For some reason I have had the hardest time getting motivated to write this entry. I worked most of the week and was exhausted by the time I got home. I also had a sick baby on my hands who spiked a fever early Friday and required me to leave work unexpectedly. Parenthood! Anyway...
I finally had my radiation treatment on Friday, March 15. That was after one cancellation and two postponements. The machine I was supposed to have my treatment with was still out of commission so I was treated at a different facility at Jefferson. Annoying! The machine they had available was older and the treatment lasted longer than I expected.
My treatment was scheduled for 2pm. Frank and I took advantage of the late appointment and went out to lunch beforehand. Once again I was craving meat and was devastated to find out the sausage, tortellini meal I love was no longer on the menu. What a let down! I conceded and had sausage soup. Also very delicious and helped satisfy my body's need for protein.
We got to the radiation center early and of course they were running behind. Eventually my doctor came to get me and took me into an exam room to explain the process. I was given one steroid pill, to help fight against a tumor flair and one, half-strength anti-nausea pill just in case. (I hate taking that medicine because it is the cause of all my bowel issues. When I mentioned my lack of bathroom trips to my nurse, and all the different over-the-counter drugs I had tried he responded by saying, "Yea, some people need dynamite " Frank and I laughed out loud with that comment. It was so true. I finally drank some more liquid dynamite and the problem is somewhat under control. Until the next round of chemo probably.)
When they took back I was surprised at how unimpressive the room was. I expected it to look a lot more updated and full of highly advanced equipment. The radiation machine was there with a table and tons of cabinets and an old desktop computer. Some cameras on the ceiling and some other stuff that was disabled a long time ago. The nurses helped me climb onto the carbon table and lay down into my "body mold" mattress thingy. I stayed fully clothed the entire time, they just pulled shirt up so my stomach and back were exposed.
Before they could begin they had to take a mini CT scan to make sure they had everything lined up properly. It would not be a good idea to just blindly start shooting a radioactive beam into the center of my body! Once they were happy with everything, they started the radiation. The machine rotated around the table six times. It took about 20 minutes. Afterwards they took another CT scan to check if I had moved (more on that in a minute) and then completed the treatment with six more rotations. All together I had to lay still for an hour and 20 minutes. The CD they put on for me to listen to had run out and I ended up just staring at the ceiling, grinding my teeth to the rhythm of the machine (which seems to happen often, based on the pain in some of my molars) using every ounce of my being not to FREAK out about the pain and tightness in EVERY muscle of my body. It is amazing how a person's will can help them stay calm in a stressful situation. I was really uncomfortable by the end of the treatment but I knew I had to stay still because it would make for a better round of treatment. All I wanted was to make sure this cancer was being killed, so I held it together.
Throughout the entire process I had to hold completely still. When the treatment was over my nurses and doctor came in to help me off the table. My shoulders and arms were so stiff and sore because they were above my head the entire time. Both my legs had fallen asleep and they were throbbing. My doctor told me I get the award for the least amount of movement during a treatment. I had moved a little less than 1mm. That is such a small amount that they did not have to readjust anything. GO ME! Then she chimed in with a laugh and said, "And I forgot to offer you a muscle relaxer! Sorry about that but great work!" I fake laughed at that due to my intense pain. That probably would have helped.
After the treatment we went back to the exam room to discuss possible side effects (which all I had was some sleepiness) and scheduled a follow up appointment for five weeks later. Then we were on our merry way.
The ride home was HORRIBLE! We had to take 611 again because we were leaving at rush hour and couldn't take the main highway due to traffic. That makes a typical 45 minute drive about an hour and a half. Half way home I began to FREAK out. My legs were throbbing, I was screaming, sweating and tugging at my clothes. Every red light made it worse. I was having a major panic attack brought on by the steroids. All I wanted was a hot bath to help stop my leg pain. When we got home I burst into tears (again from the drugs), ran upstairs and hopped into the bath. Unfortunately my legs ached all night which made it difficult to sleep. Thankfully when I woke up they felt much better as did my back.
The bone in my back is less sensitive to touch and I can lean against most chairs again. I also have some more range of motion. All signs that something is working to kill this cancer! As painless and "easy" as this treatment was I am very glad I only had to go once. It is amazing what science and technology can do for us now.
