Hair in the Breeze

I forgot to mention that two weeks ago when I was packing the car to get ready for the Aerosmith concert......I felt my hair move in the breeze! Well, it was more like a windstorm than a breeze, but needless to say it took me by surprise. It's been such a long time since I have felt the hair on top of my head do anything let alone move!

But don't get too excited. I am not close to revealing a new hairdo by any means. However, if you want to know what a human chiapet looks like come on by and you can take a look.

Dr. Potvin told Kim that 85% of patients start to have their hair come back on the Taxol. So I hope that my hair continues to grow. However, I could still lose my eyebrows and eye lashes. Won't I be cute?

Love CJ

Guilt

Sometimes I struggle with what to write on my blog. I feel like I'm just repeating myself a lot of the time. The life of a cancer patient gets pretty boring I must admit. And the freakin' weather doesn't help either. Can we get some sunshine please!

The aches and pains started to subside on Saturday, so ultimately things didn't get too uncomfortable. Although I am not really looking forward to going back for more.

I did get very exhausted on the weekend though. I could barely get out of bed on Sunday. I just kept lying in bed thinking that I needed to force myself to get up. Sean and Sydney were home and I felt I needed to be up and around. Guilt, guilt, guilt.

At least when my chemo was on Fridays, I seemed to make it through the weekend okay and then the first week when Sean and Sydney were out of the house during the day I could just lay around on my own during the day (guilt free) and then have some energy for when they came home. Now that my chemo is on Mondays, the following weekend is when I seem the most fatigued.

I know I shouldn't worry about it, but I feel so selfish lying around doing nothing when they are home. Something else for me to work on - yeah!

The good news is that I have felt more like myself the past two days, so the worst is behind me.

Three more to go. I can't wait for December 18th.

Love CJ

New Side Effects

Yesterday the side effects from the Taxol started to arrive.

It's pretty much like Dr. Potvin described it would be. I feel like I have the aches and pains of the flu (from the waist down). So far things aren't too uncomfortable.

I have started to get the tingling in my feet a bit too, but I find if I keep moving it's not so bad.

I am a bit anxious because with the new drugs you just sit around waiting to see how your body is going to react, not knowing how bad it's going to be. Perhaps once I have been through this first cycle and know what to expect, I will settle in again.

I'm off to yoga now at Wellspring.

Other than that, there's nothing much new to report.

Love CJ

Round 5B - Ding!

We got back from the hospital around 3:45 p.m. and I am happy to say that things went well.

We arrived at 9:45 and they called us in at 10:00 and everything got started.

From now on before each infusion of both Herceptin and Taxol I will get three drugs by IV. Benadryl, Renitadine (Zantac) and Stemetil. Prior to that at 12 and 6 hours before the infusion (starting on Sunday) I take 5 dexemethosone at each time.

Dexemethosone is prescribed to stop any potential allergic reactions to the drugs given.

Benedryl and Renitadine are also given to stop any potential allergic reactions. This time the Benedryl was not quite so potent going it as the IV drip was over about 20 minutes. I still was completely doped up and slept for 1.5 hours, but the immediate effect wasn't as bad as Friday.

Stemetil is given to avoid any potential nausea or vomitting - which again could be a reaction to the Taxol during the infusion.

Today was just the Taxol infusion and it lasted from 10 am to about 3:15 p.m. and then I was free to go. Next time they will give me the Herceptin and Taxol together on the same day. Since there is about a 30 minute wait between the drugs and then a 1.5 hour infusion time for Herceptin it will end up being an 7.5 - 8 hour day for the last 3 rounds.

Needless to say I am tired of lying around....but feeling pretty good otherwise.

Now we wait until around Wednesday to see what side effects will come from the Taxol infusion.

So that's it. 3 more to go.

Thanks again for all of your well wishes, comments and e-mails. Every little bit helps.

Love CJ

Bumper Sticker

Mike and I saw the best bumper sticker on the way to the concert last Wednesday.

I'm Too Sexy For My Hair, That's Why There Isn't Any There!

Both being bald, we thought that was hilarious. I MUST order one for my car.

Off to the hospital for Round 5B. Will write again soon.

Love CJ

Feeling Better

Just a short note tonight to let everyone know that I am feeling pretty good today. After yesterday's scare (which hopefully won't happen next time), I am feeling somewhat normal.

The A/C drugs always gave me that metallic taste in my mouth and I always had the feeling that I had to keep food in my stomach to keep it settled. I don't have any of that this time. I am still tired, but so far not as fatigued as in the past. We shall see how the rest of the weekend goes.

I am a little anxious about Monday since I am getting infused with yet another new drug (Taxol), but at least I will have the other drugs before the Taxol and hopefully I won't have a reaction this time. The side effects won't start until around Wednesday and can last up to 4 days. I'll be glad to have this round behind me so I know what to expect for the last three.

