New Chemo Drugs Today

Hello faithful readers,

Today was round 5 of my chemotherapy.  I am on two new drugs for the remainder of my regimen - Taxol and Herceptin.  I will have them both every two weeks, but come weekly for the Herceptin.  After round 8, I'll continue with herceptin for about a year, but only every 3 weeks.

Good news: I feel pretty good today - during the infusion and after coming home.  I was at the clinic for 8 hours!!!  I had lab work, doctor appt, then 5.5 hours in the treatment room.  In the future, treatment should be slightly shorter, but still a very long trip to the clinic.

Bad news: Taxol get very bad reviews for day 3 and beyond.  It is a very different drug than adriamycin.  While AD attacks fast-growing cells, Taxol attacks fast-dividing cells.  At least, that's my understand.  The new drug is supposed to cause severe body and muscle aches that only increases in severity with each treatment.  It should also cause sudden additional hair loss.  So, goodbye eye brows and arm hair! 

All in all, I'm optimistic.  I'm just glad I feel as good as I do on Day 1.  I know each drug carries with it a different pattern though.  Herceptin doesn't have very many side effects.  :-)

Chemo Nails

Wanna know what chemo-fingernails look like, before they come off? Well, here they are:

The thumbs are the worst.  From what I'm told, the darkness will continue to grow upward then the entire nail will detach.  Also, the flipside of my hands and feet are dark.  I didn't take a picture of those.  :-)  Now, let me go find some opaque nail polish!

Strength?

I don’t get out much these days. In fact, I’ve missed worship and bible class way too much since May. Yet, sometimes – when I feel pretty good – I get up, put on my wig, put on some clothes, put on some makeup, put on a smile, and head to church. Without fail, someone will comment about how “good I look” and how “strong I am”. I politely smile and thank them, but then I wonder about the second statement. Side note: I don’t worry so much about the first statement because I know people know my condition and know I’m really bald underneath the wig, so it’s most fitting to say to someone going through chemo, “you look so good”. I appreciate and understand those words – really, I do. It’s the second statement that leaves me puzzled.

What do they see that they perceive as strength? Is it because I’m there? Is it because I’m smiling and not falling to pieces? Well, I tell you the truth…I’m not strong. If you don’t believe me, ask Regina…Tricia…Veronica…my mother…Terry. Ha! If people only knew. The ONLY thing that gets me through each treatment, each new side effect, each new deficiency, each DAY is the Lord. It is “in my weakness that His strength is made perfect” (2 Corinthians 12:9). When I say that your prayers are sustaining me, I truly mean it. Thank you for them! The simple truth is, I am weak. I’m just depending on God to carry me through this journey.

I’ll get off my soap box and get back to bed. I just had this on my heart and wanted to stop and give credit where credit was due. God bless!

More Side Effects... Oh My!

Wow! What a week it's been.  The body aches slowly improved, but on Thursday morning, I had a new side effect that really caught me off-guard...trouble swallowing.  So now, I'm on two more medicines to remedy esophagitis.  It feels like a closure down in my esophagus and it hurts to swallow any type of solids.  At one point today, it even hurt to swallow liquids too!  This was a bit scary, so I called a GI friend of ours from church and he assured me that I should be okay if it's treated now.  He doesn't think it will close up completely.  He even called in an additional suspension that should help tremendously.  I'll pick it up tomorrow.  :-)  Thanks for the prayers, calls, and words of encouragement.

Feeling Not So Good

Recovery this time has been a challenge.  What used to be a 4 day recovery is turning into a 7+ day recovery this time.  The Neulasta shot is wreaking havoc on my body this week.  I feel like I'm recovering from a car accident.  My body aches (chest, back, neck, head) continuously.  My nurse called in a  pain pill today, so I hope to have a good night's sleep tonight.  Lately, the pain has been waking me when the ibuprofen wears off.  What makes this more challenging is that pain medicine is not good for a chemo patient because the liver is already working overtime to remove the toxins from the chemotherapy.  Acetaminophen is especially dangerous for me right now, and ibuprofen should be limited as well.  So, I'm living with the pain most of the day and only take meds twice a day. Also, my taste buds still have not recovered so my appetite is not back yet.  I'm whining too much today, so I'll end this post by saying...

GOD is good!!! No matter what!!!

Neulasta Cost

After my trip to Arkansas, I had several insurance EOBs that had come in the mail.  The little shot I receive the day after chemo - Neulasta - costs $9,500 a pop!!!  Yes, you read that correctly.  It's almost 3 times the cost of the chemo itself.  I am so grateful to God for medical insurance.  Now, I wonder what on earth happens to those without?

Halfway There!!

Round 4 was today and it went okay.  I'm just so happy to be finished with adriamyacin and cytoxin.  This marks my halfway point in chemo.

My red blood count had not dropped any further, so I was not denied treatment.  YAY!  I'll be sure to continue with my iron-rich foods between treatments. Thank you for your prayers.  My mother has been a real gem (as usual).  She cooks so many healthy foods for us and works so hard around the house.  Also, my aunt cooked me some beets, and yes, I ate most of them.  Thank you!!

Prayers

Yesterday and today have been pretty good.  In fact, I felt so good yesterday, I decided to go to Wal-Mart to shop for some school supplies.  Not the best idea!

My chemotherapy schedule was setup to be very aggressive.  The first four rounds consist of the two toughest chemo drugs on the market.  After that, I'll receive a third drug for rounds 5-8, which, according to one of my nurses "should be a piece of cake after getting through the first four".  Needless to say, I'm dreading round 4.  Since these treatments accumulate, round 4 shuold be the worst.  Please remember me in your prayers.  Additionally, my red blood count needs to improve.  Before round 3, it was down to 28 and it can't afford to drop anymore before round 4.  I'm trying to eat more iron-rich foods, but my appetite is not what it should be.  Please be in prayer about that too.

I thank you so much for your prayers.  They are truly sustaining me. My doctors say I'm handling the treatments very well.  That can only be attributed to God and His goodness.

Round 3

Round 3 has really kicked my tail.  Usually, I feel almost normal by day 5, but today has been tough.  I had planned to go to Arkansas with my mother today, but I just couldn't do it.  We'll have to try again tomorrow morning. 

I may have overdone it yesterday by going with Terry to take the girls to camp.  I'm glad I went though.  The campground is beautiful!!!  To think, I had planned to go to camp this year as a staff member.  My, how things changed.  This summer is unlike any other, but at least the girls are having some normalcy.  :-)

Three Down, Five to Go

Round 3 was pretty good, on-site.  I didn't try to read anything while receiving my treatment, so the loopiness was better.  However, I've felt slightly queasy with a light headache today, which is unusual for Day 1.  I took a Tylenol and will take an anti-nausea pill tonight. 

In our family, we traditionally take the birthday person out to dinner at the place of their choice.  Today is Terry's birthday, but we're going to have a wonderful meal here at home.  I'd feel guilty if it were one of the kids, but I know Terry doesn't mind.  In fact, he probably even prefers it this way.

Well, I better log off now.  Reading doesn't feel too good right now.  Thanks for your continued prayers!