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Treatment Aftermath #1
WARNING: Do not read on if you do not care to know the details of my side effects. Some people may like to stay naive when it comes to that and I completely understand. I would rather not get weird glances from people because they read this entry!
I ended up taking more time than expected to recuperate after chemo. Chemo was on Thursday. I took off Friday, had the weekend and then stayed home Monday as well. This treatment was not as bad as I anticipated, which is why I always prepare for the worst. That way, when things are not as bad, I am quite relieved.
Thursday evening after treatment: During the drive home I was like a crazy woman, pumped up for the steroids. Every mention of food, or fast food joint along the drive triggered my stomach and I continuously yelled out about all the foods I was craving! As it was, I ate 2 packs of fruit snacks, a small bag of pretzels and licked some cottage cheese (ew I gagged just writing that word) out of a container during the hour drive home. When we got home my mother-in-law had dinner ready for us. I ate two grilled cheese & ham sandwiches and drank a bunch of raspberry lemonade. The lemonade ended up being a big mistake. I had the worst heartburn of my life. I was burping fire for a while until the acid medicine kicked in. The rest of the night I felt semi-normal until bed time. I fell asleep fine, but was WIDE awake from 1:30 - 3:30. At this time I had some pains in my stomach. I took the time to chat online with a fellow cancer patient who was up for the same reason. I also woke up again around 5am. Since I did not sleep well, I decided not to go to work. Later I realized that was a good choice.
Friday: I felt like I had crazy energy most of the day but in between the bouts of energy I had hot flashes and a racing heart. A friend brought over lunch, 3 chicken & cheese tacos. I housed them. I am supposed to eat a lot of protein and dairy so that was a good lunch. By the late afternoon I was coming down from the steroids. I did not like that feeling. I had a very long hot flash and my heart raced for over an hour. I called the doctor and they assured me it was most likely from the steroids and to call them back if it did not stop within an hour. Thankfully it did stop. They advised me to take a Benadryl next time to counter-act the side effects. I am thinking that is a good idea. I did not like how I felt.
Saturday: During the morning I felt ok but was very tired. I did have to take Zofran throughout the day to fight off nausea and dizziness. By Saturday evening my skin started to hurt. I did NOT like that feeling. Imagine having a high fever and your body hurts. That is how my skin felt, minus the fever. It hurt to rub against my pillow or brush my hair out of my face. I slept pretty well that night and when I woke up my skin was not as sore. I am hoping I will always be able to sleep through that because it was gross. If I have to I will take a Xanax. Anything to avoid feeling poopy!
Sunday: VERY TIRED and somewhat weak. Little bit of nausea too. Also very constipated, YUCK! Patients can get diarrhea or constipation. Neither option is much fun. I had a horrible stomachache. I began taking Senocot, which is similar to Ducolax, but nothing happened. I take 2 fiber gummies each day too. Nothing. So, I had to get this disgustingly sour Mag Citrate. Do not believe advertisements. It is nothing like Sprite. It tastes like liquid lemon. I could not handle it. I nearly puked. Hudson thought my gaggy face was funny. At least someone enjoyed the drink, ha! This lovely drink is supposed to start working within an hour. WRONG. I never went to the bathroom until Tuesday afternoon. Oh the joys of drug side effects.
Monday: Feeling better, but still tired. I felt pretty normal again except I did not have much energy. I spent most of the day in bed watching cheesy Lifetime movies (guilty pleasure) and checking the Internet. I really wanted beef jerky throughout the day but had to energy to drive myself to the store, so I gave up on that craving. My dad and Claudia brought pulled pork for dinner. That helped satisfy my meaty craving.
Tuesday: Back to work. I had to leave at 2pm. The muscles in my back were aching and exhausted. I came home and threw myself into bed. I am pretty sure I was asleep in less than a minute.
Today (Wednesday): I stayed home until lunch time today. I took a Motrin to take the edge off the muscle aches. Since I was well rested the afternoon was much more productive and enjoyable. My appetite is pretty much back to normal too. I had a smoothie for the first time since my treatment. YUM!
