Friday I woke up at 4:35 am! Not on purpose of course because who in their right mind actually wakes up because they want to at 4:35 am? Thursday I began taking my steroids to prepare for my 1st chemo treatment and one of the side effects is trouble sleeping. Well, I definitely experienced that side effect, lucky me :) However, I did not get out of bed, I just laid there and I think I looked at every app and played every game on my phone until Ryan's alarm went off at 7:30. I got up and began getting ready and packing my bag that I was going to take to the Cancer Center with me. I of course included my UK blanket because I have heard that you can get pretty cold during treatment as well as my tablet, a book and some magazines and of course some headphones because Ryan and I were going to finish up watching Breaking Bad. Yes, we are still trying to finish it! Finally on Season 5 so not much left to go. Anyway, after running to my grandmother's house to pick up some beautiful Christmas bows she made me for my lamp post outside and my Christmas tree, I headed to the hospital. First stop was to get fitted for my prosthesis. I was really excited about this because I would then look "normal"! We were able to get me fitted on the 1st try and yes, I now look normal! After trying on a few head scarves because I will be shaving my head this Tuesday since it is inevitable that ALL of my hair will fall out, it was time to meet Ryan so that we could head on over to the Cancer Center for chemo #1. After a quick lunch which we ate at the surgery center since we only had 15 minutes (classy) we headed over. When we walked in, even though I had been to the Cancer Center many times before, this time was different and I was once again nervous. When I signed in I had to fill in my reason for being there and when I wrote "chemo" it just didn't seem real. I mean, I accepted the fact a long time ago that I would be taking chemo to fight this and I also welcome it to eradicate any cancer cells that may be left and I am grateful that chemo is available and I have the opportunity to use it to help fight my battle. I know that sounds weird when I say grateful but really, if there was no chemo this battle would be much harder to fight. However, as I mentioned before, I never planned on having an Oncologist and having to go to appointments in the Cancer Center and I definitely never planned on writing that the reason I am there is for chemo treatment but then again, who does? My appointment was supposed to be at 12:30 however, 1:00 rolled around and I was still waiting. One of the nurses came out and let me know that they were getting my room ready and asked how I felt. I told her that I was just as nervous as I was before surgery because no matter how much they try and prepare you, there is no way to know exactly what to expect but I told her to BRING.IT.ON, it was time to take this next step! Within minutes my name was called. It was time. We headed on back to my room and my nurses came in to talk to me and explain what they were going to do and of course asked me questions about my overall health. My nurse had already explained to the nurse that was going to be taking care of me about what had been going on as far as my infection and that there had been difficulty when attempting to start an IV and when drawing blood. Of course, they start multiple IVs a day so it shouldn't be too difficult, right?! The nurse told me that before we could begin treatment she needed to draw some blood and of course they had to use the 3 largest tubes there are and they had to be full. She stuck me the 1st time and NOTHING!! Great, I saw where this was going. She then stuck me a 2nd time and this time was able to get the blood, slowly but surely. However, after getting the blood, the IV was no longer good, the vein had blown. UGH! She called in another nurse and on the 3rd try, we got an IV in! The first meds I was to receive were anti-nausea and a steroid. After these were complete we would start with the 1st chemo medication which was the Cytoxan. Cytoxan is the drug that keeps the cancer cells from dividing and kills them and this is also the drug that will make me lose my hair. Once it was complete, I had to wait 30 minutes before the next chemo drug Taxotere could begin. Taxotere also prevents any cancer cells from dividing and reproducing. The treatment lasts 5 hours. In that 5 hours though, I got quite a bit accomplished. I got online and paid some bills, ordered multiple Christmas gifts and ordered Christmas cards. I know, a little late to order the Christmas cards but it's better late than never even if everyone receives them after Christmas. Who knew it took chemo to get me motivated to get it done haha! During treatment, Sharlee (my nurse navigator) came in and told me that I would be getting my port the morning of my next chemo treatment which is set for January 3rd. I go into the Surgery Center (also another place I know all too well) at 7:00 am to get my port placed then I will have chemo at 1:00 pm. Having the port will be so much nicer, that way I don't have to be stuck anymore, they can just access my port for my treatment because my arm is black and purple from being stuck 3 times on Friday. Since my 1st treatment, I haven't felt too bad yet. I've been tired and experienced a little nausea but nothing that I can't tolerate. They told me that my worst days would probably be between days 4 through 10 because that is when my blood counts will be the lowest and I will be the most susceptible to sickness and infection. They have however given me some good anti-nausea meds to counter the nausea because I hate nothing more than being nauseous! Tomorrow, I go see Dr. Stalnecker to talk to him about my options as far as reconstruction since I have to have radiation now. I am crossing my fingers he gives me some good options!! Then Tuesday I shave my head because I don't want to wait for all of my hair to just fall out. I know it is going to and I would like to be able to control when it happens. At least I'll be able to get ready quicker lol!! Ryan won't be pacing the floor anymore when he is ready to leave and I am still straightening my hair :) Oh and for someone that is somewhat superstitious, I had chemo on the 13th and when I signed in I was the 13th patient. Ryan, then went to the Colts game today and sat in seat 13. Weird right?! Maybe 13 is my lucky number, who knows!
Chemo #1...check!
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