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A funny thing happened at Chemo!
A thread
http://thecancermademedoit-again.blog/2020/10/15/a-funny-thing-happened-at-chemo/
A thread
http://thecancermademedoit-again.blog/2020/10/15/a-funny-thing-happened-at-chemo/
Again I have to say, "it has been awhile". So let me catch you up. Since we last spoke I switched my chemo protocol (twice). The last one was a combo of Tencentriq/carboplatain/Etoposide. This was a 3 day protocol every 3 weeks. I hated it.
It was harsh on my system, I had some unfriendly side effects and frankly didn't do much shrinkage wise. So I was happy to end that.
For the last 6 weeks (I started Sept 8) I have been doing Radiation (let the Glow Jokes commence) + a Taxol/Carboplatain combo (both chemo) and that has had some results in the positive column. And luckily very few side effects. Monday is my last radiation treatment.
Because of my previous history with radiation, the Dr.s say my body will not tolerate any more - so this is a 6 week and done option. I will get scanned in 1 1/2 weeks and then I go on Maintenance. Sounds a bit like a Diet Plan.
Maintenance consists of an Immunotherapy (TBD) and maybe a support drug called Avastin. I will not learn the deal until after the Scan results are in.
But let me tell you about the weird side effects I had from the Taxol/Carbo protocol. My husband wanted to film it every time because he said it was so funny. I cant say that I remember any of it. I was told it lasted about 1 hour.
It was caused by the "premeds". -- Two of which are drugs many of us take on a regular basis - but because they are given intravenously they often cause different reactions. The Drugs involved Benadryl, Dexamethasone, Eloxi (like a Zofran).
The first time, I began to tell the nurse of the side effects next thing I remember is Scott saying Hello sleepy head.
I guess that was what I really learned from this go round (more so than the Breast Cancer Chemo in 2010). the nurses made my treatments (no matter how bad) have times of laughter, and smiles., and not scary.
I don't think their could be any higher praise for a scary, not fun period in ones life. Dare I say it has been the best experience of all 3 of my cancers. We also got Scott special approval to sit with me through treatment. Admittedly we fibbed a bit.
Most of my treatments I had to do alone. And then on the advice of one of the nurses, we mentioned to the Dr. that without him there I was suffering form terrible anxiety, and while not exactly true the Dr. wrote a note giving him permission to be with me.
He had to be masked and couldn't leave the bay I was in during treatment but that was ok.
Scott and I would arrive. First was checkin, then weigh in, then off tho the seat I was assigned to Sit in. Once moved in to my bay, we began to set up for the next 3 hours. We both got our computers out and plugged in, Telephones out, and lunch box with my snacks for the day.
Once settled in, my port is accessed and blood is drawn. First step was to hydrate me so I was hooked up to a saline drip until the meds arrived.
We needed to wait about an hour for the blood results, so we called the homeopathic relief team -- I would get weekly foot massages and Reiki. Isn't that just so "boujie" that they offer that to all us going through treatment.
Then we would start the Layering process. As the meds were being given, I would begin to get cold and begin to shake. So the nurses would start layering me with warm blankets. I looked a little like an eskimo -- head to toe cloaked in white hospital blankets.
Getting up from under all that to go to the bathroom was a 2 person job. After that we turn on the TV and watch my boyfriend (I would joke with Scott). Jim Cramer of CNBC and Mad Money.
I never watched this type of show before but something drew me to it and frankly he makes me laugh (and I learned some stuff too). Maybe the drugs or the tumor is turning me into a secret financial geek.....No chance of that - Just ask my brother.
So as the drugs were "pushed" (the medical term for adding them to my IV) I began to get Loopy (these is Scott's version of what happened). He would say that I would start talking gibberish. Then my right leg wouldn't stop moving (it turns out restless leg is a side effect).
So now envision me moving and shaking my leg, talking gibberish all while sleeping. I can only imagine it is a bit like Steve Martin when he did the "Wild and Crazy" guy routine. Other side effects included itching in areas I will not disclose. Oy!
Even the nurses had a good laugh at my expense - and if I didn't revere them all so much, I may have gotten annoyed. But the nurses that take care of me are group of Super humans.
They deal with illness and death and emotion and medicines and reactions and they remain positive, calm, helpful, positive, and connected to everyone of the patients they work with (could be up to 8 at a time).
Scott and I could not thank them enough but we did bae them cookies every week -- which they really seemed to enjoy. Well except the Rolo cookies that I left 2 ingredients out of. they were hard and tasteless I think --
Anyway, this is my round abut way of saying that this experience of horror has not been that at all.
Of all the treatments I have been through, this experience (with moments of extreme fear, occasional pain, and quite a bit of tears) has also been complimented by laughter, caring, friendship and smiles. Not a usual way to describe Chemo and Radiation.
In a week and 1/2 I get a scan, in a week and 1/2 I will learn something new and, hopefully, something positive. I learned to look and listen for the good news.
It is easy to focus on bad, and hard to turn it into good and positive....Cancer, Chemo and Radiation make it hard to find the positive, yet finding the good, the funny and light is my way and I find that easy.
So I guess it's true Something happened on the way to Chemo - and I am positive it is something good.
This thread can be read here: http://thecancermademedoit-again.blog/2020/10/15/a-funny-thing-happened-at-chemo/
