11th & 12th Chemo: 4 To Go! But Who's Counting???

My 11th treatment was on December 22..
My 12th treatment was today, December 29..
4 more to go!!!

My 11th treatment (Dec 22) provided some excitement.. my white blood cell count dropped below the guideline for administering chemo, warranting a call to Jan (my oncology RN), who made the decision to continue on course & administer the treatment anyway. I'm not sure why I didn't receive Neulasta (builds white blood cells), so Diane, my Chemo RN, and I speculated Jan didn't want to ruin my Christmas; Neulasta causes bone pain, and it would have hit me on Christmas Eve and Day. I did have to promise to call if I developed ANY fevers because it could get serious. So I nervously waited for today.

Turns out that luck is on my side!!! Today, my 12th treatment (Dec 29), my white blood cell count somehow miraculously DOUBLED.. getting me out of the danger zone. I'll have a face to face appt w/my Doc next week & hopefully find out the details.

2005 has been a rough year, not just for me, and I'm glad it's almost over.

I'm wishing everyone Love, Peace & Happiness in the New Year.. I'm looking forward to many reasons to celebrate in 2006!

Love,
~Christine

9th & 10th Chemo: Way of Life

My 9th treatment was on December 8.
My 10th treatment was on December 15.
6 more to go!!!

I think my body has gone thru most of the big changes that chemo can dish out, and I think I got pretty lucky! I do still feel junky for a couple days, but it's tolerable. I don't think I'm going to lose all my brows or lashes and I think my coloring isn't too bad considering I'm overcoming anemia. As mentioned before, a major side effect is the fatigue, which may get worse, but I'm getting used to it, with the help from my beloved heating blanket.

My "premeds" have been reduced enough so I am able to drive myself to & from my treatments, which makes life so much easier!!! Company is still welcome, I'm there generally about 5 hours every Thursday (between blood draw, waiting for results, waiting for my chemo drugs & the actual infusion).

Overall, I think I'm finally adjusting to life during chemo. My reactions and the timings are much more predictable now and the light at the end of the chemo tunnel is getting much brighter!

Merry Christmas!

Love,
~Christine

7th & 8th Chemo: I'm Still Standin'!!!

My 7th treatment was on Friday, November 25 and
My 8th treatment was December 1st.
I was able to really enjoy Thanksgiving!!!

Here's my big boost:

I'm half way thru my chemo treatment!!!

I can't believe it, looking back it's going fast.. although the day to day stuff can kinda drag.. I'm really appreciating knowing I have so many people still rooting for me through this, and it has made a serious difference by making me emotionally stronger.

Here are the latest details w/my treatment: Good News. We're slowly reducing the "premed" drugs I'm getting to counteract any allergic reactions, that's a good thing because I was receiving a big dose of Benadryl (so big it's given via IV!) which has been making me really sleepy (I've become pretty comfortable getting chemo now.. lol). So after we get the Benadryl lowered, we'll work on Decadron. (I also receive Pepsid, Kytril & Tylenol)

I'm still anemic, but it seems the Procrit shots are kicking in, slowly but surely. ((side note: those shots flippin' hurt! I have a good tolerance for needles/pain, but even though my RN was going slow, I was starting to tear up!)).

I gave myself a pretty good scare this week when doing some research on anemia on the Internet.. I found a few articles stating that Breast Cancer patients who are anemic generally do not have good survival rates (although no supportive data was provided!), and that anemia can be a sign of more cancer (because cancer takes blood to multiply). Jan stated that my anemia was induced by the frequency/aggressiveness of my chemo treatment, and I have nothing to worry about. I'm taking a multivitamin w/iron and soon an iron supplement (Slo-Fe). Stupid Internet. Stupid Me. I shouldn't have let it get the best of me (again!).

These bouncebacks are about the same as the last couple treatments; sore hips, pelvis, quads & hamstrings, fatigue and recently a tingly/pressure type sensation in my fingertips & toes (very common for Taxol & reversible).
My worst times seem to start Saturday evenings, Sunday all day & subside Monday mornings.. it's all tolerable though, and I'm nowhere near quitting. YEAH!

I've been told the fatigue will probably get worse as the treatments continue, it's a "cummulative effect" and I will recover once I'm done w/chemo. Sitting still, conserving energy is how I'm getting thru this. I have never felt so helpless, but I keep telling myself (as well reminders from others) IT'S TEMPORARY! :) I'll return to my more helpful self sooner than we know it!

8 treatments down, 8 to go!!!