I am amazed by the amount of drugs one can take while on chemo. The philosophy is to treat the side effects so that each patient feels the best they possibly can after infusions. That being said my counter is littered with over-the-counter drugs. Zantac, Gaviscon (liquid & chewables) to help with heartburn and sour stomach, Zofran for nausea, eye drops to deal with dry-eye, Motrin for back pain, Benadryl to fight off allergy reactions, Xanax as needed for anxiety and I am sure I missed something.
The other crazy part is the food cravings and aversions. It is like being pregnant, but for me, far worse. The morning after my treatment I went to prepare Hudson's lunch and could not even open the cottage cheese. I had to yell for Frank to scoop it into a container while I was in the other room. It had to be returned to the fridge before I could finish packing for him.
I have been craving meat non-stop. I am not a huge meat-eater, but my body needs the protein to heal after infusions. That explains my major need for beef jerky and chicken taquitos at 1030am!
I am already starting to feel better. My back is less sore and I have more range of motion. I am tossing and turning in bed again. I have been unable to move in bed for MONTHS. I asked my nurse if I truly was feeling a response to the medicine or if it was a placebo effect. She said the one medicine I am getting is very strong and that it is very possible that it is already killing some cancer cells!!!!!
I FINALLY get radiation on Friday, March 15 in the late afternoon. I cannot wait. That will help my back heal even further. Then I can begin strengthening my muscles and getting back into shape.
I ended up taking more time than expected to recuperate after chemo. Chemo was on Thursday. I took off Friday, had the weekend and then stayed home Monday as well. This treatment was not as bad as I anticipated, which is why I always prepare for the worst. That way, when things are not as bad, I am quite relieved.
Thursday evening after treatment: During the drive home I was like a crazy woman, pumped up for the steroids. Every mention of food, or fast food joint along the drive triggered my stomach and I continuously yelled out about all the foods I was craving! As it was, I ate 2 packs of fruit snacks, a small bag of pretzels and licked some cottage cheese (ew I gagged just writing that word) out of a container during the hour drive home. When we got home my mother-in-law had dinner ready for us. I ate two grilled cheese & ham sandwiches and drank a bunch of raspberry lemonade. The lemonade ended up being a big mistake. I had the worst heartburn of my life. I was burping fire for a while until the acid medicine kicked in. The rest of the night I felt semi-normal until bed time. I fell asleep fine, but was WIDE awake from 1:30 - 3:30. At this time I had some pains in my stomach. I took the time to chat online with a fellow cancer patient who was up for the same reason. I also woke up again around 5am. Since I did not sleep well, I decided not to go to work. Later I realized that was a good choice.
Friday: I felt like I had crazy energy most of the day but in between the bouts of energy I had hot flashes and a racing heart. A friend brought over lunch, 3 chicken & cheese tacos. I housed them. I am supposed to eat a lot of protein and dairy so that was a good lunch. By the late afternoon I was coming down from the steroids. I did not like that feeling. I had a very long hot flash and my heart raced for over an hour. I called the doctor and they assured me it was most likely from the steroids and to call them back if it did not stop within an hour. Thankfully it did stop. They advised me to take a Benadryl next time to counter-act the side effects. I am thinking that is a good idea. I did not like how I felt.
Saturday: During the morning I felt ok but was very tired. I did have to take Zofran throughout the day to fight off nausea and dizziness. By Saturday evening my skin started to hurt. I did NOT like that feeling. Imagine having a high fever and your body hurts. That is how my skin felt, minus the fever. It hurt to rub against my pillow or brush my hair out of my face. I slept pretty well that night and when I woke up my skin was not as sore. I am hoping I will always be able to sleep through that because it was gross. If I have to I will take a Xanax. Anything to avoid feeling poopy!
Sunday: VERY TIRED and somewhat weak. Little bit of nausea too. Also very constipated, YUCK! Patients can get diarrhea or constipation. Neither option is much fun. I had a horrible stomachache. I began taking Senocot, which is similar to Ducolax, but nothing happened. I take 2 fiber gummies each day too. Nothing. So, I had to get this disgustingly sour Mag Citrate. Do not believe advertisements. It is nothing like Sprite. It tastes like liquid lemon. I could not handle it. I nearly puked. Hudson thought my gaggy face was funny. At least someone enjoyed the drink, ha! This lovely drink is supposed to start working within an hour. WRONG. I never went to the bathroom until Tuesday afternoon. Oh the joys of drug side effects.
