Chemo #2

We continue to climb upwards on this crazy journey. 

After the first treatment, we had a couple extra experiences.  I decided I was going to be independent and took myself to my expansion with the nurses at the breast clinic, not realizing that I had something called a 'seroma' in my pseudo breast.  We had been warned that taking the drain out with higher outputs could have this result but I was surprised that I had no idea it was even there. 

The doctor was in surgery and unable to examine me and the nurses were unable to do the necessary procedure, so Alan took me the next morning to Huntsman.  Dr. Agarwal determined the area needed to be drained.  For the life of me, I'll never get use to the fact that any size of needle inserted into this area can't be felt!  They drained about 60 ccs of liquid and said it didn't look infected so not to worry.  I was also on antibiotics for a urinary tract infection, so they ended up doing double duty.  They expanded me 90 ccs and we went home for the day. 

My strength continued to improve each day and the side effects lessened as well.  The family has been very protective and ensure that I'm escorted almost everywhere.  To increase my strength, there have been short walks with us increasing the distance every time. 

Last Saturday, I woke up in the morning to my hair falling out in large bits.  We called my cute hairdresser Kelly and she had Alan and I come in to her salon that night at closing. I went first and it was shocking to go from long hair to a GI Jane hairdo but the sting was lessened when Alan followed me and cut all his hair off too.  It helps being bald when the person sitting next to you in bed is bald with you.  

This Saturday, the GI Jane haircut started to fall out as well and the inevitable next step - complete baldness was at hand.  We were given some expert advice that taking duct tape - yes, duct tape - and applying it to the scalp would remove the hair instead of having it slowly shed.  It worked for the most part but I do have strands of hair here and there that are stubbornly hanging on.  The look is a little like 'Gollum' from the Hobbit but I'm sure the rest will come out shortly. 

The second treatment was this Thursday.  It took a little longer than last time for the chemotherapy meds to be made and we were there for about 3 hours.  This time around, I had some stronger anti-nausea medications which helped me sleep through the worst of the first 48 hours of nausea.  I'm tired and have some 'stomach issues' but otherwise doing well.  I can tell I'm on the upswing again and will need to slowly rebuild strength for the next treatment on December 20th.  On January 3rd - the fourth treatment will mark the halfway point of the 'hard chemo' and the end of the Adrimyacin/Cytoxan regiment.  I'm hopeful that the next phase will have kinder side effects. 

I'm doing well and learning a great deal from this experience.  I love my family and friends who continue to support me.  The relationships truly are the only things that matter.