3rd Chemo

Good day all, sorry for the long wait between posts.  I had my third treatment on July 14. 

3 down!  How u like that wig?  Cute colors, feels like me =)

There really needs to be a better word than 'treatment' because it really is no treat.  This one really put me down a bit longer than the other 2.  I had been so hopeful feeling so good following the 2nd treatment, but this one was a bit harder.  I believe that maybe the drugs are starting to build up in my system and thus it is taking longer for me to recover?  Not quite sure, I'll ask on this Thursday when I go in again.
So, as I mentioned before, the chemo is systemic (it goes through the whole body, not localized) and an early side effect is Thrush, a flare up of a fungus called Candida, which we all have a little bit of in our mouths, but the chemo causes it to really go out of whack.  There is a diet I tried to keep it at bay...no gluten (pasta, potatoes), fruit, sugar, sweetener, dairy (Nooooo!!!)).  So I am super hungry usually following treatment and I decided to go for a salad...didn't have any protein, which was probably a mistake.  As usual, I was super tired and was pretty nauseous that evening, enough to take some of the anti-nausea meds they had given me on week 1, Compazine and Ativan.   I guess they helped.  Anyway, I don't think the salad was a good idea, given that the thought of roasted red peppers and hearts of palm make me want to...well, you know :-S  I'm going to try rice milk and rice cereal this time and see how that goes.
So, at any rate I was really not feeling my best again until about the following Wednesday, whereas after the previous treatments I was pretty much okay by Monday.  I had my blood work done on Thursday and my WBC's (white blood cells) were good, but this time my Red's were off the low end of the spectrum.  That Neulasta shot I get is just for the whites.  Hopefully, I won't need the shot for the RBC's, as I hear that is a stinger.  A low RBC count can cause fatigue, weakness, headache, dizzy or lightheaded-ness.  I was experiencing fatigue and was a bit lightheaded at times.

Oh, a little something about the phenomenon of 'chemo brain'.  I was a bit forgetful to begin with, but I have noticed a change in really struggling to find a word sometimes, or while speaking, in the middle of a sentence, completely forget where I was going with it.  Again, I've done that before, but I notice it is happening more frequently now.  I can recover and find words and thoughts again, but it takes a minute.  It's a bit disconcerting, but hopefully it doesn't get any worse.  Also, my typing has gone down hill quite a bit, probably a combination of the neuropathy and the chemo brain.
So again, I'll say I am thankful and blessed as the side effects I have experienced have been completely normal and the severity of them is pretty mild.

On the ME side of things, that don't include cancer, it's peach time out at McConnells' Farm in Independence Twp, PA.  I'll stake my big toe on the fact that you have never had a better peach than that from my dad's family's farm.  So if you can, get out there and enjoy, I know I am (candida be damned, there are important things in life)!  Also, have enjoyed 2 screenings of the last Harry Potter movie with good friends Kirsten and Patty, as well as Horrible Bosses with my buddy Christy.  Also, a Happy Birthday to my sweet cousin Ashley and my love, Brandon.  Lots of good things going on, and I am thankful for them all.  And all of you, my wonderful readers and cheerleaders.  I get a follow up scan after the next chemo...not sure if it will be that day...probably the week following.  I'll keep you posted =)  Hodge, we're coming for you!!

Hair Shaving and Chemo Treatment #2

A bit delayed on this post, my apologies.  By now, many have seen the new 'do so without further ado...

It was a family affair, the shaving of the hair.

The stylist prepares her first cut.

Gosh, I sure am happy about this whole thing!

Taking down the right side first...

Then the left.

Then, a little clean up in the back.

Flock of Seagulls, flying backwards.

Time to put the hair UP!

Dig it, right?

We do, too.

Really, if you have to lose your hair, and can have some say over when and how...have fun with it.  Have fun with this whole stinking process.  I was so happy and grateful to be with my family during this time.  We had a blast.  I rocked out the mohawk for the 4th of July picnic.  Really, a good look for me, I think.  But, it's really more of a day look...like...a one day look.  Anyway at the end of the party, it was time for the rest to go.  ::Sadface::

Ready.  Set.

Go!

Going...

Going...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GONE!

Yes, it is a sad, disturbing process when your hair starts to come out.  It is okay to acknowledge this.  Acknowledge all of it.  Face that cancer and say,' Yeah, I'm taking you down'.  But those sad and scared moments are real too.  And there's nothing wrong with those.  I choose not dwell on those and just aim to be happy and well each day.  It's working quite well.   I only had smiles and laughs on the day my head was shaved.  I was ready.  It was on my terms.  And I had great people all around me.

So, I am fully embracing Bald is Beautiful:

Ooh, and you can see my port, on the left side of my chest.

But, for those of you guessing on the wig...

Ta-DA! #6

I went with Sean's Signature Salon in Sewickely for the convenience to my location, and the service I received from them was certainly top notch.  I have this ordered in a different color, but they were kind enough to give me the one in the shop on loan until I could get mine on the 12th.  It doesn't usually take that long, but Sean was out of the salon this past week. It is pretty comfortable for the most part, but I do get a headache if I wear it all day at work.



So as you might be able to tell, I have been feeling pretty darn good.  The side effects from the 2nd treatment were MUCH more manageable. Still got tired very easily the first 3-4 days following treatment.  Had a bit of thrush in the mouth, so continuing to take some anti-fungal meds.  Fun.  I did see something online for a diet to follow to mitigate the occurrence of thrush.  Looked pretty bland.  And no fruit or dairy, which is probably what caused me to have it in the first place.  Fruit was the one food I was craving the first few days following the treatment.  I'll try to stave that off for the next treatment and see if that helps.  Bone pain was just an ache this time.  Annoying and twitchy feeling, but not even bad enough for me to take any ibuprofen.
Day 7,  blood work looks good...my white blood cell (WBC) was up from 4 to 6.7.  Hemoglobin= 11.4, Platelets, 256.Great website for understanding blood work.
Met with Dr. Raj and went over the side effects I was experiencing and he thinks that with the improvement in my breathing and strength of voice that the chemo is working well and we are on the right track.  I will have a follow up PET-scan after the 2nd cycle ( 2 more treatments) to see what the masses look like then and determine the further course of treatment.

So, all in all, doing very well.  I'll check back in in the next few days.  Thanks for all the great comments, too!  They always brighten up my day.

Stay classy,

 E