Chemo Day 2 Report

Kevin was my chemo buddy today. We went in a cab together and got there a little early. The infusion took just under 1.5 hours today (only one IV bag this time). While I infused, Kevin and I watched a video about how to give yourself subcutaneous injections (in the thigh or abdomen). I think I have it down now. Not that different from giving Junie her insulin shots, actually.

So far no side effects from the chemo itself. The decadron made me wake up at 4 and I didn't really get back to solid sleep the rest of the morning. Gave up and got up at 8:30 and other than a little heartburn, was fine. I've gotten into my routine of 6 small meals a day now, and I find that one yogurt takes care of the heartburn from the decadron.

After the chemo, Kevin and I went herb shopping (*wink* It's MEDICAL now), and then we went to the Noe Street Farmers Market.

Hoping this no side effects thing lasts at least one more day since I have tickets to see Carol Burnett at the Paramount tomorrow night and I even have backstage access cuz my friend Matty's parents are friends of CB. Watch for a picture here of us together on Friday.

I'll report again tomorrow.

Chemo Day 1 Report

Robert and Kevin and I all went to chemo together today at 1:45. There was a lot of preliminary information for my nurse Theresa (an Irish lass with a good sense of humor) to impart this first time, so altogether, the session took a little over 3 hours.

Future sessions should be a little shorter. I will have an infusion each time (both drugs are being given intravenously, it turns out), preceded by a hefty dose of zofran and decodron to fight nausea. I will also be taking those anti-nausea drugs all week, twice a day during infusion weeks. I have compazine as a booster, if they aren't doing the job. I imagine future sessions will take about 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

I also have Human Growth Factor injections to give myself at the end of each cycle for 7 to 10 days. These are intramuscular shots that Theresa will teach me about tomorrow. I'll be shooting myself in the thigh. These shots may cause bone pain, since their purpose is to stimulate the bone marrow to produce more white cells.

Today was easy. No nausea so far. I feel a little woozy from the zofran/decodron cocktail, and have a bit of a headache, but otherwise I feel fine.

Welcome to my blog.

So here's the deal. On Friday, September 18, 2009, I was informed that the fatigue and enlarged lymph glands I had been experiencing for a couple of months were in fact caused by metastatic neuroendocrine cancer that most likely originated in my lungs. It is stage 4. There are only 2 chemo drugs that have any effect on this type of cancer: carboplatin and etoposide. I am starting chemo on Tuesday, September 29th.

I'll report on my side effects, progress, lab results, and general overall well (or not so well) being here. Stay tuned.

There is a yahoo group that is used to keep track of my chemo schedule, sign up as "chemo buddies", etc. Here is that link: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/unkaDee/