Monday: Feeling better, but still tired. I felt pretty normal again except I did not have much energy. I spent most of the day in bed watching cheesy Lifetime movies (guilty pleasure) and checking the Internet. I really wanted beef jerky throughout the day but had to energy to drive myself to the store, so I gave up on that craving. My dad and Claudia brought pulled pork for dinner. That helped satisfy my meaty craving.
Tuesday: Back to work. I had to leave at 2pm. The muscles in my back were aching and exhausted. I came home and threw myself into bed. I am pretty sure I was asleep in less than a minute.
Today (Wednesday): I stayed home until lunch time today. I took a Motrin to take the edge off the muscle aches. Since I was well rested the afternoon was much more productive and enjoyable. My appetite is pretty much back to normal too. I had a smoothie for the first time since my treatment. YUM!
I am amazed by the amount of drugs one can take while on chemo. The philosophy is to treat the side effects so that each patient feels the best they possibly can after infusions. That being said my counter is littered with over-the-counter drugs. Zantac, Gaviscon (liquid & chewables) to help with heartburn and sour stomach, Zofran for nausea, eye drops to deal with dry-eye, Motrin for back pain, Benadryl to fight off allergy reactions, Xanax as needed for anxiety and I am sure I missed something.
The other crazy part is the food cravings and aversions. It is like being pregnant, but for me, far worse. The morning after my treatment I went to prepare Hudson's lunch and could not even open the cottage cheese. I had to yell for Frank to scoop it into a container while I was in the other room. It had to be returned to the fridge before I could finish packing for him.
I have been craving meat non-stop. I am not a huge meat-eater, but my body needs the protein to heal after infusions. That explains my major need for beef jerky and chicken taquitos at 1030am!
I am already starting to feel better. My back is less sore and I have more range of motion. I am tossing and turning in bed again. I have been unable to move in bed for MONTHS. I asked my nurse if I truly was feeling a response to the medicine or if it was a placebo effect. She said the one medicine I am getting is very strong and that it is very possible that it is already killing some cancer cells!!!!!
I FINALLY get radiation on Friday, March 15 in the late afternoon. I cannot wait. That will help my back heal even further. Then I can begin strengthening my muscles and getting back into shape.
Thursday, March 7, 2013
First Day of Chemo
We all got dressed in our pink gear, took a bunch of pictures to post online, dropped Hudson off at daycare and then began the drive to the infusion center. Surprisingly I was calm. No major doctor shits, no shaking hands, no racing heart, nothing. Just some normal back pain which was dulled due to the lovely distraction of reading all the pink Facebook posts from everyone!
We arrived a few minutes after 9am (the fastest drive so far), checked into the oncologist's office, walked down the hall and checked in at the infusion center. Then waited about 15 minutes for my blood work (of course I was in the bathroom when they called my name!). They took my vital signs and then we waited another 10 minutes for the nurse to come over to access my port and draw my blood.
The port access was much easier than I expected. The port is located in a vein that leads directly to your heart, so it has to be a very sterile process The nurse wears a mask so that she doesn't accidentally breath onto your port. I had to turn my head away and she cleaned the entire area with stinky alcohol, which made my nostrils burn and eyes water. Once the area was clean it was time to stick in the needle. During the drive down today, I applied the Lidocaine cream all over the area to numb the skin. Man did that work well. I did not feel ANYTHING! Thank you very much Lidocaine, you finally came through for me. After failing me during so many procedures you actually did your job, you numbed me.
After the labs were drawn we went back down the hall to the oncologist's office. We were put in a room right away and waited about 5 minutes for the doctor. She listened to my heart and felt my lymph nodes and answered some of my questions.
Then, we went back down the hall again to infusion (good thing I am able to walk without too much of a problem). They gave us booth 10. It is equipped with a recliner for me, chairs for my family, a TV, small built-in desk, roller table to eat from or type on and an IV pole. The walls go half way up for some privacy but the front is open to the rest of the room.
