About Pain

Whew! I am feeling much better today. I had a couple pretty rough days with great pain.

What happens is the chemo drugs leak out of my veins, called extravasation.

It starts to occur 2 - 3 days after the drug is administered and lasted this time for 3 days. That is a day longer than the first time. It is my understanding pain and duration will increase with each treatment.

It is an extremely destructive symptom. The pain is severe and persistent and impairs my sleep and appetite, and effects me physically and emotionally.

At one point yesterday, I though I might call off this therapy.

Today, I have had a chance to read about what I can do about pain.

Fortunately, pain can be controlled. I have been reluctant to ask for pain medication but have decided to overcome my reluctance and talk to my doctor about the right narcotics.

I made the mistake of thinking pain was inevitable and builds character. I also have the fear of addiction. The text I read today said that people who have real pain do not become addicted to narcotics, that is is ok to take as much as it takes to have pain control.

So many of us are raised to think taking narcotics is "wrong".

Metallic Taste

Most of the tough symptoms from the chemo has lessened. I am still wobbly on my legs. My appetite is starting to come back although things don't taste quite right (metallic). Taste changes are common during chemotherapy. It is the result of the damage to the cells in the oral cavity. About 50% of patients getting chemotherapy experience taste changes.

Chemo induced Peripheral Neuropathy

One of the side effects of chemotherapy treatment is damage to the peripheral nervous system. This is the system that transmits information between the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and the rest of the body.

During the first round I had tingling and numbness in my fingers and feet/toes.
It came on during the first week and subsided for the most part with the exception of the ends of my thumbs, they remained numb.

This second round has seen the return of the original symptoms and now I have numbness in my face and lips. I am experiencing loss of balance and coordination. I have sharp pain and cramps.

I have read that these symptoms are related to the cumulative dosage of the the drugs.

Good News: These symptoms are temporary and reversible. They usually disappear completely after the treatments are finished, although it can take up to two years.

Tough Day,

but just think, that I am one third of the way through the treatments.

nauseous today

The nurse had a some trouble with my veins today. The vein she used last time (the largest one I have) was damaged by the drugs and the vein had gone hard. The nurse used another vein in the other arm, it was not great. The vein has already gone hard and the upper portion of my arm feeling like someome punched me.

I have no other veins to use and will be getting a PICC (peripherally inserted central catheter). This will be inserted by a separate team who does this procedure, it will happen sometime before my next therapy. This catheter will remain until the end of my treatments. The nurse says I am sensitive to the drugs and my veins are angry.

This is a PICC

Now the great news!!

White count ( infection fighting) 7.4 (normal 4.5 - 10.5)

Red count (made in the bone marrow) 4.1 (normal 4.5 - 5)

Platelets (clotting) 299 (150 - 400)

Hemoglobin (oxygen-carrying) 14 (12 - 18)

They checked my uric acid and my kidneys are good.

Can't Sleep 2:45am

I have to be at the hospital in a few hours and I have not been able to fall asleep.

My brain is on overdrive.

When someone is undergoing chemotherapy, a lot hinges on the blood test results before each chemo session. Low counts can indicate serious side effects, including fatigue, bruising, and increase to infection -- and can also mean that treatment must be postponed while his body heals.

I have my next treatment on Thursday, today I have to go in and have the blood-work done.

Low counts normally don't start presenting a problem until further into the treatments.

I have been eating a rich diet, full of protein, fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants and whole grain cereals and rice.

I will find out my results on Thursday, I suspect they are all good.

More Blessings...... :-)

My grandson's just pop in.... they had something to show Granny.

Thanks for your support guys... and handsome is handsome... with or without hair.

I love you

Waiting

Waiting

By Margaret Warfield

This painting pretty much shows how I am feeling this week. I have my next chemo treatment on Thursday and as much as I have no anxiety issues about the treatment, I do have this sense of waiting. This whole process has been a test of my patience. First waiting to see a doctor, waiting to see a specialist, waiting to find out results of biopsy, waiting to see a surgeon. I then waited to get my surgery, waited to get my pathology, waited to heal, waited to get my chemo schedule. Now I wait between the 21 day schedule of treatments. I have been at this for over 4 months already!

