Thursday, July 16, 2015

Day 2, plus more details about yesterday

So the important thing is that I'm much less nauseous today. I don't have a huge appetite, but I am eating, and I'm still on the anti-nausea meds just in case but spreading them out. I have felt a little out of sorts, but not terrible. Spending a lot of time in bed. Went back to the infusion center to get the neulasta, which will boost my white blood cell count. The shot was no big deal, but some time in the next 24-48 hours I may have horrible, gut-wrenching bone pain. Or it might not affect me at all. Time will tell.

Generally, I'm in good spirits and my fatigue/energy level is not bad. Things are going well at home; we're setting some routines for meals and things, setting up some help with housework, the kids (college age) are helping out more with cooking and what not (with instructions on keeping the food safe for me to eat), which is great. There are a lot of things to do every day, and the routines are helping. I started a journal for symptoms, when I take drugs, my temperature, etc.

I got some not-so-great, but not horrible news from the surgeon yesterday when she called with the MRI results. I guess it shows more than the PET scan...there are four lymph nodes involved, not one, and the tumor has reached into the pectoral muscle and is pulling on it a bit. This is really just informational because it won't change my treatment plan. However, it does mean that I will almost certainly lose the right breast. I'd pretty well made peace with that anyway, but there was some hope the chemo would shrink the tumor enough to just do a lumpectomy. That possibility is really pretty small now. That's OK, I'll get a tummy tuck out of the deal.

Some of you were interested in which drugs I'm on:

My chemo regimen is four cycles of Adriamycin and Cytoxan, then four cycles of Taxol.

If I recall correctly and am reading the binder correctly, the pre-meds I get (IV injections before I get the chemo drugs) are Dexamethasone for anti-inflammatory, prevent allergic reactions, prevent nausea and stimulate appetite. Lorazepam for relaxation and anti-nausea. Diphenhydramine for allergic reactions.

Then, at home I have Zofran and Compazine for nausea.

So, we'll see how I feel over the next couple days with the neurolast. Then hopefully I'll feel pretty good for a week until the next cycle starts. Maybe I can get in a visit or two with friends.

12 comments:

  1. What does keeping the food safe for you mean?

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    1. Washing hands and surfaces that touch food. Cooking food thoroughly (no under-cooked protein, especially). No spicy food.

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  2. Sorry about the MRI results. I'm glad you still seem to be in good spirits. I hope you don't get the bone pain.

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    1. Thanks! It was disappointing, but it could have been worse.

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  3. Let me know when I can come visit!

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    1. Let's see if I get the bone pain. If not, probably any time!

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  6. The MRI results are disappointing, but you will get through it! You're so fortunate to have such a great support system and friends. Hang tough.

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  7. Sorry about the sort of bad news, but it's better news than it could have been too! I'm grateful it wasn't any worse. Sounds like it's all still in one area and hasn't spread further from there. I'll take that as good news--and 'free' tummy tuck and possibly new bigger perky boobs? yay! We can make that all good!

    Dexamethasone is the stuff that made me psychotic! I was sitting rocking on my bed and talking to people that weren't there! It was crazy! It's a powerful steroid. I loved how I felt on it the first three days, but by the fourth, I was insane-r! LOL I don't expect that will happen to you though. I was taking high doses every day in a row. Prednisone is much better for me!

    Love you! Glad to hear it's not so bad so far... here's hoping it stays easier for you throughout! Love you!

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    1. Thank you, my friend! Interesting to read how dex affects you... I was feeling kind of jumpy and easily startled, seeing things out of the corner of my eye, etc. Now I know why! Love you!

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