It went fine. I biked there AND back, 26 miles on fat tires. (It's the same building as my glaucoma doctor, and I have finally gotten a clear idea of how many miles it is, because Joan came, and she has an odometer on her hybrid -- I don't have one of my mountain bike....) I didn't know how it would be, but the nurse heard what chemo meds I had taken before and predicted that this would be the easiest of the three. Wow! They did give me antinausea premeds -- and either they work great or I wasn't going to get nauseous.... I got hungry on the way home and told Joan I hadn't brought a big enough lunch -- and came home and ate a big dinner, which is unusual for me.
Yeah I know -- just watch the steroids bulk me up. I am starting at 115, so 120 would be fine. We will see what happens -- my chemo buddies from G-town gained lots more than that and it's winter..... I will just have to see if I can keep biking; that's important for my sanity and sleep and the sanity of my family...... :-D
then I got home and thought, hmm, maybe body aches. But then I realized I was feeling my surgery site, which is still kind of tender, especially where the numbness is thawing out.
Alan was very sweet and took the day off, and came to chemo (my idea since he seemed to nervous about my having a reaction and their ability to handle it. He got to see that these nurses looked like they knew what they were doing -- as did Joan and I.) Then he scooted as soon as he'd seen me get the first 15 mins of taxotere (the last drug they gave me) and ascertained that I was not having an allergic reaction -- and got home in time to meet EMily after school. I got home just in time to change and pick up Matthew at school after his debate meeting.
And now I'm going to go have a little rest. And maybe a hot bath....... and lie with Emily, if she likes. (another rest. That will take care of both evening eyedrops.) :-)
OH I almost forgot. When I was talking with Em last night, we talked about what carboplatin sounded like it should be, since it doesn't really sound like a medication. She thought it sounded like a credit card. I think it sounds like the next generation of fancy bikeframes. I told her she just has to play the dictionary game....... Hmmm, I need to talk to some friends about finding time for a game night soon......
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Chemo Tomorrow -- taxotere & carboplatin
I swam a whole mile on Tuesday with my right arm doing strokes the regular way! I had planned to do it for jsut a little while, but it felt so right, like something had gotten fixed.... that I did the whole mile with my arm coming out of the water like it's supposed to.
And my mastectomy scar looks great. (I put vitamin E oil on it a lot.) I don't mind being lopsided - and it's not exactly that I'm not vain; I just really don't think it looks that bad.
So now that I'm feeling well I'm going to start more chemo tomorrow. It was a tough decision, and the irony is that the person who probably helped me make it the most was the oncologist at Georgetown who won't do it. (Go figure.) She called last night and we talked for a good hour.
Anyway this stuff won't be a walk in the park -- Alan has been checking up on it and has found a lot of blood toxic side effects. I'll get neulasta after every dose, to boost my white count, even though they are 3 weeks apart. Nothing to be done about the platelets, though. I wish I knew what to eat or something to boost them.... if anyone knows, please do tell! (Red count goes down too -- I'll eat venison. I'll see if they are okay with my taking nettles which also boosts iron -- but not like venison!) Also I'll have to take steroids AND it might make me nauseous. Last time I slept a lot from the antinausea meds while on AC, and then I was more awake after the steroids from taxol. this time I'll need both, so what will that be like? Alan thinks I should not bike the week that the platelets are at their nadir (low point.) But I don't know; the other stuff wasn't a walk in the park either, but I was okay after one low weekend, each time. SO we will see......
I'm thinking that it will be harder to avoid germs now than it was in the summertime. I made a soup this evening with lots of seaweed in it, to feed the thymus, which I hear helps avoid change of season respiratory infections. The only problem was, the kids weren't really into it. ALan will eat it some and I will mostly eat it -- but the idea was to try to keep the germs out of the house. Of course ALan and Em are already coughing and snuffling. (I have a tickle, too.... I will tell the doc.) Matthew doesn't sleep much during the week -- I think what's saved him so far is he keeps his distance from us most of the time! though he does hang out with me late at night if I'm up. So if the steroids keep me up..... I know, it's a really bad example. It's also quite nice.....