I know this will not be over soon. I will be waiting for that clean bill of health.

Blessings, Blessings, Blessings

Taking it off for Granny

My family are the best!!!

Thanks for your support guys.

Granny loves you so much.

xxxxxx 000000

Beauty School Drop-Out

I bought a couple caps to wear when I don't want to get all gussied up with the wig. The woman at the salon showed me how to twist and tie other scarves on top... how to add fancy pins just over my ears.. and how to augment the cap using other adornments.

I am not sure I am getting the hang of it... I will have to practise.

I have also had to learn how to draw on eyebrows... of course only one eyebrow is disappearing (on the side I sleep on.. it is just kind of rubbing off).

For the life of me I can not get it to look like the other one. I think it will be easier when they both fall off.. hehehehehehe

I'm thinking that I might buy a pair of big hoops for earrings? I think they may take away the "gopher" head look. What do you think?

I am feeling absolutely super this week.

Bare Head

Norm knew I was going to the salon yesterday to have my locks shorn, I was surprised when he came in from work.... naked as a sheared sheep.

New Hair

I love my new hair. I like that it moves and sways... I like that I can put it behind my ear .. I like how it feels, so snug and warm.

You can't see the streaky warm/brown/blonde colour in these webcam photos but they are so natural looking.

My head is really sensitive and tender to touch today. I am really shedding too.

Tomorrow I am going in to get my pre-wig cut.

update: I have an appointment tomorrow at 9:30am at the salon.

I will post the new me pictures tomorrow.

Super Sunday

It is a beautiful day here in the Nations Capital.

I woke up this morning with energy and a feeling of well-being.

I spent the morning at church and this afternoon Norm and I went for a walk through the

Byward Market.

My hair is really thinning but..... no missing clumps yet.

Crushing Fatigue

"AAAUUUUUUGGGGGHHHH!"

Dictionary: Augh is used as a general utterance of frustration and anger. It is also mainly used as an expression of dismay.

The tiredness with chemo is not the ordinary tiredness and it is hard to describe. It is an all-over dragginess. My legs feel like lead and every part of me is made of stone, I move sluggishly in a dreamlike state.

It is difficult to find the energy to walk, to drink, hold a pencil or even have a conversation because of the heaviness in my mind.

Like being pregnant . . .

I wake up every morning with "morning sickness" and crazy cravings. Today I had grilled salmon in maple syrup for breakfast... it was very yummy.
I am craving red meat... I told Norm he better pick me up some or the Cat goes!!!

Hi
I am back from my wig buying trip with my friend Joan..
Caroline (owner of shop) was so amazing. She has a special beautifully decorated showroom at the back of her salon/store. She interviewed me first asking me what my goals were. I told her I only wanted to improve my appearance so that I did not look sick. I am not sick, only going through the side effects of the therapy. We talked about how I like to wear my hair and what I normally do.
The first wig she put on my head was soooooo amazing... it felt and looked so perfect. My friend Joan loved it too.
She also had lots of scarves and head-wraps.. that I could play with and try. Caroline was such a caring person.
She has put my wig aside for me... and when the hair starts to come out in hanks... I need to call. She will then cut my hair appropriately (not too short causing stubble that is uncomfortable under the head-wear) ... and make the necessary adjustments to the wig, fitting, cutting and shaping.
Maurice and Joan took me for a Tim Horton's coffee... and the whole outing was wonderful. Nice to get out... nice to find a perfect solution to my hair loss .. nice to share the whole with loving friends.
Thank you Maurice and Joan... I love you
(I met Maurice and Joan through our mutual friend Jesus)

Chemotherapy

Time Magazine cover June 27, 1949

Effective medicines are usually discovered accidentally, and chemotherapy in no exception.