We waited for about a 1/2 hour before my nurse, Helen, came to explain everything to me. Then she hooked me up to my first drug, Emend. That is the anti-nausea drug. It will last for 2-3 days and should help me stay on top of the side effect so I will not feel sick. They gave me another anti-nausea drug and a dose of steroids. My back has not felt this good in months. We think the drugs possibly took down the swelling therefore helps to ease the pain. Apparently these drugs give people so much energy that the day after treatment they are scrubbing their entire house or out running every possible errand. I will keep you posted on how they make me feel.
It is 1:06pm and we are once again waiting. This time we are waiting for the nurse to come and administer the Adriamycin. This is the red chemo drug. Not only does it cause your hair to fall out, but my pee can also turn red! Only for a day or two, but it is pretty funny. Before they can actually give you the drugs, 2 nurses need to check your ID bracelet information against the information on the chemo medicine. I am glad they do that because I would be EXTREMELY pissed if they gave me someone else's drugs.
Adriamycin was pushed through in about 20 minutes. We talked to the nutritionist the entire time and it was done before we knew it. I had to chew on ice the entire time to help prevent mouth sores from forming. Helen said if I were to have a serious reaction to the drug it would have happened in the first 10 minutes. Nothing happened, so that is a good sign. I went to the bathroom afterwards and my pee was a bright shade of red-orange. Good thing they warned me about that. I could see how that would be an alarming surprise.
It is 2:27pm and I am getting my final drug, Cytoxan. This is through a IV drop and takes about 30 minutes. The weirdest thing that could happen today is lots of sneezing or watery eyes because it can irritate your sinuses. So far, no sneezing! Dealt with a slightly odd, hard to identify smell, but it's wasn't too overwhelming. A little tightening of the sinuses but that has already calmed down a bunch.
It is 3:47pm and my port is out. They flushed my port with some saline (yucky taste) and Heperin to prevent a blood clot and then covered with a bandaid. I could not feel a thing. Maybe that nurse was right. Maybe I will love my port.
I am leaving today with a plethora of knowledge, tons of pamphlets and lifted spirits. This process was easier than I thought. I know I still have the side effects to worry about, but the hardest part is done. The first trip down here is finished.
I can check one treatment off my to-do list.
*PS. I have been checking Facebook, email and texts all day. The pink pictures REALLY kept us (me, Frank and mom) going. We are so moved by the amount of people who are sending their love and support. THANK YOU!
For those of you wondering, it is now 7:04pm. I just went to the bathroom and my pee is back to its natural color. Oh, and because mother-nature doesn't care if a person is getting chemo...I got my monthly visitor! (Sorry guys, told you this blog might make you cringe, ha).
On another note: Hudson is now walking around the coffee table and removing his hands to balance himself. This chemo and soon-to-come radiation better heal me quickly. I have a baby to chase around.
We arrived a few minutes after 9am (the fastest drive so far), checked into the oncologist's office, walked down the hall and checked in at the infusion center. Then waited about 15 minutes for my blood work (of course I was in the bathroom when they called my name!). They took my vital signs and then we waited another 10 minutes for the nurse to come over to access my port and draw my blood.
The port access was much easier than I expected. The port is located in a vein that leads directly to your heart, so it has to be a very sterile process The nurse wears a mask so that she doesn't accidentally breath onto your port. I had to turn my head away and she cleaned the entire area with stinky alcohol, which made my nostrils burn and eyes water. Once the area was clean it was time to stick in the needle. During the drive down today, I applied the Lidocaine cream all over the area to numb the skin. Man did that work well. I did not feel ANYTHING! Thank you very much Lidocaine, you finally came through for me. After failing me during so many procedures you actually did your job, you numbed me.
After the labs were drawn we went back down the hall to the oncologist's office. We were put in a room right away and waited about 5 minutes for the doctor. She listened to my heart and felt my lymph nodes and answered some of my questions.
Then, we went back down the hall again to infusion (good thing I am able to walk without too much of a problem). They gave us booth 10. It is equipped with a recliner for me, chairs for my family, a TV, small built-in desk, roller table to eat from or type on and an IV pole. The walls go half way up for some privacy but the front is open to the rest of the room.
