Days 4 - 7 of Chemo #1 and My Chemo Plan

I now think of days as numbers and reference them according to a chemo cycle; today is day 7 following chemo #1.

Infusions are every 21 days; day 1 is the day following an infusion, a cycle is the completion of 21 days.

The first infusion was May 10th, the chemo plan is as follows:
4 cycles of A + C (Adriamycin + Cytoxan)
4 cycles of T + Herceptin (Taxol + the drug specifically targeting the HER-2 gene)

After I complete the 8 cycles I will contine to receive Herceptin every 21 days. The length of time I will receive Herceptin will depend upon my response and the side effects I do or do not experience. I will start radiation after the 8 cycles are completed. Standard radiation is five days a week for five to six weeks. I have told my family in Missouri, if all goes according to plan I will be home for an early Christmas in December!

On days 1 - 5 following an infusion I must take one Anzemet a day; it is used to prevent nausea and vomiting. Additional medications are prescribed to take if I do experience nausea and vomiting; which I did. If those medications do not work - and they didn't - other medications are prescribed - yeah, those worked!

Days 7 - 21 are restricted because my white blood cells are at the lowest from days 7 - 15. On day 20 I have a blood test to ascertain if the white blood cell count is high enough for me to have the next infusion on day 21.

During this two-week period I can eat only fresh vegetables and fruit that have first been thoroughly washed with soap and water and then can be peeled. Frozen and canned fruit and vegetables are ok to eat. I have spent days 4 - 6 eating my fill of salad - my favorite food.

Additionally during the two weeks, my access to public places and people must be limited to avoid being exposed to illnesses. I have spent days 4 - 6 of this cycle with family and friends and being out and about as much as I could! I have been given masks to wear if I must go out during this time. Hmm ... a bald headed woman in a mask, I think I will stay home! Actually I am not bald yet, it varies for each individual but I have been told to expect it anytime after the 10th day.

On day 4 I was able to stop taking the additional anti nausea medication. Usually a couple of times a day I feel slightly nauseated but it has soon passed without medication.

Also on day 4 I noticed that I had lost some of my taste. I have a slight salty taste in my mouth and I cannot get a good Pepsi! I have given up sodas - I tried to find one that I could taste but I have not found one yet. On day 5 it was coffee that tasted different. I am however being persistent, I have not given up on coffee
yet.

Food Cravings - I have had some intense ones! April, Bret, the grandkids, Randy, and I went on day 4 to Vince and Rebekah's home for Cole's 5th birthday party. The party was catered by Jake's Tex Mex and I thought it was the best food I have ever eaten - I had three plates of food and had to make myself stop eating! On day 5 I had to stop what I was doing and immediately go to the store for specific food that I was craving. I bought a roasted chicken, cranberry sauce, yams, and Ranch Dressing Mix. I could not get that food home nor prepared fast enough - I was almost frantic! On day 6 Randy and I met his parents for lunch at Hodel's - my choice of places because any food craving of that day could be sastified there! Today, well so far it has been oatmeal loaded, I mean really loaded, with butter and brown sugar. Substitute my laugh at every exclamation point in this paragraph and you will know how much fun I have had telling you about my food cravings!

Fatigue - they are not kidding. The fatigue is getting better but I still take a nap everyday that lasts at least three hours. I am a highly energetic person; the fatigue seems to me to be such a waste of time. I have had to learn how to space out my activities and make myself rest frequently in order to conserve my energy. Naps seem like a luxury - I almost feel guilty that I take a nap everyday. My friend Dana, an RN, reminds me periodically that the body heals best when it is sleeping so when I have to report to her about my naps I always want to tell her, Yes, I had my nap today.

Aches - My low back has started aching a little, perhaps it is related to the chemo and perhaps not. It is manageable though.

Mouth Sores - This morning I woke up with one and a slight sore throat. I have been using a warm salt water rinse however when I reported this development I was told the danger is that it will spread to the esophagus. I will start on a medication to take care of this - again, another side effect that is manageable.

Drinking Huge Amounts of Water - I do not have an uninterrupted night's sleep and my dogs are confused if it is time to get up and eat! I have to very quietly and carefully get to the bathroom and back into bed - the dalmation takes a lot of convincing; she is deaf so sometimes I get away with it.

By now I hope you realize that I am in the best of spirits; I am well taken care of and find that everything is manageable. Since I am housebound I should be writing more frequently again but don't worry if I don't for a few days. I will have Randy or April write a post if there is anything to worry about - otherwise know that everything is manageable and I am ok. I hope that everything for each of you is just as manageable and that you also are ok.