Feeling Darn Good Right After Chemo!

I like this!!!

So It's Saturday morning and I know some are wondering how the 2nd chemo treatment went. BTW, it is called the "Infusion Center", officially. So now I know!!! :-)

And actually, this second chemo went quite well, I must say so far. I'm not sure if it is some of the things I'm doing proactively, or just my body getting better equipped to the meds I'm on. But that evening after treatment was not bad. No seasickness, or hungover feeling. Just a slight headache. I did take my anti-nauseau home meds before going in for treatment, and then the nurse suggested I take two tylenol while there right before the Cytoxan drug part of this AC cocktail I get, and both of these probably helped too.

The bugger is I slept only 5.5 hours that night from 9pm-2:30 am. That had me a bit miffed. But heck, I can deal with that. I hoped to catch a nap on Friday after our trip in the morning for the Neulasta shot, but I just wasn't that sleepy. Last night I took two of the Atavan and it helped a bit -- I slept from 10-4:30am. So that was a bit better. I'm sure it will catch up with me sooner or later, though. I'm predicting a good nap this afternoon.  :-)

I was able to lay low and get a scarf going on my loom yesterday, a nice plaid of green shades. Then sister Nancy came by with pizza for dinner -- how sweet.

I am staying in for a few days and avoiding the cold and crowds. Mark is being so good to keep reminding me that these are the days I need to be cautious about being exposed to bugs and catching cold. So he is doing chores on these days when they keep predicting snow. Once I have 3-4 days for the Neulasta to do it's work, then I feel safer to be in crowds and cold weather. 

Mark is taking such good care of me. I am a lucky girl all around -- blessed in oh so many ways. I just have to remind my self of this from time to time. 

There but for the grace of God, go I.

Hugs, Debbie... aka the cancer warrior; soon to be survivor 

LIVESTRONG: 

I AM STRONG. I AM LOVED. I AM HEALTHY. WE WILL WIN!

Vocabulary of the week

The thing about cancer is that unless you or a loved one close to you has experienced it, or you are in the medical field, there is this whole new world of vocabulary that comes to you. Some of it is scary, some of it is almost funny, and some just plain interesting. 

So, I'm doing my best to get through my latest assignment of reading, Chemotherapy and You ~ Support for People With Cancer, which is a 60 page booklet to inform me on everything I need to know about chemo.  And then I will later go through a Chemo Teaching session with the NP to learn even more!

Thrombocytopenia: low platelet count

Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy: chemo used to make a tumor smaller before surgery or radiation

Port: a small, round disc made of plastic or metal that is placed under the skin. A catheter connects the port to a large vein, most often in the chest. The port is used to insert a needle into it to to give chemo or draw blood.

Infusion Room: The "salon" like looking room where chemo is "infused" into your body.

Chemo is designed to kill fast growing cancer cells. So it can also affect healthy fast growing cells; which include mouth, intestines, bone marrow, hair growth cells. Side affects: fatigue, nausea, vomiting, decreased blood cell count, hair loss, mouth sores, pain. There is also a risk of danger to heart, lungs, nerves, kidneys, reproductive organs.

Feelings during chemo: anxiety, depression, anger, helplessness, lonely, afraid.    HELLO!!!

Hugs, Debbie... aka the cancer warrior

LIVESTRONG:
I AM STRONG. I AM LOVED. I AM HEALTHY. WE WILL WIN!