Friday, April 18, 2008
One step closer. Our discussion with the oncologist this morning went well. Most of my questions were answered but some have no answers. He does administer anti-nausea medicine in the initial blast of chemo each time, so that's less a concern. He dismisses diarrhea as a small concern. He does caution that the sensitivity to cold (during and soon after administration) and tingling/nerve damage to fingers/toes (cumulative, slow return to normal) will almost certainly appear.
He showed us the administration room (big room, open, about 10 chairs) and introduced the nurses, who certainly seem friendly enough. They showed us the fanny-pack (smaller than I thought it would be, battery-powered) that you belt on for the 48-hour continuous part of the administration. The two-hour part up front is done by drip from two bags.
The first session will be next Tuesday at 9am, starting with flushing the port and drawing blood for a CBC prior to the actual chemical insertion.
I'm not apprehensive over the outcome of this thing, but I'm a little spooked about the side effects that will come along; not much I can do about it until I experience it, though.
Look out, you little cancer cells!!!
One step closer. Our discussion with the oncologist this morning went well. Most of my questions were answered but some have no answers. He does administer anti-nausea medicine in the initial blast of chemo each time, so that's less a concern. He dismisses diarrhea as a small concern. He does caution that the sensitivity to cold (during and soon after administration) and tingling/nerve damage to fingers/toes (cumulative, slow return to normal) will almost certainly appear.
He showed us the administration room (big room, open, about 10 chairs) and introduced the nurses, who certainly seem friendly enough. They showed us the fanny-pack (smaller than I thought it would be, battery-powered) that you belt on for the 48-hour continuous part of the administration. The two-hour part up front is done by drip from two bags.
The first session will be next Tuesday at 9am, starting with flushing the port and drawing blood for a CBC prior to the actual chemical insertion.
I'm not apprehensive over the outcome of this thing, but I'm a little spooked about the side effects that will come along; not much I can do about it until I experience it, though.
Look out, you little cancer cells!!!
That was interesting. I'll report the process now, and the reactions later (none worth mentioning yet).
You show up, nurse takes blood sample and runs it through the analyzer that then shows levels of various components to make sure you're able to take the chemicals. The doctor asks if you're having any reactions and how severe they are so he can make changes in quantities if needed.
Then you sit in a recliner chair. A nurse attaches bags to a pump via tubing and "Y" connectors and the pump to the port in my left upper chest. Sequentially, various fluids are pumped into me. First, anti-nausea to counter the oxyliplatin that follows concurrently with the leucovorin for two hours. A quick-shot of flourouracil is hand-syringed in at about the one-hour point. After all the fluids are in, a syringe of saline is pushed in to clear the tube. This regimen is FOLFOX6.
There's TV, or you can nap, but we just read our books and talked with the nurses (we have a bit to learn).
Then the portable pump & bag of flourouracil are tubed together and connected to the port. The pump is turned on. Strap the bag around your waist and leave the facility. We left at noon, it's now 4:40pm. You can see the bag at my waist (and mom's roses), but the clear tube is invisible.
Get in there and work, you chemicals!!#!
Thursday, April 24, 2008
I went in & had the chemo pump & bag removed this morning. Took about 5 minutes. The pump alarmed at 1:30 this morning, saying its batteries were low. I put in two new AA cells and pressed the obvious buttons & it came back to life. It's quite quiet and doesn't disturb my sleep.
The side effects of the chemo after cycle one are the fingertip sensitivity to cold and mild constipation. The cold sensitivity will go away in a day or two until the next cycle - if I have to handle anything cold for more than 15 seconds, I put on gloves. I can stand the tingling sensation for that long.
I'm a little lethargic but I can drive, run errands, and do all the normal things required.
The possible effects from Oxyliplatin alone are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, mouth sores, stomach pain, fever, loss of appetite, and tiredness, according to the manufacturer. These can all be managed in one way or another. The full list for FOLFOX can be seen at:
http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/help/default.asp?page=15970
My treadmill broke down last night, so now I'm on a quest to replace it. I can use it in the garage and limit exposure to the sun, which is one of the cautions received with the chemo.
I can handle this stuff. One cycle down, eleven to go.
I went in & had the chemo pump & bag removed this morning. Took about 5 minutes. The pump alarmed at 1:30 this morning, saying its batteries were low. I put in two new AA cells and pressed the obvious buttons & it came back to life. It's quite quiet and doesn't disturb my sleep.
The side effects of the chemo after cycle one are the fingertip sensitivity to cold and mild constipation. The cold sensitivity will go away in a day or two until the next cycle - if I have to handle anything cold for more than 15 seconds, I put on gloves. I can stand the tingling sensation for that long.
I'm a little lethargic but I can drive, run errands, and do all the normal things required.
The possible effects from Oxyliplatin alone are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, mouth sores, stomach pain, fever, loss of appetite, and tiredness, according to the manufacturer. These can all be managed in one way or another. The full list for FOLFOX can be seen at:
http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/help/default.asp?page=15970
My treadmill broke down last night, so now I'm on a quest to replace it. I can use it in the garage and limit exposure to the sun, which is one of the cautions received with the chemo.
