So, Tom and I went to my Dr's for my "Chemo Lessons". They weighed me (I lost 7 lbs. which is actually good as I am overweight at this time ~ yeah go figure someone with terminal cancer overweight LOL)
Then they took my temp, pulse and blood pressure, all good. Tom wants one of the new wrist blood pressure takers (grin).
The PA (Physicians Assistant) came in and gave me all kind of literature about the treatment I will be getting (Folfox 6 which equals leucovorin calcium (calcium folinate), 5-fluorouracil and oxaliplatin and also another drug called Avastin.
She explained the side effects but I really feel like she minimized them from what I have read about other peoples reactions, but she says and it's true that everyone is different so we shall see.
She came me prescriptions for Compazine for the nausea/vomiting, Valium to steady my nerves, Prilosec because I have acid reflux syndrome and the chemotherapy can make it worse ~ I was taking prilosec OTC but she gave me a prescription for a stronger dose. She also gave me Chantix to stop smoking (I get that one filled Sunday and start taking it).
I got my prescriptions filled and because I had asked her to give me a long term supply of all of them when I am about 2/3's way done with a prescription I can call my pharmacy and have them start home delivery through FedEx or UPS.
She answered all my questions regarding getting my port in, pain after, how the chemotherapy will be administered, what the side effects might be, health risks, precautions, etc.
The port will be put in under "twilight sleep" surgery at the hospital and then I will go right over to my Oncologists office (same campus) and get my chemotherapy started. It will be a long day about 6 hours she says.
She said they will give me a prescription for pain after the port is put in (basically they make an incision in the right part of my chest, thread a catheter into the vein, attach the port and then set the incision together.
The side effect she stressed is from the oxaliplatin which can cause neuropathy (tingling in hands and feet) and sensitivity to cold, she told me not to take anything from the freezer or fridge by myself without gloves on or ask someone else to do it. And to let drinks, food etc get room temperature before eating or drinking them. And if I do develop that side effects then my daily dips in the cold pool at our apt. complex are out :(
I will be fatigued she said, no doubt about that, but the medicines I get with the chemotherapy with help the nausea/vomiting. I may or may not have a bit of pain or hair loss.
She took us to the chemotherapy room and explained that I will sit out in the big area at first so they can monitor my reaction to the chemotherapy for a few visits. They will numb the skin over the port with a lidocaine spray so the needle won't hurt.
She said to eat a good breakfast but not fatty and drink lots of fluid before, during and after my chemotherapy. I will be hooked to a pump at the end of the session which will go home with me and deliver the chemotherapy for 46 hours after. Then I have to go in and they disconnect the pump till the next chemotherapy session two weeks later.
I have to get a flu shot but not if it is the "live virus kind" and not the H1N1 ...... yet.
I have to be careful of infections both internally and from cuts, scratches or wounds as my immune system will be compromised and if I get a fever of 100.5 or a scratch or wound gets red or inflamed I am to go to my Oncologists office or the emergency room right away.
So, a ton of reading material and Sep 14th I go in at 7:15am to get the port then go over to start the chemotherapy. On the 16th I go back to have the pump disconnected then go back on the 21st for a checkup on blood work etc. (to see how my white blood cells and platelets are doing)
I am on a every two week chemotherapy session schedule.
I decided there was one thing I am going to control and that is my hair, now it may not fall out or may just thin or may fall out. I had it cut short yesterday as I don't want to put me or Tom through the "OMG my hair is falling out in clumps" thing. (wry grin)
Okay that's all I can think of for now but will update again if not before then after my first day of chemotherapy.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
One year and one month ago ~ more or less
So, July 2008 I go to my OB/GYN Dr. to discuss getting a total hysterectomy. I've had my tubes tied for a long time, getting ready to enter menopause so why not?
The Dr. agrees, we schedule surgery I get all kinds of tests done, everything fine, go into surgery and wake up to be told he felt "a mass".
