Five Down, Three to Go!

I can’t believe I am more than halfway through my chemo treatments.  All I can say is that the time has flown by – don’t’ get me wrong, there were some days that dragged – but overall the weeks since my first treatment on March 22 have passed by quickly.  Thank you Jesus!  I can’t wait until this is over.  Chemo sucks big time but believe it or not there are some perks.  On that note I have come up with a list.  Here goes…

1)                   I only have to shave my legs about once a week and I don’t have to shave other areas at all

2)                   No bad hair days

3)                   I spend less time getting ready due to shorter showers (washing my peach fuzz takes less than a minute) and not having to do my hair

4)                   Free services such a facials (thanks to Facelogic in Encinitas) and massages (thanks to my cancer center US San Diego Cancer Center) and attending a beauty class for cancer patients on how to apply makeup, take care of my skin and nails, fashion tips to cover my bald head (they also gave me a bag of free make up and skin products)

5)                   Losing a little weight

6)                   My highlights never fade

7)                   Getting a break from cooking and cleaning

8)                   Finding an awesome support group – thank you Toni!

9)                   Being uplifted in love, care and prayer from family and friends

10)               Growing closer to my Jesus due to my complete trust and faith in Him

As I stated in my last update this past treatment on May 17^th was my fourth one and I was to be given a whole new chemo drug.  I was done with Adriamycin and Cytoxan – from this treatment on (my last four) I would be given Taxol.  The treatment took longer than my first four because Selena my nurse had to monitor how I was reacting to Taxol.  I was first given Benadryl because Taxol can cause an allergic reaction.  Due to that, Taxol is given at a very slow rate and once the patient is reacting fine to Taxol, it can be given at a faster rate which means the iv drip can be adjusted to drip faster.  Luckily I had no reaction to Taxol so after a little while Selena was able to adjust the iv drip to a faster speed.  Since I was given Benadryl and I was up until the wee hours of the early morning (thanks to Decadron the steroid medication I take the day before my Taxol treatments which is an anti-inflammatory medication, helps decrease swelling, and helps fight vomiting and nausea) I slept for most of my chemo treatment. 

Since this was a brand new treatment it came with brand new side effects.  One good thing is that I did not deal with any nausea but bad thing was the new side effects.  The flu-like symptoms were not fun and my hands were not happy.  The flu-liked symptoms caused my bones and muscles to ache and throb and my hands became swollen and red to where it was painful to do simple things like tie shoelaces and open up cans/jars/etc.  The worst days were Thursday through Sunday after my treatment.  I finally had a break from those symptoms by Tuesday of last week and I felt pretty good through the weekend.  Today I felt great but now I can’t sleep again thanks to Decadron.  Oh well I will just sleep during my treatment tomorrow like I did last time. J 

I have to admit, I made a big mistake this past treatment.  I did not go in for my hydration appt the day after my chemo appt like I had done with my previous treatments.  With my last four treatments the hydration appt is optional because the Taxol treatments are not as tough as the Adriamycin and Cytoxan treatments.  With that information, I thought I would not need the hydration but after what I went through this last treatment I will be definitely going in for my hydration after my last three treatments.  I don’t know what I was thinking….

Thank you for taking the time to read this.  I pray you are all doing well.  Please let me know if there is anything I can be praying for you about.  I would love to hear from you.  I am so thankful to be blessed with you all as my family, friends, prayer team, support system….  God never ceases to amaze me with how He takes care of and provides for His children.  God Bless!

Love & friendship, 

KellyJ

Psalm 29:11  “The Lord gives strength to His people, the Lord blesses His people with peace”