We waited for about a 1/2 hour before my nurse, Helen, came to explain everything to me. Then she hooked me up to my first drug, Emend. That is the anti-nausea drug. It will last for 2-3 days and should help me stay on top of the side effect so I will not feel sick. They gave me another anti-nausea drug and a dose of steroids. My back has not felt this good in months. We think the drugs possibly took down the swelling therefore helps to ease the pain. Apparently these drugs give people so much energy that the day after treatment they are scrubbing their entire house or out running every possible errand. I will keep you posted on how they make me feel.
It is 1:06pm and we are once again waiting. This time we are waiting for the nurse to come and administer the Adriamycin. This is the red chemo drug. Not only does it cause your hair to fall out, but my pee can also turn red! Only for a day or two, but it is pretty funny. Before they can actually give you the drugs, 2 nurses need to check your ID bracelet information against the information on the chemo medicine. I am glad they do that because I would be EXTREMELY pissed if they gave me someone else's drugs.
Adriamycin was pushed through in about 20 minutes. We talked to the nutritionist the entire time and it was done before we knew it. I had to chew on ice the entire time to help prevent mouth sores from forming. Helen said if I were to have a serious reaction to the drug it would have happened in the first 10 minutes. Nothing happened, so that is a good sign. I went to the bathroom afterwards and my pee was a bright shade of red-orange. Good thing they warned me about that. I could see how that would be an alarming surprise.
It is 2:27pm and I am getting my final drug, Cytoxan. This is through a IV drop and takes about 30 minutes. The weirdest thing that could happen today is lots of sneezing or watery eyes because it can irritate your sinuses. So far, no sneezing! Dealt with a slightly odd, hard to identify smell, but it's wasn't too overwhelming. A little tightening of the sinuses but that has already calmed down a bunch.
It is 3:47pm and my port is out. They flushed my port with some saline (yucky taste) and Heperin to prevent a blood clot and then covered with a bandaid. I could not feel a thing. Maybe that nurse was right. Maybe I will love my port.
I am leaving today with a plethora of knowledge, tons of pamphlets and lifted spirits. This process was easier than I thought. I know I still have the side effects to worry about, but the hardest part is done. The first trip down here is finished.
I can check one treatment off my to-do list.
Here I am in my cubicle, typing away to keep everyone updated.
*PS. I have been checking Facebook, email and texts all day. The pink pictures REALLY kept us (me, Frank and mom) going. We are so moved by the amount of people who are sending their love and support. THANK YOU!
For those of you wondering, it is now 7:04pm. I just went to the bathroom and my pee is back to its natural color. Oh, and because mother-nature doesn't care if a person is getting chemo...I got my monthly visitor! (Sorry guys, told you this blog might make you cringe, ha).
On another note: Hudson is now walking around the coffee table and removing his hands to balance himself. This chemo and soon-to-come radiation better heal me quickly. I have a baby to chase around.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Chemo Prep
I have been scouring the internet to find advice about what to take to chemo treatments. I have found some very helpful entries and I have compiled my own list of "necessities" based on this information.
My husband often tells me I pack too much. "No one needs this huge suitcase for a weekend trip to the shore. You do not need 45 diapers for one night. We are just going to my parents. What is all this stuff?" (I am taking some creative license here, but he has said similar things many times). Anyway, I was a Girl Scout from first grade through senior year of high school and if I learned anything it was, "always be prepared!" I would rather have too many options than not enough. That being said, I plan to fill the car with anything I may possibly need and send my mom and husband out to grab what I need (sorry guys).
Pillow & Blanket - I know they will have some there, but they will be all hospital-ly. I have too many bad memories of hospitals over the last few years, so I need my own, comfortable, soft pillow and blanket with me. Everything I have read mentioned the chemo room may be cold or the drugs may make you feel cold.
Mints & Jolly Ranchers- To suck on in case the medicine gives me a metallic taste.
Snacks - I have a very hard time deciding what to take because everyone warned me that whatever foods a person eats during chemo are later associated with it and the person does not like them anymore. How do I choose foods to eat now knowing I will probably never want them again? I tried to choose foods that I feel "take it or leave it" about:
- granola bars
- raisins
- applesauce
- Fig Newtons
- cottage cheese
- peanut butter crackers
- Chex Mix
- Fruit snacks
- Goldfish crackers
Hydration - I will have my 24oz insulated, breast cancer cup and a Glacier Freeze Gatorade with me. It is important to flush your system during and after chemo to move the toxins out of your body as quickly as possible.
