Friday, November 6, 2009

Chemo Was a GO-->Round 4!

Judging by my back pain, I knew my white blood cell count would be way up. Its way over the range. So I was able to do round 4 today--which means I'm halfway done!! 4 more to go! I'm happy we didn't need to delay it more than 2 days. Now I'll be on a Fri thru Sun. schedule. Get chemo and my 5FU pump on Friday, and get pump disconnected 46 hours later on Sunday. A nurse comes to the house to disconnect me.

Dr. J, my oncologist, wants me to do 2 more Neupogen shots. 1 on Monday, and 1 on Tues. I don't quite get why I should do them so early in my cycle, esp. when my counts are way up, but I guess he just wants to make sure they stay up. I grumbled a bit when my nurse told me, but then I figured I'm gonna be feeling like crap anyway, so what's a little back pain? Nbd. By the way, I just want to say that my nurses are awesome. I couldn't have asked for a better place to be treated for my cancer!

I am doing the Emend again this cycle. At first I didn't think it helped that much, but looking back I think it did. Both Rich and my mom said they thought I did better. As for the fatigue, I told my doc on Wed. that I basically sleep through 4 days (even when I'm awake I'm so out of it I may as well be sleeping). He said even tho it sounds ridiculous, light exercise has been shown to help with the fatigue. I must have given him an odd look because he said "I know it sounds crazy!". I love my doctor! So I will try to get out for short walks and maybe use my exercise ball that's collecting dust in the corner. I'll let you know what happens. No promises that I'll do it!

My platelets are way down. Bottom of the range is 150, and I was 103 on Wed. and 100 today. Still acceptable for chemo. I think the doc told me once that we can do chemo until it gets around 70. Then chemo would be delayed until the # comes back up. They don't do a platelet infusion until you are almost down to no platelets, or you start having bleeding problems.

Little baby B is starting to perk up and eat more. Still not enough to come home, but finally some improvement!

Thanks to my mom, my sister, and friends Carol and Jeanne for the food donations! As usual, they were very grateful at the cancer center!

My hands are pretty stiff and crampy, so its taken me a long time to type this! There are probably a few typos I didn't catch!

Hope all is well with everyone--send me some updates!
Love you all!
Tina

2 comments:

  1. To hear that you are half way through is music to my ears. Although I know you pay a price with those shots, nausea, etc, you seem to have a depth of strength that amazes me. You will always be my inspiration if I ever get really sick. But until then, I"ll keep whining like usual!

    Love ya.

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  2. Glad to hear you are halfway through Tina! You are going to kick this cancer's butt! Praying as always!

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