Chemo Treatment #1
It's Sunday afternoon, and I'm feeling pretty good! Chemo started Friday at about noon. We were done by about 3pm, and went straight from the hospital to pick up our daughter, then up to Heber to watch our son's basketball game. Felt totally normal. Slept great, then woke up Saturday with my taste buds a little numb, but feeling better than I expected. We had an early volleyball scrimmage to watch, and the normal sports shuttling Saturday events...and just as we were trying to decide what to make for lunch, cute little Debbie Worthen showed up with her daughter, delivering hot homemade potato soup, with fresh made bread, brownies, and even a jar with fresh honey from their bees! Perfect timing, and a wonderful treat for the whole family! A nap, then quiet evening at home...still waiting for bad stuff to happen.
I'm keeping hydrated and eating small meals, and so far, no nausea or big pain. My taste buds are still a little numb, and I have a little heartburn, but I know the first treatment is just building up for combined effects as we go along. I love hearing stories from survivors who managed to keep up their normal lives through their treatments! It doesn't sound easy, but it gives me more hope that I might be able to do it too!
I was pretty nervous all day Friday before my appointment, so it helped to be at work with friends, and to treat it like a normal day. Other than my husband driving me to work at 4 in the morning (so we wouldn't have two cars at the hospital after the treatment) the day was mostly normal. Not everyone on their way to chemo gets to ride in the news truck with friends- Thanks Carla and Tom! They are part of our great team helping document my progress, and so far, I think it's a good distraction for me. Thinking about which shots to take, and if the microphones are on, keeps my mind a little distracted from what's really happening to me. We were even greeted in the parking lot by a Brazilian spitfire of a gal, who pulled up in her car to show me her great wig, awesome make-up, and gave me one of the best pep-talks I've ever had! Times like that make me see benefits that outweigh any negative aspects of sometimes being considered a celebrity. (That's a whole 'nother blog subject!)
Like the lumpectomy surgery, that didn't really technically sink in until I watched the surgery video in the edit bay, the impact of chemo might sink in more when I watch what they shot Friday. My husband and I were so impressed with the people at the chemo center. The nurses, managers, volunteers, and the other patients were all so nice and, I want to say "comfortable." Throat cancer, pancreatic cancer, and one breast cancer patient who we'll see every time we're in, because she's a half hour ahead of me on the same appointment schedule! We all know what we're going through sucks, but that it's what we need to do. I got a card from a friend that said, "Chemo sucks...but if it's sucking the cancer out of you, then, YAY, CHEMO!"
We go back tomorrow for the big Neulasta shot, that will rebuild my white blood cells to help repair the chemo damage so we can go back for more. I understand that shot comes with another batch of fun side effects that should hit me this week. Just the beginning, really...
Thanks for the warm thoughts and prayers... I have so much support, that I'm sharing it with many others who need help right now. Keep your friends and relatives close and in your thoughts...I'll be okay!
I'm keeping hydrated and eating small meals, and so far, no nausea or big pain. My taste buds are still a little numb, and I have a little heartburn, but I know the first treatment is just building up for combined effects as we go along. I love hearing stories from survivors who managed to keep up their normal lives through their treatments! It doesn't sound easy, but it gives me more hope that I might be able to do it too!
I was pretty nervous all day Friday before my appointment, so it helped to be at work with friends, and to treat it like a normal day. Other than my husband driving me to work at 4 in the morning (so we wouldn't have two cars at the hospital after the treatment) the day was mostly normal. Not everyone on their way to chemo gets to ride in the news truck with friends- Thanks Carla and Tom! They are part of our great team helping document my progress, and so far, I think it's a good distraction for me. Thinking about which shots to take, and if the microphones are on, keeps my mind a little distracted from what's really happening to me. We were even greeted in the parking lot by a Brazilian spitfire of a gal, who pulled up in her car to show me her great wig, awesome make-up, and gave me one of the best pep-talks I've ever had! Times like that make me see benefits that outweigh any negative aspects of sometimes being considered a celebrity. (That's a whole 'nother blog subject!)
Like the lumpectomy surgery, that didn't really technically sink in until I watched the surgery video in the edit bay, the impact of chemo might sink in more when I watch what they shot Friday. My husband and I were so impressed with the people at the chemo center. The nurses, managers, volunteers, and the other patients were all so nice and, I want to say "comfortable." Throat cancer, pancreatic cancer, and one breast cancer patient who we'll see every time we're in, because she's a half hour ahead of me on the same appointment schedule! We all know what we're going through sucks, but that it's what we need to do. I got a card from a friend that said, "Chemo sucks...but if it's sucking the cancer out of you, then, YAY, CHEMO!"
We go back tomorrow for the big Neulasta shot, that will rebuild my white blood cells to help repair the chemo damage so we can go back for more. I understand that shot comes with another batch of fun side effects that should hit me this week. Just the beginning, really...
Thanks for the warm thoughts and prayers... I have so much support, that I'm sharing it with many others who need help right now. Keep your friends and relatives close and in your thoughts...I'll be okay!
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