Laptop & Samsung Galaxy Tablet - Yes, both are needed. I want to blog while I am there and I cannot do it on my tablet because I need an actual keyboard. I also have games on my tablet, like Draw Something, that I cannot play on my laptop. I have Netflix and can watch movies while I am there, but would prefer to do that on the laptop because the screen is larger. I also want to work on my photo book for Hudson and I cannot do that on my tablet. I will use BOTH to go on Facebook throughout the day to see all of the PINK support posted.
Other Entertainment - I may take magazines, books and some crochet projects that were started a few years ago and forgotten. I do have an afghan that is more than half finished. Maybe it will be done by the summer and I can use it in my bedroom. The colors will go perfectly with our freshly painted walls (thanks dad & Claudia).
Cute, Comfy Outfit - I went to Target and got a workout outfit that is both cute and comfortable. I wanted to promote the pink while I was there so I made sure to get a pink shirt and jacket with a pink zipper. The neon argyle socks are my favorite part (Fun fact: I have over 100 pairs of fun-printed socks. Some I have had since 8th grade when I made a bet with a kid that I would never wear solid white socks again. I think I have kept to that for all but maybe 2-3 days over the past 15 years, honestly!). I will even be wearing pink undies! I chose a looser, v-neck shirt so that the nurses have easy access to my port. It is located on my left side a few inches below my collar bone.
My mom's friend from high school sent me a cute neon pink tank and zip-up hoodie sweatshirt. It was so thoughtful of her. Now I have 2 pink options for my treatments!
My husband often tells me I pack too much. "No one needs this huge suitcase for a weekend trip to the shore. You do not need 45 diapers for one night. We are just going to my parents. What is all this stuff?" (I am taking some creative license here, but he has said similar things many times). Anyway, I was a Girl Scout from first grade through senior year of high school and if I learned anything it was, "always be prepared!" I would rather have too many options than not enough. That being said, I plan to fill the car with anything I may possibly need and send my mom and husband out to grab what I need (sorry guys).
Pillow & Blanket - I know they will have some there, but they will be all hospital-ly. I have too many bad memories of hospitals over the last few years, so I need my own, comfortable, soft pillow and blanket with me. Everything I have read mentioned the chemo room may be cold or the drugs may make you feel cold.
Mints & Jolly Ranchers- To suck on in case the medicine gives me a metallic taste.
Snacks - I have a very hard time deciding what to take because everyone warned me that whatever foods a person eats during chemo are later associated with it and the person does not like them anymore. How do I choose foods to eat now knowing I will probably never want them again? I tried to choose foods that I feel "take it or leave it" about:
- granola bars
- raisins
- applesauce
- Fig Newtons
- cottage cheese
- peanut butter crackers
- Chex Mix
- Fruit snacks
- Goldfish crackers
Hydration - I will have my 24oz insulated, breast cancer cup and a Glacier Freeze Gatorade with me. It is important to flush your system during and after chemo to move the toxins out of your body as quickly as possible.
Laptop & Samsung Galaxy Tablet - Yes, both are needed. I want to blog while I am there and I cannot do it on my tablet because I need an actual keyboard. I also have games on my tablet, like Draw Something, that I cannot play on my laptop. I have Netflix and can watch movies while I am there, but would prefer to do that on the laptop because the screen is larger. I also want to work on my photo book for Hudson and I cannot do that on my tablet. I will use BOTH to go on Facebook throughout the day to see all of the PINK support posted.
Other Entertainment - I may take magazines, books and some crochet projects that were started a few years ago and forgotten. I do have an afghan that is more than half finished. Maybe it will be done by the summer and I can use it in my bedroom. The colors will go perfectly with our freshly painted walls (thanks dad & Claudia).
Cute, Comfy Outfit - I went to Target and got a workout outfit that is both cute and comfortable. I wanted to promote the pink while I was there so I made sure to get a pink shirt and jacket with a pink zipper. The neon argyle socks are my favorite part (Fun fact: I have over 100 pairs of fun-printed socks. Some I have had since 8th grade when I made a bet with a kid that I would never wear solid white socks again. I think I have kept to that for all but maybe 2-3 days over the past 15 years, honestly!). I will even be wearing pink undies! I chose a looser, v-neck shirt so that the nurses have easy access to my port. It is located on my left side a few inches below my collar bone.
