Fifth Chemo

This post will be longer and more informational than usual. I’ll get graphic in places, so bear with me. Everyone is different, but it may help someone.

BTW: my internist appt. went well. Re the eye problem I’ve been having and discussed previously here: he wants to hold off on an MRI of my head until chemo is over, as that may be causing it. The chemo nurse disagreed. I’ll talk to Tracy and son David later tonight and make a decision. The chemo nurse had never seen anyone with the same problem. 🤔

                                                                Jeni, the chemo nurse

I had  chemo #5 last Tuesday. It takes 5 1/2 hours. They use the port I had implanted in the upper right hand side, just inches above my breast with an incision in the neck. (A port is a small medical appliance that is installed beneath the skin. A catheter connects the port to a vein. You can feel it beneath your skin... shaped like a small triangle.)

I take 3 steroids with dinner the night before and 3 again with breakfast. Then 1 for the next three days morning and night. (Doctors have found that the treatment is more successful when steroids are given along with chemotherapy drugs.)

I also take 1 Emend just before chemo and the next two days with breakfast. Please see another post where I discuss this hideously expensive drug. But it works.

Here’s a list of what’s in the 5 bags given during my chemotherapy session via the port.

1. Zofran and decadron (Both help with nausea, but remembered ber I also take Emend)
2. Famotidine (lowers stomach acid)
3. Benedryl  (which is supposed to put you sleep, but doesn’t work for me)
4. Taxol (a cancer medication that interferes with the growth and spread of cancer cells) Its the one that makes your hair fall out. Not all of mine is gone, but most of it. No eye lashes, but still have eyebrows.
5. Carboplatin (Used for advanced ovarian cancer. I am stage 3c. It is used with other chemotherapy ...in this case, Taxol, as a first line treatment. Carboplatin is the one that makes everything you eat taste like metal. Fortunately, so far, this has not happened.)

Before you leave, the nurse puts a neulasta “machine” on my arm. 

In about 10 minutes, you feel a little electrical shock. Weird. Photo here. You wear it for 27 hours...a little green light flashes (which I spent 15 minutes looking for in the middle of the night, until I realized it was me! Duhhhhh.) it flashes after about 24 or so hours and the green light stops. But they want you to leave it on the full time. 

This Drug Is Used For:

• This medicine is used to stimulate the growth of "healthy" white blood cells in the bone marrow, once chemotherapy is given.  White blood cells help the body to fight infection. This is not a chemotherapy drug. 
• This medication is usually given at least 24 hours after chemotherapy. Really important. It is often given by injection, but these little machines are nifty. No showers for two days until this is off and port healed. (which is bandaged) 

Day 1. Chemo day. Feel fine, super energetic. Making dinner even. ( you cannot eat out for 10 days and you must wear a mask in public places for that long too.) No nausea, hungry all the time. Did I ever mention that chemo increases your metabolism? In my case, this is a plus. A good day, if you don’t mind sitting for 6 hours and peeing constantly. You must drink copious amounts of water all through chemo and I really press it down the first 10-12 days (more than the 8 bottles they recommend) and then after 10 days, less, but still the required 8 bottles a day. Have I mentioned I hate water? My preference is iced tea, which I sneak in twice a day. Does not count as water though. ☹️ You spend all your time in the loo. I wear a smallish pad all day and a bigger one at night. You really want to flush that bad stuff out. I used 4 pads just during chemo. I also, at Tracy’s suggestion, bought some of those “pee pads” the hospital uses. We got them at a pet store, believe it or not. But the main problem is not the bed, but the minute I get up, I am flooded. So I also cover the carpet with towels. I know, gross. Haven’t had an accident yet, but might as well CYA. Literally. ☺️

The rules: No sugar, no soy products, no salads, no rare meat or fish. We wash all veggies and fruit at home with a mixture of white vinegar and water, then rinse.

Day 2. Pretty good day. Feel well, took walk, made dinner. Started to feel tired after dinner. Had one super bad hot flash (pillow and sheets get wet.) during the night, but expect to have many more. 

Day 3. This is supposed to be worst day, but I’m not feeling too bad. A little weak, but took a walk, did laundry, dishes etc. But by the end of the day the night sweats began again and lasted two days. 

Day 4. Still a little weak, still heavy sweats.

Day 5. Sweats gone. Today starts two days of a lot of bathroom trips with a little cramping. Not diarrhea, but just two days and nights  of trips to the bathroom. Sometimes I take Imodium, but try not to as I think my body is getting rid of bad stuff. 

And don’t forget all the water you must drink. Constantly

We actually went to the beach today! Probably not a good idea, but makes you feel better mentally.

Day 6. Tracy had to leave as she’s moving, but I managed the airport drive. It exhausted me.

Day 7. At this point, recovery usually starts, but I’m finding almost any exertion is tiring me. It’s taking longer this time, which I was warned it would. I can usually get to the gym (treadmill and bike) by day 8 or 9. And take classes again by day 10. Doubt I can stay on that schedule this time. Some housework and grocery store are going to be it today.
Two additions: today, for the first time, I had a back ache. In the middle of my back, as though it was tired. I took Advil, it went away. The second, neuropathy. (We were told about this one in advance, but never had a problem with it until now: a couple days ago, I noticed that my feet and part of my lower legs were a little numb. That has remained, but doesn't bother me much.

Day 8: Yes, I did go to the gym. Did  1 3/4 miles on the bike and 1 mile on the treadmill. At the end, my lower back ached and so did both my hips. (I had a hip replacement many years ago) These things are both new and both only lasted until I took Advil.
Tomorrow I will try a class.

I probably won’t post again until after the 6th chemo is over and we find out what was accomplished.

Thanks for hanging in there with me!

Fourth Chemo

Blood work Monday. I don’t mind it, but it’s always a reminder chemo is coming in a week. Anyway, white blood cell count good, all results good. I asked if I was getting a lower dosage than others and was told 10% less because of my age. I said everyone else I know going through this are having way more trouble than I am. She said it was 1. They weren’t drinking enough water 2. They weren’t exercising (that’s a biggie)  3. It’s a mindset and mine is good. It appears the 10% less is relative. I sure hope that’s right. 

Big eye test last Monday. Result? Eyes are fine, but he wanted me to see a neuro guy in his office. Decided to talk to internist first. Not sure I want to open that can of worms. Internist appointment is next week, day before fifth chemo.

Fourth chemo went well and no, this is not following the exact pattern as the first three, but close. Think I was a day or so longer getting my feet under me. Fifth chemo is next Tuesday....only one more to go after that. 

My son and DIL came for a weekend, as you can see from the photos on Instagram. Of course, it rained the entire time. We shopped around, but I got so wet, in and out of air conditioning, I was worried about catching a cold, which is a major no-no and they wouldn’t do the chemo. I had them drop me off. But I’m fine, took a lot of vitamin C. 

Unfortunately for them (and a bad omen for the rest of the summer) the seaweed problem is back and the word is....it’ll be worse this year.