GULP!!!!
Okay now what? Colonoscopy. Yep mass is there. Biopsy is done, then colectomy to have it taken out when it is determined it is malignant. This was September 2008.
Mass is out, waiting for results of tests, I break my ankle, end up in hospital and have surgery on my ankle, this is October 2008.. I wake up from surgery and my oncologist is standing there and says "I'm am so sorry, it's spread to your lungs and liver and is stage IV".
WOW!!!
Well due to alot of things I decided not to have any treatment. I made my peace and did all the research and decided to live my life until I couldn't.
I moved and met a wonderful man, Tom, he is my love, my life, my miracle. He accepted me for me and I live with him and our three cats now. He accepted my decision to have no treatment.
Now it's August 2009, I am still healthy, overweight in fact but it's time to see where things stand. Went to an Oncologist, he says he can cure me! I am sceptical~ I mean seriously? SERIOUSLY? If there was a "cure" for my cancer it would be shouted world wide and there is nothing I have read or heard that says this is the case. At best they can do chemotherapy to shrink the tumors, then do surgery to get out any they can and hopefully I will be cancer free UNTIL the microscopic cells they CAN'T see grow again and then I repeat the cycle over and over again until either they can't do any more for me and it's a matter of weeks or days or the chemotherapy kills me ~ We go home after talking to him and having a blood tests. The Oncologist orders a PET scan and MRI. We went back to see him yesterday.
I am going to do chemotherapy. Tom wants me to and well I guess I do too in some way or I wouldn't agree to it right?
I am scared silly but on the 8th of this month I go back to learn about the port they will put in my chest and the chemotherapy then on the 14th I go get the port put in and start chemo the same day.
I am not just scared I am terrified................................
09/01/2009 ~ CEA = 292 (Was 15 in 01/09)
PET = Multiple mets to liver and lungs, more than before.
MRI = No mets in brain
The Dr. agrees, we schedule surgery I get all kinds of tests done, everything fine, go into surgery and wake up to be told he felt "a mass".
GULP!!!!
Okay now what? Colonoscopy. Yep mass is there. Biopsy is done, then colectomy to have it taken out when it is determined it is malignant. This was September 2008.
Mass is out, waiting for results of tests, I break my ankle, end up in hospital and have surgery on my ankle, this is October 2008.. I wake up from surgery and my oncologist is standing there and says "I'm am so sorry, it's spread to your lungs and liver and is stage IV".
WOW!!!
Well due to alot of things I decided not to have any treatment. I made my peace and did all the research and decided to live my life until I couldn't.
I moved and met a wonderful man, Tom, he is my love, my life, my miracle. He accepted me for me and I live with him and our three cats now. He accepted my decision to have no treatment.
Now it's August 2009, I am still healthy, overweight in fact but it's time to see where things stand. Went to an Oncologist, he says he can cure me! I am sceptical~ I mean seriously? SERIOUSLY? If there was a "cure" for my cancer it would be shouted world wide and there is nothing I have read or heard that says this is the case. At best they can do chemotherapy to shrink the tumors, then do surgery to get out any they can and hopefully I will be cancer free UNTIL the microscopic cells they CAN'T see grow again and then I repeat the cycle over and over again until either they can't do any more for me and it's a matter of weeks or days or the chemotherapy kills me ~ We go home after talking to him and having a blood tests. The Oncologist orders a PET scan and MRI. We went back to see him yesterday.
I am going to do chemotherapy. Tom wants me to and well I guess I do too in some way or I wouldn't agree to it right?
I am scared silly but on the 8th of this month I go back to learn about the port they will put in my chest and the chemotherapy then on the 14th I go get the port put in and start chemo the same day.
I am not just scared I am terrified................................
09/01/2009 ~ CEA = 292 (Was 15 in 01/09)
PET = Multiple mets to liver and lungs, more than before.
MRI = No mets in brain
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