Cycle One Complete - For The Third Round of Chemotherapy

It's been an interesting week. I had my Chemotherapy on Wednesday and so far, no unexpected results. I have an upset stomach and am very, very tired. Thursday, I had my Neulasta shot. Just like timework, 8 hours after pain developed in my ribcage and hips. So far it has been manageable - Alleve during the day and Percoset at night. Today, as a gift from my sister Maria, I had a massage. I was nervous as to how it would be given the muscle and bone pain but to my surprise it was very relaxing. Tonight, though, my pain is a bit more intense in my hips and legs so that may be from the massage - not sure. Overall, so far things are not bad. I don't have the enormous amount of energy and motivation I had last week - but I do know that things could be much worse - and I am thankful they aren't. For the next 2 weeks, I have to keep a close watch on the bone pain and take medications before it gets bad. In the meantime, I await my hair falling out again. Good thing I've always had short hair so this aspect doesn't bother me too much. The hardest part for me right now is mentally. I find myself constantly thinking about what the last 17 months have been like. I belong to several Lung Cancer Facebook groups and I know that I am much better off than many people. But, the bottom line is, it is hard. Mentally and Physically.

A New Chapter

My one month vacation from all treatments will come to an end this coming Wednesday.  While my radiation treatments have ended, I will begin Chemotherapy again.

This time the two Chemotherapy drugs will be Carboplatin and Taxotere.  Taxotere tends to aggressively attack the white blood cells making me extremely susceptible to infection.  So they will give me a shot of Neulasta the day after each Chemo treatment.

Neulasta^® works like a natural protein in your body to signal the growth of new white blood cells. Neulasta^® helps reduce your risk of infection in a chemotherapy cycle with just one injection. It is a prescription medication given approximately 24 hours after you receive chemotherapy treatment to provide ongoing support through that cycle. The most common side effect of Neulasta is pain in the bones and in your arms and legs.

These treatments will be every three weeks.  So this week, I have Chemo on Wednesday and then my Neulasta injection on Thursday.  My understanding is the bone and joint pain starts on Day 3 and lasts about 10 days.  Then day 21, I start all over again.

My doctor still feels I will get new scans done in September so we will know then if all of these treatments have done anything.

A 12 Pack of Eggs and a Dozen Beers

A 12 pack of eggs and a dozen beers - that is the level my brain is functioning these days.  I made a comment to my son, "how many eggs do we have? a 12 pack?" He looked at me as if I had gone totally insane - but I think I have.

Last week marked my final radiation treatment and I now get a break from chemotherapy for one month.  I know that sounds exciting but it really isn't.

The effects from the radiation and the chemo will last far past the one month break - then I get to begin chemo again.  Overall, I feel "ok" - except for when I eat or when I exert any energy.  So basically - it sucks.  The radiation damaged/irritated my esophagus and it will take a couple of months to heal.  It is extremely painful to swallow almost everything.  I've narrowed my selection of menu down to pasta, eggs, watermelon and anything liquid.  The doctors are worried about me losing weight but I can assure you, I AM NOT....if I can lose weight, YAY. The only thing I can compare the pain to is when you get something stuck in your throat and it won't go down - right in the center of my chest.  Then after drinking something to get it down, it feels like I scraped something.

I am very tired and don't have much energy but part of that is from my blood levels being really low so hopefully within a few weeks my energy will come back. I take 3 to 4 naps per day - not long ones, 1/2 hour each at most.

And finally, according to my cancer doctor, I will have new scans 3 months from my last radiation treatment.  We have to wait for the inflammation to go away.  That will be approximately Sept. 19th.  I don't know if I am anxious for that day to arrive or dreading it.  The news, no matter what it is, will be news...plain and simple...and I'll just keep on marching ahead.

Today was a bit depressing - it was the Shahinian Family Reunion in Richmond, Virginia - my docs wouldn't let me go that far so I missed seeing all my family. Thank goodness for phones and videoconferencing.

On a final note, Cameron is here for the weekend.  Today was a torrential downpour of rain.  Instead of staying home with boring, sleeping Nanna, Aunt Cocko to him to the movies - $23.00 for 2 cokes and 2 popcorns????? O....M....G...

An End In Sight

3 more days and I am done with Radiation Therapy.  6 weeks of going to the hospital, Monday through Friday, is exhausting.  I know that sounds ridiculous but when coupled with chemotherapy, it takes every bit of energy I have each day to go.

I've been quite lucky for 6  weeks that I haven't had any effects from the radiation but that seemed to change this week.  I'm having a hard time swallowing as the radiation has done some damage to my esophagus.  They tell me the damage is inflammation and will repair itself within a few months of ending the therapy.

After that horrible 2 weeks I had, this week I am feeling really good.  I hope I don't jinx myself by saying that.  I still have fatigue.  It is so weird to feel soooooo tired by not be able to fall asleep.  I'm back to being awake half the night but I'm not complaining as I feel really good during the day. 

2 more chemotherapy sessions (6/22 and 6/29) then I get the entire month of July off.  Chemotherapy will resume August 1.  I still have to go for weekly bloodwork during July and the 3 doctors and myself will discuss what drugs we will do for the next rounds.  As long as it not that Taxol that messed me up so bad, I don't care what they use.

So overall, things are going well.  With the exception of not being able to attend my brother's wedding in Florida and not being able to go to Virginia for the yearly family reunion.  Missing Albert's wedding was hard - I waited 52 years for that.  But thanks to my sister and cousin, Maria and Shocky, we Skyped ALOT and I was kept in the loop.

Thank you again for all your comments and private messages - that is what truly brightens my day!!