The lucky accident that made modern cancer chemotherapy possible occurred in 1942, ironically as a result of war. In that year, a United States naval vessel sank while in the harbor at Naples and the containers containing mustard gas it was carrying exploded. When the victims who had been exposed to the poisonous gas were examined, it was found that large numbers of the cells in their bone marrow had disappeared. The significances of this was not lost on C.P. "Dusty" Rhodes, the chief of the biological branch of the U.S. Army Chemical Warfare Service, who was on leave from Memorial Hospital Cancer Center, where he was the director. He began large-scale testing on animals of hundreds of drugs similar to the poisonous gas that went down with the ship. These drugs were found to inhibit lymphoid tumors in animals.

March 8th, 2009

I had to call my onocologist this morning ... my bone pain was getting too difficult. He increased my pain medication. It has improved a bit. He also told me this is a very common reaction to the Taxil.

All the other common symptoms have been controlled. I do not have much of an appetite (now there's a first for me.... hehehehe) but I am finding things that go down good. Bland is good. I am going to make some rice pudding this evening.

I will be glad when these post-drug symptoms subside and I can get out.. I am starting to feel isolated.

My hair has started to fall out already.

March 7th 2009

Tough day.

March 6th, 2009

I am feeling the effects of the drugs today. My face is so red. I look like I have a bad sunburn.

I have not taken any meds today for nausea since 7:30am ... yahooooo

The health nurse came this morning. She took all my vitals and all is well. The HomeCare service is available to me 24/7.

I made a terrific 3 carrot, 1 apple and 5 large red grapes juice today in the juicer. It was terrific.

It is such a good way to get those veggies down easy. I am going to experiment with some other juice recipes.

I got out today for a walk. Jenn and the boys gave me a call and we walked together. That was good for me because I probably would have got bored faster and come home but there is no shortage of entertainment with those two guys. They are so cute.

So, all in all not a bad day.

My walking buddies

March 5th, 2009

Today I spent 6 hours at the Chemotherapy (Gyno) Daycare at the General Hospital.

There were 4 beds and 2 lounge chairs.... and today counting me 14 patients were seen. Only one lady was there as long as me. Some were there for 30 minutes, others longer.

The first hour I received pre-treatment drugs. I will list all the drugs at the end for those who are interested. These drugs were to help me not have an allergic reaction to the chemo drugs and help with nausea. The side effects were drowsiness.... and by 10:00 when they brought me first c-drug I was slurring my words. I slept off and on until 1:30. The nurse was able to find a nice big vein and she thinks she may be able to use it again. ( most times the irritating and caustic nature of the drugs makes the veins hard and they can not be used again)

I tolerated the whole procedure great, with no adverse symptoms. Thank you Jesus.

I had a visit from the Case Manager from Home Care and they are sending a nurse tomorrow to see me. She can give me an injectable anti-nausea drug, as some people have it hit at the 48 hour mark. There is someone on-call 24/7 for anything that comes up.

So, other than red cheeks from one of the drugs I feel the same as I did before I went in.

I will be good tomorrow too. I was told that I will then feel fatigue, nausea and aches and pains in my joints on the third day. This should subside by the end of week two. Oh yah, I was told this about my hair... it will begin to fall out at day 7 should be completely gone by day 14.

I was given a prescription for a wig.... so it can be paid by our drug plan. We were also given a special drug plan that pays 100% of my drugs. Norm has a drug plan that pays 90%, but one of the prescriptions cost 25.00 a pill. We were happy to get the enhanced drug plan.

My cheeks are red from the steroid drug.. it should fade in the next couple days

These drugs were given by IV

Zantaz for tummy acid and anti-allergy to chemo drugs

Decadron steroid for anti-allergy and a stimulant for increase appetite and energy

Benadryl anti-allergy, it reacts with the taxil

Paraplatin chemo drug

Taxol chemo drug



Zofran pills for nausea (have to take for 2 days)

Maxeran pills for nausea (when needed)

Stemetil injection for nausea (when nausea is not controlled by the Maxeran)

March 4th, 2009

I am going to keep a treatment journal for the next several weeks. I thought it would be a good way to keep my friends and family updated.

So, if you are curious about how it's going, take a peek here.