Fighting the battle on many different fronts! - TheBody.com's Bulletin Boards

It's been a pretty wild week for me. This week, I started my chemo and radiation therapies. On the whole, I feel great that all that has been discussed and planned, is now put into action. Any feeling of accomplishment is a gift that renews my spirit and helps me move forward, to the goal of remission! Even though it seemed quite well planned, it usually doesn't stay that way. This was no exception! On Tuesday, I was supposed to have my Pic Line (central line) inserted in my right arm. After working for 1-1/2 hours, the doctor told me that he was unable to get it connected, because of my having a port-a-cath in the same area as part of the 2 lymphoma treatments, the veins were blocked. Then he told me that he would have to try putting it in the left arm, however, he didn't have time to do it that day and I would have to come in the 1st thing Wednesday morning, and have it done, so that I could keep on schedule for my treatments starting. Much to my surprise, it went into my left arm without any problems or blockages and was done within 15 minutes! What a difference! I experienced very little pain, as compared to the first day! I went home for a few hours, before we were due at the chemo clinic, to get that part of the treatment started. The chemo RN, whom I've known for 15 years, explained the 6+ week process to me and what side-effects might be like. She said it should be much easier on me than when I went through the 8+ MONTH treatment for Hodgkin's Lymphoma! I was glad to hear that. Then she infused 2 anti-nausea drugs and a chemo drug that is supposed to augment the effectiveness of the main 5-FU chemo, which would be hooked up later today. Then I went to the radiaiton section of the building (It sure helps that all the services are in one building.) My daily radiation consists of getting a 20 second dose from the front and then the machine rotates around me, and I get a 2nd, 20 second dose from the back. That's it! Granted, that will eventually hurt a lot, but it usually takes a week or two, to experience side effects from the radiation. Finally the last 2 hours of the day, I met with a home care nurse, who's in charge of the 5FU chemo and the pump that's required to infuse it (into me) for 4 days straight. She connected me on Wednesday at around 3 PM, so a visiting nurse will be coming to my house on Sunday, to remove the equipment. (I still need to have my pic line left in my arm, for the entire 6+ weeks of treatment.) The visiting nurse will come once a week to change the dressing on that.and make sure there's no infection from it.

The only side-effects I'm currently experiencing, are nausea and fatigue...both of which are very common when getting chemo.and/or radiation. I've noticed I can't stay up as late as I normally do. I also wake up every morning very nauseous! The next important issue I had to deal with... is how I'm going to get to and from my radiation appointments, which are about 1/2 hour drive from my home and are 5 days a week.. My 83 year old neighbor volunteered to take me all 6 weeks, if necessary. This woman isn't only my neighbor, but a friend of mine too. Even though I've lived across the street from her for 16 years, I really started to get to know her over the past year or so. She's not only a friend and neighbor, but she's also an inspiration for me. She has more energy than I do to start with...but she's also a 3 time cancer survivor..including a skin cancer, she's still being treated for. So she offered to drive me everyday, which is very kind. Other mutual friends we have also want to come with us! It's kind of funny. Some of these people are elderly, and want to do something to help, but who can't drive, so they'll give us moral support, when they join us. It's weird, as I feel a bit guilty relying on a woman in her 80's to transport me, but I've spoken to a couple of her relatives and friends, and they all say the same thing...this is something that she wants to do...and they think it's good for her to do so! Another one of her friends, who wants to drive me, some of the days, just lost her own grandson to cancer, about a few months ago. I guess she also wants to do something meaningful to help someone else in a similar situation. I hope that when I'm in my 80's that I'll still be living a purpose driven life. It's such a huge inspiration for me.

Anyway, on Thurs. and Friday, my neighbor, Edith, took me to my appointments at 11:30 AM. The same treatment of 20 seconds from each side and then, that's it...She drives me back home. AT this point, I probably could drive myself, but the nauseous feeling from the chemo is very powerful...and I wouldn't want to have to stop every so often too get sick to my stomach, while driving. So Edith has said that she will drive from now on. No arguing with her! LOL!

Post Extras: Remind Me!