carolmcb's Cancer Blog
January 15, 2008
| Chemotherapy for January 14, 2008 | Views: 1110 |
(The reason that these posts are so long is that I use these to jog my own memory about what has happened and when it happened. I’m too lazy to keep a separate diary.)
I had the last round in this cycle of chemotherapy yesterday. I’m sure that it won’t be my last round of chemo. For that, I thank the Lord. My condition was so bad to begin with, I think of chemo as a gift in my life.
The last two appointments were at 7:30 in the morning. Not a good time and really impossible to make on time. However, being late is not from lack of trying on our part. We get up at 5:30 and get ready to be there at 7:15 for the blood draw. However, the nurses that do the blood draws aren’t really open for business until after 7:30. So, I’m always late to chemo. Lack of coordination between 2 closely related departments of the same hospital located only one floor away from each other. No more 7:30 appointments for me.
Other than being late to chemo and my blood and urine results being a little late this session of chemo went fairly well. My main problem with early chemo is that my usual chemo nurse isn’t in that early and I have missed her. She is great. I know that she will be off at some point in the next couple on months since she is having a baby and I want to try and get on a schedule for chemo that lets me have my favorite nurse until she has her baby.
The nurse I had yesterday was OK. She was nice but she was pulling hard on the tubing attached to my port when she was hooking me up to the IV machine. She didn’t notice even when I came half way out of the chair to keep the tubing from being pulled out. I also had to ask for a blanket and pillow. This is what the nurses are automatically supposed to ask you about. But to be fair, she was adjusting to a new patient and what I was taking for chemo. She was very attentive to being sure that the meds were correct and being sure that I wasn’t having any side effects from the pre-treatment, the Taxol or the Avastin. I’d rather have to ask for a blanket than have the wrong med.
When the clerk scheduled my chemo appointments for this cycle, she also scheduled an ultrasound on my thyroid. Trying to save my husband and me an extra trip to the medical center, she scheduled it for yesterday afternoon. I really didn’t notice at the time. Of course, later when I looked over my schedule, I was upset. All I feel like doing after chemo, especially the long chemo session which yesterday was, is go home a lay down on the sofa. A problem with my thyroid was identified when I had my mastectomy but never really resolved. Was it a goiter or mets from the breast cancer. The last bone scan seems to lean toward the goiter position. So, it was really past time to get this question resolved. If it isn’t cancer, then I need get treatment for the thyroid problem.
We got through with chemo before 11:30 and the ultrasound wasn’t until 2:30. So, we ate at the McDonald’s at the medical center instead of having a healthy lunch at the hospital cafeteria. My fault, I had a craving for McNuggets and fries. Why? Well, I’m sure that it’s the fault of the chemo drugs. At least that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Any way, it didn’t agree with me. So there I sit with stomach cramps and pain, pain, pain.
Any way, at about 1:30 my husband gets me to agree to go check in early for the ultrasound. Since it listed Radiology for the ultrasound location, I went to the main radiology check-in at the medical center. Right outside was a gentleman who asked if he could help us and he did. He found out that the ultrasound was located in out-patient radiology in the clinic area. That is, of course, where the cancer clinic and the chemo treatment area are. These two areas, while in the same huge building, are quite a distance apart. He offered to show us the most direct route and took us to where the check-in was for the ultrasound. Turns out he was a doctor there. Can you believe! (That was the third person that stopped us in less than 10 minutes asking if they could help. The hospital must be having some type of program going on relative to “customer service”. I’m not saying that employees haven’t been helpful in the past but that was when you asked for help. These people yesterday were totally unsolicited.)
Anyway, I checked in at 1:30. The check-in clerk said it was very unlikely that they could take me before my scheduled time but that she would let them know I was there. Five minutes later I’m called for the ultrasound and at 2:00 my husband and I are on our way to the parking garage. My husband says we should have checked it right after chemo and we might have been out of there by 12:00. I think we probably would have been sitting there for hours.
I couldn’t really tell from the ultrasound’s technician’s reaction what the results may be. I’ll have to wait a week until my scheduled doctor’s appointment. That is, unless the results are so bad that they call in me.
Well, today I have my usual minor dizziness. This starts 12 to 24 hours after chemo and lasts about the same length of time. It’s irritating and I can’t even think of driving.
However, I am so grateful that I seem to be doing well. I have been blessed with relative minor side effects from chemo. You know that you are doing well when you are bored and looking for activities to do outside your home and sofa.
I think of all of you and the wonderful fight you put up against our enemy, cancer. I wanted to share this good news story with you. My sister-in-law’s cousin has been fighting breast cancer for over 4 years. It was turning into a loosing battle. She had developed tumor sites that were becoming visible through her skin. Rather as a last resort, they put her on Avastin. In one month, she has had a dramatic turn around and her doctors are greatly encouraged about her condition. This is an additional encouragement to me since I am also on Avastin.
Good luck to all of us this year.
09.13.08 - 
Thanks for your support -
Carol – That sounds like a long day and it started so early. Glad to hear they folks at the hospital were so helpful and you sound fantastic. In great spirits. Thanks for the update! Jill
What wonderful news about your sister in laws sister! Ihave heard that about Avastin (sp?). Sounds like a very promising drug. Good luck to you being on it too Jill!
I meant to say your sister in laws ‘cousin’. :-)