Update: Had my first of four cycles/sessions of chemo today. I was front-loaded with Benadryl just in case I got an allergic reaction to the Taxotere. And some anti-nausea medication. Then came the Taxotere. That took an hour. Then came the Cytoxin. That was only a half hour. Guess it’s the ugly twin and a bit harsher. No reactions anticipated before the 3rd of 4th day. Then look out, I’m told. So we shall see. I have to go back on Monday for an injection of white blood cells. So I guess there’s going to be something happening inside the body whether I feel it or not.
So let’s see. Quint got the streaming device for Netflix hooked up. And in case I get cold just sitting there, I have an extra electric blanket to keep me from getting chilled.
This morning when I woke up, I noticed that my face was flushed. Nothing bad, just looked I’ve been out in the fresh cool air.
It’s 38 degrees here today in Middle Illinois. I’m going to church to meet with the little Junior Quilters. That’s always a hoot. And they don’t get so close that I have to worry about catching any germs or anything.
Tomorrow I may sit in the back of the church, though.
So far, no side effects. Except I noticed that I gained 2-1/1 pounds when I stepped on the scale this morning.
I can’t tell you how much I appreciate all the information you’ve shared with me. It really helps to know what to expect.
I did read an article in the Ladies Home Journal while I was waiting for Quint at the periodontist the other day. There was a little blurb that researchers have come up with a breast cancer vaccine that kills breast tumors in mice that are “engineered” to develop breast tumors. All the mice that got the vaccine had their tumors eradicated; where the mice who did not get the vaccine all died. The report says that the vaccine should be ready to go to clinical trials in humans in five years or so.
That would be great. So all of us who are buying time with this chemo and radiation and other treatment just need to hold on. It’s not too far off in the future when we can get a shot for this just like the pneumonia shot I got the other day. Who’d have ever thought that we could get a shot for pneumonia?
I want to see if I can find the research article that the article was referring to. The Journal article didn’t cite any university that I can remember.
— Jane
It is a good time not to be outside in the dangerous weather. I felt fine tyesterday morning so we went to Sunday School and Church. The lady, Jo, who works with the Junior Quilters with me and I signed up for altar care for the month of December. She took care of the set-up on Saturday while we were at church with the little girls and I was all set to clean up.
Well, I felt fine until I finished emptying the trays of communion glasses (we still use the washable individual cups) into the sink when I suddenly felt like I had to
sit down. Quint went to warm up the car and moved it into the portico at church so I wouldn’t have to walk through the blowing snow. A couple of other ladies finished cleaning up the communion service since Jo had gone home in the middle of service with a bronchial infection to go back to bed.
At least I made it to church and received communion which I did not want to miss.
I just felt like a wet noodle, kind of like going across the mountains and some altitude thing going on which I’m not used to, being a flatlander, as Quint calls me. Of course, he’s lived in Illinois so long he’s no so used to elevation anymore either, like he used to be when he lived in Colorado.
Anyway, it was blustery blustery here. Lots of snow blowing around with gusty winds.
But it’s going to get back up into the 30s by Wednesday. All I have done today was go over to the oncology center and get a shot of something to help me boost my white blood cells. Other than that, not much else going on. I have an electric blanket that I snuggle into when I’m watching TV in my
Laz-Y-Boy rocker.
What a life! Hope all is well with everybody out there.
— Jane