AC Chemo

To say I was scared is an understatement.  But what else would you expect.  The morning seemed like a dream in some ways, in part because it was so "normal" but also because I never thought I would be doing chemo, at least not at this point in my life.

Of course because we were running late, there was a line to check in.  And coughing people in line in front of me.  One of the things I have to be very careful of is the risk of infection - so I am paying attention to who is around me and who is coughing, sneezing, etc.  Then we went to the 4th floor and waited.  Then my nurse Joy called my name and we walked into the infusion center.  She said we have room/booth 7 available - I hope that is a good sign :-)  As I walked by I could see other people - including a kid of about 15 or so that was getting his chemo . . . there were a lot of people getting chemo :-(

We sat down, Joy went over some information including that she would give me some anti-nausea pills as well as in IV form.  She also explained that I would loose my hair - it would start in a week or two and by the time I was back for my next treatment it would all be gone :-(

The IV antinausea medicine is called Emend and some people have nicknamed it "Amen"  ha ha.  When she hooked it up I felt a cold sensation in the veins of my forearm - weird.  Then we start the Adriamycin chemo . . . this one comes in 2 giant syringes and it looks like cranberry juice.  She also explained that she would inject some of it, then pull back and draw up some blood then flush it with the saline.  Wow, no wonder they call this chemo the "Red Devil".  She was also timing everything so that the right dose was delivered.  I couldn't watch - I did feel a warming effect on the same vein that was just cold from the Emend.

Then she flushed some more saline and set up the Cytoaxan.   This was just a simple IV drip setup and would take about 30 minutes.  A few minutes into it I felt like I had to sneeze, but the sneeze like it wont come out, just a tingling under my nose.  Then I had some sinus pressure, and I eventually sneezed. I guess this is a common reaction to the Cytoaxan.  It went away after an hour or so.

I happened to be located right outside of the restrooms - so I was able to see everyone come in and out of the bathroom - most of them wheeled their drugs with them on the cart thingie.  I did feel like I had to go, but decided I could wait until I was no longer tethered.  One girl who looked like she was also in her 30s and was wearing a beanie happened to walk by as I was explaining that I couldn't look at the nurse pulling up the blood . . . she kindof looked back at me and smiled . . . I wonder if she had this treatment too.

Afterwards I felt OK - kindof a little tingling sensation on my legs and arms, but for the most part I was OK.    We decided to go and look at some wigs and went to a place where Joy recommended in Orange.  This is the 3rd wig shop I have been to and the owner Jenny was really nice - she had breast cancer too.  I tried on several wigs, but it was hard because she didn't have a color similar to mine - and had only a few long wigs.  I want something similar to my hair, but it can have some built in style and the ones that she had weren't exactly what I wanted.  I feel bad because I have been to two small shops with great customer service, but the wig I liked the best was from the store full of kids that weren't helpful at all.  I wish I had the model number of the one from the first store so I could order online.  Online is cheaper, but I really want to see it  . .. decisions decisions.

It was hot in the wig store and I was sweating like a pig . . . we went home to go eat something.  My lovely hubby was making food, but I started to feel groggy and out of it.  I did end up eating some of what he made, but not as much as I wanted to eat and not what I thought - he was making some rice with garlic and onion and I tried one bite and that was it.  I also had some chilie flavored popcorn - probably not the best decision.  My hubby also said that he could see I was swollen.  I agreed.  We watched a movie, but I couldn't get comfortable and just overall felt weird.  I did manage to sleep a little which is good.  I have been drinking water like it is going out of style - but that is good.  So I was up every couple of hours at night and each time I woke I felt more swollen and noticed I was moving very slowly and had a headache.  About 7:30 or so I woke up and was feeling better - less headache and feeling less swollen (I am still swollen, just not as much).  I have been able to eat a little something, but my taste is way off, but I'm eating whatever I can manage and trying to eat several small meals, but still feel like I need to eat more.

If you saw me you probably wouldnt know what is going on other than I look tired and swollen, but I noticed that my skin is starting to have a weird smell . . .

I am not sure if any of this makes sense - I feel like I jumped around a lot and am not as focused as I have been in the past.


Update 10/5/12 - Here is a picture of the Adriamycin (AKA Red Devil Chemo) going in - it was taken from a movie of my first chemo.  I couldnt watch when it was going in, and when they had to make sure they had blood return and I told myself I would not watch the movie until I was done with Adriamycin.  I will upload the video later, but for now, here is a picture.