Thanks for hanging in with me everyone. The ride's getting a little more bumpy!

Love CJ

Round 5A - Ding!

Today I had my first round of the new drug herceptin. I will have the second drug on Monday (Taxol).

The reason they split up the drugs for the first time is to see whether or not you have a reaction to either drug. Turns out that is a good thing. Because boy did I have a reaction.

The infusion was 1.5 hours and all was going well, other than the fact that I was very cold (they keep the chemo suite rather cool). About 5 minutes after the infusion stopped the pain started. First it started in my lower abdomen and then circled around to my lower back. It was very hard to describe. It was a throbbing pain that moved around my body and would get worse (like a sharpening pain) and subside slightly. Sort of like contractions, but different.

Sean told the nurses right away so my nurse, Judy, came over and was asking me questions about the pain and the pain scale. I just kept thinking "and they want me to come back again for this"? It was very scary. The pain was also starting to move into my chest.

The first thing they did was give me a shot of Benadryl through my port. That seemed to make me feel worse! I was so woosy, the room was spinning and I couldn't even keep my eyes open. I felt like I was going to pass out. The pain did not get better.

Next was a shot of hydracortisone and some renitadine (zantac). The pain started to slowly subside. But wow, does that Benadryl throw you for a loop.

I think this procedure took about 30 minutes to calm everything down. After another 30 minutes I was free to go home. We got home about 1:45. I was alseep by 2:00 p.m. for 3 hours.

So apparently, now that they know I have this reaction they will make sure that I have all of the above mentioned drugs before they infuse the next herceptin (and Taxol for that matter).

Now that I am home I am to potentially expect flu symptoms in the next 24 hours (such as chills, fever, etc.). We'll see what happens.

On a brighter note, the Aerosmith concert in Michigan was awesome. I was very disappointed with the seats we had because we weren't nearly as close as we have been in the past. The seat location was such a letdown, but Steven was awesome. And no, I didn't get backstage.

But there will always be a next time.......

A big thank you to Mike for driving me to the concert. Also a huge thank you to Janine, Diane (Mike's Mom), Keaton and Terran. Mike left behind a very sick Keaton for them to deal with all day while he was with me. I know how tough it was for Mike to do that. I am very thankful to you all.

Love CJ

Aerosmith Concert Today!

Today is the day I get to forget all about cancer.

Mike and I are off to see Aerosmith at the DTE Energy Music Theatre in Michigan. Unfortunately, I won't be getting backstage to meet Steven. But it's not for a lack of trying.

A special thanks to Rosie and Karmen for giving it the good old college try.

I'm happy just to be healthy enough to be going.

Love CJ

Gee Whiz That Hurt!

I went to see my family doctor today to have the dressing removed from the port-a-cath surgery.

Let's just say that I didn't really say "Gee Whiz That Hurt!". I can't believe how painful it was. It was much worse than having my drain removed after the breast cancer surgery.

My doctor just took a hold of the bandage and ripped it off, including the steri strips which I thought were supposed to fall off on their own. Yikes!

I had already taken a tylenol 3 just prior to the appointment in anticipation of some discomfort. But it was so painful (and still is) that it didn't help much at all. Dr. Warsh told me to go home and take 2 more tylenol 3 and lie down.

Well since I had lunch plans I wasn't going to miss out on, I went home took 2 more tylenol 3, lay down for 30 minutes, went for lunch and had a glass of wine. Same thing right? I thought perhaps a little bit of self medication would help.

So I think I will continue with the tylenol for a day or so until it starts to feel a bit better. I'm wondering if the bandage was actually providing some sort of support to the wound.

I dunno - but that smarts!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Love CJ

Some New Drugs

Today I had an unexpected little trip to the cancer clinic. My temperature went up to just over 100, so that means it's time to call the oncologist (Sydney had a fever for a couple of days and was feeling under the weather so you never know what I may have picked up).

I called into the cancer clinic and told them that I had had this fever for a couple of hours, but no other symptoms. Dr. Potvin decided that I should come in for some blood tests since it had been about 12 days since my last chemo and this is when my white blood cell level would be low.

So off I went. They took me in immediately and did some blood tests. My neutrophils (white blood cells) were low as expected. So given the slightly elevated temperature Dr. Potvin decided to give me a dose of antibiotics for 7 days just to be sure.

My temp now is around 99.5 and I still don't have any other symptoms which is good. If my temp goes up or I get the chills, flu, etc., then I'll have to go back and be admitted. But at this point, this isn't something that she expects. As long as I am a good girl and take my drugs then I should be fine.

Time for some rest.

Good night all!

Love CJ