March 14, 2005

I want to fill you on what my chemotherapy treatments will look like over the next 12 weeks. First off, I am very impressed with my oncologist, Dr. Michael Naughton. He was very friendly and was concern that we understood all of the facts. He even helped us by taking down some additional notes for us. I feel that I can trust him for quality treatment.
On Wed. March 16, I will have a port inserted just under my collarbone to assist in the delivery of my chemo drugs. It is also a handy tool retrieve blood from my body without poking me 5 times! :) The surgery will be brief, but in a way, serious because they will be sticking a tube into one of my major arteries coming out of my heart and up my lower neck. Yikes! Should be back on my feet within an hour, since it has minor anesthesia.
On Mon. March 21, I will start my first round of chemo. After some routine blood tests to see if my blood counts are good, they will administer some anti-nausea medicine (just some pills.) Once that juice starts in, so does the nausea. Got to get the meds in before it starts. I will receive two drugs through the port, Adriamycin and Cytoxan (referred to as just AC.) They are administered separately through a giant syringe over the course of about 1 1/2 hours. I just get to chill in a lounge chair. Adriamycin is referred to in the "real BC world" as "The Red Devil." It gets its name from the fact that it is bright red (like Kool-Aid), and that it treats you like the Devil. Of all of the chemo drugs, it is the worst, making the patient very sick for several days. BUT, anti-nausea meds have really made it more bearable. Also, if it leaks onto (or into) your skin it will severely burn the you. Skin grafts are the only way to heal the wound. That is why the port is very important! The important thing to understand about Adriamycin is that it is the most powerful chemo drug available for killing cancer cells. Getting AC is very good thing in the long run. I probably will be sick to my stomach on some level. Time will only tell how sick I become, since everyone reacts differently.
The most common side of effects of my treatment are nausea and vomiting, tiredness due to decreased white blood cell and platelet counts, hair loss, and mouth sores. Yep, all of my hair will be going bye-bye. I'm sure I will miss my head hair, but I won't miss shaving my legs (hey, I gotta get something positive out of this experience! :) Charity and I went wig shopping last Friday, and picked one out that I think I will be very happy with. It was fun and freaky at the same time (oh, by the way, I am not a good blonde. I tried!) I will post pictures when I get the wig.
The first week I will be sick and tired. The second week I will have low blood counts and will be tired, and the third week I will loose my hair, but will start feeling "better." Then, the follow Monday, I will start the second of my four cycles. Whoo-hoo! Sounds like a fun spring! :)
Please pray for Greg and I over the next couple weeks, as this will probably be the most difficult thing we have been through together. I am looking forward to relying on my Lord even more through this time.