And on that note I should head up to bed. But first -- I have to tell one more little story. After I went swimming on Tuesday I was telling a woman in the locker room (who I know but don't see all that often) how proud I was of having been able to do the whole mile 3 weeks after surgery, my third time swimming, and that I was actually swimming the regular way already (regular out-of-the water strokes with my right arm, which I hadn't planned to do yet!) ANyway the woman looked down and said, "Gee, I don't see a scar." Now... granted, I hadn't taken my bathing suit off yet, or it would have been obvious, but one side was still clearly flat..... and bathing suits aren't baggy or anything....
Isn't it amazing what the brain will edit in when it expects something? If this gets out the plastic surgeons will all be out of work -- and even the people who make the prostheses!
And my mastectomy scar looks great. (I put vitamin E oil on it a lot.) I don't mind being lopsided - and it's not exactly that I'm not vain; I just really don't think it looks that bad.
So now that I'm feeling well I'm going to start more chemo tomorrow. It was a tough decision, and the irony is that the person who probably helped me make it the most was the oncologist at Georgetown who won't do it. (Go figure.) She called last night and we talked for a good hour.
Anyway this stuff won't be a walk in the park -- Alan has been checking up on it and has found a lot of blood toxic side effects. I'll get neulasta after every dose, to boost my white count, even though they are 3 weeks apart. Nothing to be done about the platelets, though. I wish I knew what to eat or something to boost them.... if anyone knows, please do tell! (Red count goes down too -- I'll eat venison. I'll see if they are okay with my taking nettles which also boosts iron -- but not like venison!) Also I'll have to take steroids AND it might make me nauseous. Last time I slept a lot from the antinausea meds while on AC, and then I was more awake after the steroids from taxol. this time I'll need both, so what will that be like? Alan thinks I should not bike the week that the platelets are at their nadir (low point.) But I don't know; the other stuff wasn't a walk in the park either, but I was okay after one low weekend, each time. SO we will see......
I'm thinking that it will be harder to avoid germs now than it was in the summertime. I made a soup this evening with lots of seaweed in it, to feed the thymus, which I hear helps avoid change of season respiratory infections. The only problem was, the kids weren't really into it. ALan will eat it some and I will mostly eat it -- but the idea was to try to keep the germs out of the house. Of course ALan and Em are already coughing and snuffling. (I have a tickle, too.... I will tell the doc.) Matthew doesn't sleep much during the week -- I think what's saved him so far is he keeps his distance from us most of the time! though he does hang out with me late at night if I'm up. So if the steroids keep me up..... I know, it's a really bad example. It's also quite nice.....
And on that note I should head up to bed. But first -- I have to tell one more little story. After I went swimming on Tuesday I was telling a woman in the locker room (who I know but don't see all that often) how proud I was of having been able to do the whole mile 3 weeks after surgery, my third time swimming, and that I was actually swimming the regular way already (regular out-of-the water strokes with my right arm, which I hadn't planned to do yet!) ANyway the woman looked down and said, "Gee, I don't see a scar." Now... granted, I hadn't taken my bathing suit off yet, or it would have been obvious, but one side was still clearly flat..... and bathing suits aren't baggy or anything....
Isn't it amazing what the brain will edit in when it expects something? If this gets out the plastic surgeons will all be out of work -- and even the people who make the prostheses!
Monday, November 17, 2008
Taxotere & Carboplatin, or Xeloda with Radiation?
The good news is, I found a doctor willing to prescribe and give me the chemotherapy that my Mayo onc recommended. He called the doctor at Mayo and spoke with him while I was in his office (and ascertained that the recommended therapy is taxotere with carboplatin, not taxol.) The twist is, he also had another thing to offer, which is this drug Xeloda taken with radiation. It enhances the effect of radiation. This didn't impress me at first, because I know radiation to be a local therapy only.
However, he said that radiation has systemic effects. It helps prevent not only recurrences but also metastases. They don't know why, but it has been proven via clinical trials. Interesting, isn't it? The thing is, I can't have both. I'm not sure why not.
