Amy's Cancer Story

Today ended up being the day that chemo started.  Dr. Ellis also told me that the results from my Pet-CT scan were all clear.  Thank God. What a blessing.   I was a very nervous about that one.  He went over the drugs that I will need to take and explained everything.  He said that everything looks good to start.  My hubby brought his laptop and worked from there so he could take care of me.

I was tickled pink to learn more about my schedule.  Last time I had heavy meds for four days in a row.  This time I go one day every three weeks.  My mouth dropped.  I could not believe it.  That is heaven for a chemo schedule.  There still we be a lot of possible side effects.  I think my ears are even rings a bit now, as it will effect my hearing.

I went and sat down in a small cubical in the chemo area.  There are about 5-6 cubicles and each cubicle has anywhere from 2-5 recliners in the along with a TV.  So along came my nurse who’s name is Anne.  She took care of me many times when I was there before, so it was great to see her.  She is the only nurse that is still there from 3 1/2 years ago.

The first thing they had to do was hook the needle up to my port and take some blood and get labs on them.  They check platelet levels and other things.  Before you get your chemo you get pre-meds.  Pre-meds can vary depending on the chemo.  I got an antibiotic and an allergy med, Benadryl and maybe one other durg.  Last time, I had Amend in pill form before chemo for allergy prevention.  Sometimes chemo can cause you can break out in hives as well as other types of reactions.

Well it was kind of embarrassing being in the room with my after they gave me the benadryl.   It took me for a loop.  I got dizzy and felt very strange.  You should have been there.  I was talking to the girl next to me who was being treated also.  I was trying to talk to her and my hubby said I was slurring my words.  I was spelling all kind of words incorrectly into whatever I was doing on the computer.    The nurse said it was normal .  . . geeze.   It was like I was drunk or something.  He and I both had our computers out and I was planning on getting some real estate work done.  He gently took  my laptop from me because of my crazy temporary condition.  I did not argue and went to sleep for an hour.  During that time they gave me two drugs  Taxotere and Cytoxan.    Then it was time to go and we got some lunch on the way home.

I always meet interesting people while I am sitting there.  The girl next to me also had breast cancer.  She was only a couple of years younger than me.  Her story is much worse.  Her cancer had spread to tumors on her liver, kidneys and into her bones.  Her pelvis broke because her bones got so weak.  The break was the thing that got her in to get check out.  She was very cheery considering her circumstances.

She had been living in Ohio, grew up in the Pittsburgh area and was thinking of moving.  She told me her brother asked her where she wanted to live and get treated so she picked Pittsburgh.  He rented her a loft in the city with enough room for her parents to come and stay with her while she is being treated.  Her brother highly recommended Dr. Ellis.  She also has to be in a wheel chair because the doctors said her bones were too weak to hold her and some could be at danger of breaking.   I hope that I get to chat with her again.  She said she will be there every Wednesday.  She said Dr.  Ellis thinks she has a pretty good chance of getting cured.  That is great considering how long she went with out being diagnosed.

I did show a house this morning and my manager helped me out immensely by writing up the offer on it for me while I was at chemo.  I feel a little strange so far today, but it is not as bad as last time.   Tomorrow I have to run back the office for a shot in my arm called Neulasta.  This shot will help my body fight infection.

Please have patience with me as I write these entries, as I am usually writing them at night while very tired.  So I know so you may see some humorous errors.  Thanks!  and thank you for your thoughts and prayers.

Good night.  🙂