Therapy session #1

Hi All!
I've decided to start a blog to keep everyone up to date with my treatment and to share my experiences with cancer....really it will be my form of therapy for the next couple of months! I also plan to add pictures to help explain the experience...just as soon as I learn how to do that! I suppose I'm also doing this because I think that all I've been through is very interesting...(probably why I'm a nurse)...so read ahead...if you wish....

So...I'm just going to get started with session #1:
Chemo sucks! This is probably not what you want to hear and I'm not saying this to gain your pity....rather because I know that cancer will affect you all again at some point in your lives...and you need to know that your compassion and support means the world. I am very lucky to have such great family and friends to help me through this experience. I also can say this because I feel that I am doing fairly well with chemo...as the regimen that I am on is supposed to be one of the 'easier' chemo treatments, and I've been able to work through it. This being said...it still sucks! I thought that I would be able to fly right through it, as I'm young, otherwise pretty healthy, and have a positive attitude (most of the time). However, it kicks me on my ass every other week. I've currently had three treatments of Folfox 6 (oxaliplatin and 5-fu). Following the first two I was very nauseated and had some issues with throwing up for the 5 days after treatment. The third treatment was better on the nausea front...they gave me some great drugs (aloxi and emend), and they worked very well! The problem with them is that they create terrible constipation! (sorry...there will probably be lots of poop talk in this blog...as it was my colon they removed! Not very lady-like, I know!) However, since I wasn't terribly nauseated, I was able to keep down senna, which helped a bit. (fun fact...its the only thing that really works on medication related constipation...not miralax, or metamucil, etc.)
Anyway, the other side effect that is the worst is the fatigue! I've always been a person who enjoys a good nap, and has seemed to always be tired....however this is at a completely different level! For the first 5 days following chemo, taking a shower exhausts me! It's crazy because my mind is fine, and I feel like I should be up doing something, but my body won't let me! The other side effects are numerous...but more tedious than anything else. For example, I get terrible jaw pain when I chew; I can't drink, eat, or breath in anything cold or my throat feels like its closing up; I can't touch anything cold...it hurts; My hair is thinning...but will not completely fall out; I get mouth sores; I have no appetite; My toes hurt and turn yellow; my fingers sometimes hurt and it becomes hard to open stuff; and I get hot flashes that wake me up frequently during the night (I get a shot to put me into menapause in order to protect my ovaries from the chemo). Luckily, these side effects only last about 5 days (all except the damn hot flashes!)....so I have a good week+ of normal life between treatments! Let me tell you....it really makes me enjoy life when I feel good! I have a lot of fun...and am learning to appreciate every moment!

Okay...so I'm trying not to make this too long...as I know long posts are sometimes hard to read...they'll be shorter in the future, I promise!

One more thing to update you on... I was unable to get my treatment this week due to a low ANC (absolute neutrophil count). My ANC was 1.26 and it needs to be 1.5 in order to get treatment (the norm is 2.2-8.8). So....my 4th treatment is postponed until next Tuesday. This was an eye-opener to me that everything is not going to go as smoothly as I want it to....no matter how much I think I can control it! So...with this news, I have decided to change my hours to start working part time, as opposed to full time. Luckily, this was an option, as the nursing management on my floor is wonderful and very understanding! This will add more flexibilty for me to get my hours in during a two week period. On a positive note, I am really enjoying my job! The nursing staff are just great, and very welcoming! It is actually very refreshing to go to work, as I had become rather egocentric in the past couple of months! Its nice to go to work and have another focus rather than me...and my health!

So...I hope everyone is doing well! I thank you again for all of your support....you continue to overwhelm me with your kindness!