He also said that he recommended tamoxifen be taken after radiation rather than with it, because in the lab it weakens the effect of radiation. ALSO he said that he wouldn't worry about the delay in starting tamoxifen for chemo, as long as I start it within say 8 months of my initial diagnosis. When we left his office ALan did some calculations and saw that in fact I would not be able to start tamoxifen until close to a year after my initial diagnosis, if I pursue this additional chemo. And if I don't..... if I do Xeloda plus radiation, I will make it. (I think he must know I wouldn't make it with the chemo, though. I will run this by him -- or the Mayo onc.)
Finally...... I made a chemo appointment for THursday. I have to confirm it tomorrow, or cancel or change it, because that's when they order the meds, 2 days ahead of time. I have three conflicting appointments on THursday so I have to cancel two tomorrow. It's a given that I will have to cancel the dental.... unfortunately there won't be time for me to have my teeth cleaned (unless I can squeeeze it in tomorrow -- and the hygentist can also squeeze me in) until after this new chemo -- if I take it. The other appointment is with Dr. Liu, who hasn't returned any of my emails or called me back since my appointment a week and a half ago. I would like to hear her take on the Xeloda with radiation question, but I would have to change my chemo appointment in order to see her.
I could change it til MOnday -- but then I'll lose the rest of next week and the option of biking (every time I take it -- one week per month.) This stuff will make me sick like the first 4 treatments, and Thursdays worked well for that because I got to recover on the weekends, with interesting kids around to entertain me and sometimes friends to help.) If I change it til a bit later in the day then I will have to make an arrangement for EMily for after school. I can do that.... but I just did it today, because Dr. Smith only sees new patients between noon and 2pm, and his open slot today was at 1.
Anyway those are the questions I have to ponder tonight. Of course I'm sleepy and want a nap -- or an early bedtime - instead. I'll lie with Emily when she's ready and do my eyedrops. I always like to get in a nap that way -- but she's getting so much older, she often keeps me up!
If anyone has any words of wisdom -- I'll take them!
:-D
However, he said that radiation has systemic effects. It helps prevent not only recurrences but also metastases. They don't know why, but it has been proven via clinical trials. Interesting, isn't it? The thing is, I can't have both. I'm not sure why not.
He also said that he recommended tamoxifen be taken after radiation rather than with it, because in the lab it weakens the effect of radiation. ALSO he said that he wouldn't worry about the delay in starting tamoxifen for chemo, as long as I start it within say 8 months of my initial diagnosis. When we left his office ALan did some calculations and saw that in fact I would not be able to start tamoxifen until close to a year after my initial diagnosis, if I pursue this additional chemo. And if I don't..... if I do Xeloda plus radiation, I will make it. (I think he must know I wouldn't make it with the chemo, though. I will run this by him -- or the Mayo onc.)
Finally...... I made a chemo appointment for THursday. I have to confirm it tomorrow, or cancel or change it, because that's when they order the meds, 2 days ahead of time. I have three conflicting appointments on THursday so I have to cancel two tomorrow. It's a given that I will have to cancel the dental.... unfortunately there won't be time for me to have my teeth cleaned (unless I can squeeeze it in tomorrow -- and the hygentist can also squeeze me in) until after this new chemo -- if I take it. The other appointment is with Dr. Liu, who hasn't returned any of my emails or called me back since my appointment a week and a half ago. I would like to hear her take on the Xeloda with radiation question, but I would have to change my chemo appointment in order to see her.
I could change it til MOnday -- but then I'll lose the rest of next week and the option of biking (every time I take it -- one week per month.) This stuff will make me sick like the first 4 treatments, and Thursdays worked well for that because I got to recover on the weekends, with interesting kids around to entertain me and sometimes friends to help.) If I change it til a bit later in the day then I will have to make an arrangement for EMily for after school. I can do that.... but I just did it today, because Dr. Smith only sees new patients between noon and 2pm, and his open slot today was at 1.
Anyway those are the questions I have to ponder tonight. Of course I'm sleepy and want a nap -- or an early bedtime - instead. I'll lie with Emily when she's ready and do my eyedrops. I always like to get in a nap that way -- but she's getting so much older, she often keeps me up!
If anyone has any words of wisdom -- I'll take them!
:-D
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