat cancer!!
Friday, December 2, 2011
Port scar picture
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