I can handle this stuff. One cycle down, eleven to go.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Today didn't go as well. The constipation worsened, so with advice from the oncology center, we used magnesium citrate solution usually used to cleanse the colon to unblock me (and get rid of everything so we can start over). A little painful at times, a little nausea, but we got through it.
Now I'm ready to resume the off-chemo period.
Today didn't go as well. The constipation worsened, so with advice from the oncology center, we used magnesium citrate solution usually used to cleanse the colon to unblock me (and get rid of everything so we can start over). A little painful at times, a little nausea, but we got through it.
Now I'm ready to resume the off-chemo period.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Back to normal today. Good church service. Nice bridal shower afterward for Jerri & Michael (pastor's daughter & fiance). Installed the new treadmill and tested it.
Back to normal today. Good church service. Nice bridal shower afterward for Jerri & Michael (pastor's daughter & fiance). Installed the new treadmill and tested it.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Another bunch of e-mail notes of encouragement came this week, and several cards. To those who sent them and didn't get a reply, I thank you very much. It's really a pleasure to see how many people I have on my side.
I continue to feel great (with a nap now and then) and can still do the chores. A Navy radioman buddy of mine always smiled and replied to the "how are you" question with, "Sitting up and taking nourishment". I'm smiling, too.
Another bunch of e-mail notes of encouragement came this week, and several cards. To those who sent them and didn't get a reply, I thank you very much. It's really a pleasure to see how many people I have on my side.
I continue to feel great (with a nap now and then) and can still do the chores. A Navy radioman buddy of mine always smiled and replied to the "how are you" question with, "Sitting up and taking nourishment". I'm smiling, too.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Went in for the start of the second chemo cycle today, still feeling well. The oncologist reviewed my CBC blood test. He told me we're "go" for today, but that the side-effects will be "worse" this time (specifically mentioning the fingertip sensitivity to cold things). He said those side effects would not get much worse than after this cycle.
The infusion was a repeat of last time. Dolores counted five bags on the IV tree at one time, all hooked by "Y" tubing connectors to me. When the pumping finished, the portable pump and bag were attached and away we went to Loco's for a late Mexican lunch - chicken enchiladas, rice & beans.
It wasn't long after we arrived home that I noticed the sensitivity to cold, and indeed it was worse. I put on gloves to pull things from the refrigerator. I let the item get warmer before I work with it or eat it. Room temperature or hot food is no problem. I can hold cool items for 15 or 20 seconds before the tingling feeling starts - refrigerator temps (39) tingles quickly.
One thing I noticed this time is that my jaw muscles clamp down hard when I put something cool in my mouth. I work my jaw around for a minute or so to relax the muscles, then I'm ok. I thought I noticed this last time, but it's definite this time. Of course, that's still better than a lady at chemo who said she felt she as though she was swallowing broken glass when she swallowed something cold.
I have a slight headache now (late evening), but feel good overall. We'll see what happens next.
Went in for the start of the second chemo cycle today, still feeling well. The oncologist reviewed my CBC blood test. He told me we're "go" for today, but that the side-effects will be "worse" this time (specifically mentioning the fingertip sensitivity to cold things). He said those side effects would not get much worse than after this cycle.
The infusion was a repeat of last time. Dolores counted five bags on the IV tree at one time, all hooked by "Y" tubing connectors to me. When the pumping finished, the portable pump and bag were attached and away we went to Loco's for a late Mexican lunch - chicken enchiladas, rice & beans.
It wasn't long after we arrived home that I noticed the sensitivity to cold, and indeed it was worse. I put on gloves to pull things from the refrigerator. I let the item get warmer before I work with it or eat it. Room temperature or hot food is no problem. I can hold cool items for 15 or 20 seconds before the tingling feeling starts - refrigerator temps (39) tingles quickly.
One thing I noticed this time is that my jaw muscles clamp down hard when I put something cool in my mouth. I work my jaw around for a minute or so to relax the muscles, then I'm ok. I thought I noticed this last time, but it's definite this time. Of course, that's still better than a lady at chemo who said she felt she as though she was swallowing broken glass when she swallowed something cold.
I have a slight headache now (late evening), but feel good overall. We'll see what happens next.
Friday, May 9, 2008
That went well. Disconnected yesterday, no side effects but the heightened cold sensitivity and the urge to nap every other hour. Go chemicals!!
That went well. Disconnected yesterday, no side effects but the heightened cold sensitivity and the urge to nap every other hour. Go chemicals!!
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
We proved we can have fun (at least during the off-week) of chemotherapy by going to Disney World. D wanted to get pictures of the flower show in EPCOT. We drove down Sunday, had a good dinner, then walked our tails off on Monday taking pictures. I had an ale and found I still had a little cold sensitivity tingling - rather offputting but not a drama.
We left Tuesday AM, stopped at an Apple store to buy a computer, then spent the afternoon and evening relaxing in Steinhatchee.
We proved we can have fun (at least during the off-week) of chemotherapy by going to Disney World. D wanted to get pictures of the flower show in EPCOT. We drove down Sunday, had a good dinner, then walked our tails off on Monday taking pictures. I had an ale and found I still had a little cold sensitivity tingling - rather offputting but not a drama.
We left Tuesday AM, stopped at an Apple store to buy a computer, then spent the afternoon and evening relaxing in Steinhatchee.