My mom's friend from high school sent me a cute neon pink tank and zip-up hoodie sweatshirt. It was so thoughtful of her. Now I have 2 pink options for my treatments!
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
A Quick Update
I realized I never gave an update following the post after my radiation was canceled on Friday. Unfortunately the x-ray machine needed to direct the gamma ray within 1mm of the tumor needed a new part. That part was coming from England so no radiation again today :(. I did find out yesterday so I was able to make today worth my while.
I went to the dentist because my 6 month check-up was supposed to be March 30 and that would be right in the midst of chemo. Plus, the information packet from the hospital suggested patients go to the dentist before starting chemo. I am cavity free. Thank goodness because I'm pretty sure if I needed a filling I would fall off the deep end.
At this point, chemo is DEFINITELY happening this Thursday, March 7. As for radiation, I am scheduled for March 15. That way I will have a week to recuperate after chemo.
I am happy something is moving forward, but disappointed radiation was not first. I am dreaming of pain relief and chemo will not offer that until months into treatment. So, the aftermath of this treatment will most likely be worse than others because I will still be suffering from the back pain. Fingers crossed that things are not as bad as I foresee them in my head.
I went to the dentist because my 6 month check-up was supposed to be March 30 and that would be right in the midst of chemo. Plus, the information packet from the hospital suggested patients go to the dentist before starting chemo. I am cavity free. Thank goodness because I'm pretty sure if I needed a filling I would fall off the deep end.
At this point, chemo is DEFINITELY happening this Thursday, March 7. As for radiation, I am scheduled for March 15. That way I will have a week to recuperate after chemo.
I am happy something is moving forward, but disappointed radiation was not first. I am dreaming of pain relief and chemo will not offer that until months into treatment. So, the aftermath of this treatment will most likely be worse than others because I will still be suffering from the back pain. Fingers crossed that things are not as bad as I foresee them in my head.
Friday, March 1, 2013
Bump in the Road
So, Frank and I were half way to Jefferson Hospital this morning when my phone rang. It was a nurse calling to CANCEL my radiation because the machine is broken. I cannot believe this. I was so upset and confused. Apparently the engineers at Jeff are not able to fix the problem so the manufacturer needs to come. They swear I can have radiation on Monday because the company is able to expedite parts and fix machines on the weekends. I hope so, because I NEED this treatment. I am so stressed thinking about the fact that the cancer cells are multiplying with each passing day.
I will know by this afternoon if they can fit me in on Monday. As of right now, my oncologist said we can stay on schedule with the start of my chemo. Stay tuned for updates throughout the day as I get them.
UPDATE: The machine's part will not be in until Monday morning. So....I will be getting radiation on TUESDAY, March 5 at 11:30. Here's hoping this actually happens. I was so mentally prepared for it today.
I am taking today as a chance to catch up on things. I am uploading pictures onto Shutterfly so that I can work on Hudson's first year of life yearbook. I am also going to work on his baby book. There are so many post-its stuck in there. I need to write the information on the pages. I threw some laundry in too (but Frank will help with most of that). I am also going to take advantage of this weekend and hopefully see some friends/family. I had planned to rest and heal from the treatment, but instead, I will use this three-day weekend as a mini-staycation:)
I will know by this afternoon if they can fit me in on Monday. As of right now, my oncologist said we can stay on schedule with the start of my chemo. Stay tuned for updates throughout the day as I get them.
UPDATE: The machine's part will not be in until Monday morning. So....I will be getting radiation on TUESDAY, March 5 at 11:30. Here's hoping this actually happens. I was so mentally prepared for it today.
I am taking today as a chance to catch up on things. I am uploading pictures onto Shutterfly so that I can work on Hudson's first year of life yearbook. I am also going to work on his baby book. There are so many post-its stuck in there. I need to write the information on the pages. I threw some laundry in too (but Frank will help with most of that). I am also going to take advantage of this weekend and hopefully see some friends/family. I had planned to rest and heal from the treatment, but instead, I will use this three-day weekend as a mini-staycation:)
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