Third Time is NOT the Charm

So round three is kicking my butt. Right now I’m sitting at MDA waiting to get disconnected from the pump. Round three started Wed. with several hours in the chair as usual and leaving around 6 pm. I was already tired so around 8pm I tried to go to sleep, however the dressing on my port kept coming loose so I got up and added more tape and tried to sleep again. Again it was loose so I got up to try to stick it down again but this time noticed I had bled quite a bit into the tubing, so back to MDA I went.

I got to MDA at about 9pm. When I finally saw the emergency nurse she changed my dressing and attempted to flush the line. However it kept putting all of these air bubbles into the line so we had to get the bubbles out and she sent me to another unit for a new line. More waiting and I finally got the new line. I left MDA completely exhausted just before midnight.

I’ve felt really rundown this round and the neuropathy is still an issue so I was wearing gloves most of the day yesterday. In the afternoon I took them off and noticed I had a large dark purple bruise on my left pointer finger. It wasn’t there a few hours earlier at lunch and I couldn’t remember hitting it against anything. Very odd.

Today I didn’t go into work, I needed sleep. I’m just worn out. I can’t wait to get back home and sleep some more. Yawn!

(T2D3) Sleepy Sleepy

Day 3 and the pump is off. Still doing pretty well. Very little nausea. The neuropathy and the sore throat haven’t been too bad. A bit of muscle cramping today, but all and all not too shabby. Now the sleepiness has set in…sleepy sleepy. I should pack some stuff….sleepy sleepy. (The big move is Tues.)

I’m gonna curl up and take a little nap. And by little, let me just say last cycle the nap lasted about 48 hours off and on. So if I don’t post for a few days it’s because I’m in chemo hibernation. Goodnight!

(T2D1) Plans for Mr. Liver

The plan is to lure Mr. Liver in with an addition to my chemo with the hopes it will shrink the liver tumor. Then a short break from chemo so I will be able to better heal after the upcoming surgery. Then surgery to remove the two cancerous tumors from the liver. I have also asked if, while under the knife, The League can also perform the parathyroid surgery.

So at least one more, surgery is looming, and another long break from work. After healed from surgery we will begin the chemo again. I am a cancer growing machine. Also had my first mammogram today. Lets all hope for the all clear on that one at least.

So day one of treatment two. Nausea still under control, but some other side affects have come to play. The neuropathy is worse. It doesn’t take much cold to set it off. But at least it does go away when my hands are warm. Guess I’m going to be wearing gloves a lot. A little strange considering Texas doesn’t get that cold. But a gal’s gotta do what a gal’s gotta do. Also this time my throat has decided to be sore, not all the time just when I swallow something, like say water. Boo hiss.

All in all, the effects could be much worse, so if this is it then its not that bad. But that damned Mr. Liver – he’s on my shit list. If you see him give him a dirty look for me. Now, I must away to a rooftop overlooking the city to watch for crime…Spoon!!!

P.S. that’s The Tick overseeing my chemo in the pic : )

Tweaking Chemo

I started back to work today, only 1/2 the day today though as I had to throw on my cape to run off to meet with The League. Today marks the entrance of Dr. IM (Internal Medicine).

Starting with a fly by Diagnostics for 5 viles of my fabulous blood. Word must be getting around about how great it is because demand doesn’t seem to be waning. And what magical properties does it have? Well…

My red blood cells inability to hold iron (anemia) has now been replaced with an inability to hold magnesium. Also Dr. IM is concerned that although slight, neuropathy is setting in too early. So we’ll tweak the drugs complimenting FOLFOX a bit and see if it helps. That’s it for visits to The League this week. Next week Endo sidles up to the table to weigh in on the parathyroid situation. Still waiting on Mr. Liver to fess up following the biopsy, so stay tuned….

Chemo is a Fickle Bitch

A word of caution regarding our upcoming teaming with Chemo to battle the evil blob Cancer. While Chemo has awesome powers with which to combat the terrible evil which is Cancer, Chemo is not without its own mixed bag of tricks.

Chemo can be both good and bad, helpful and detrimental. While Chemo will be working with myself and The League in a joint effort against the dread blob Cancer it may also occasionally combat our faithful Cancer Girl via its known sidekicks nausea, vomit, diarrhea, constipation, neuropathy, and others. Therefore, vigilance is necessary.

Currently we are working with The League to establish a date to implant the port through which the chemo will be administered. Looks like it will be the end of the month. Round one is coming…..can you feel it?