Cancer Musings (Chemo Day-Taxol #3)

Today was chemo day and my third round of the Taxol. With a lot of pre-meds, I'm able to continue to tolerate the Taxol infusion over one hour instead of two. It was pretty uneventful this time around, just the way we like it. 

The side effects are definitely lighter on this drug than the last one, but they are ever changing. Eating continues to an issue for me. With this drug, I can't taste much, and I can't smell anything, and my appetite is down. I can get the food down; I just don't enjoy it. But that's progress nonetheless, and I'll take it. 

One change in today's treatment is that it was my first appointment without Greg in attendance, as he had to go out of town for work this week. Usually Greg travels a lot more this time of year, so we're grateful to God he has been able to attend all of the appointments up to this point. Papa-Larry took Greg's place as my chemo partner (and driver) this week. We trained him in on ice pack duty and he handled it like a pro. 

Side Note: It's a pretty big cooler we haul back and forth to treatments each week. We bring extra ice packs in case the infusion time ends up going longer than expected and we have to switch them out. I always joke with Greg that people probably think he's carrying an organ transplant in his cooler. I have noticed some suspicious on lookers in the elevator.  

Cancer Musings (You Got This)

I have mentioned here before that God sends me a continuous stream of family, friends, church family, coworkers, and even strangers to encourage me along this cancer journey. I'm continually amazed at how each encouraging word, card, meal, hug, story, etc. comes at just the right time and in just the right way. I take it all as encouragement with the heart in which it was intended. I'm grateful for it, and it's very helpful to me.

The comment I probably hear the most is "You got this!" Again, I understand the sentiment behind this comment, and I am extremely appreciative of it. But, I will say this, if cancer has taught me anything it is that I do not have this. I have never been so aware of my fragility or of the fact that I do not sustain my own life. I can barely walk the length of the kitchen floor (not a big kitchen) without sitting down to rest. When I get dressed in the morning, I put on my pants and then I have to lay on the bed for a few minutes to rest before I can put on anything else. That process continues with each article of clothing I put on. I fear leaving something in my car when I get to work because I don't think I'll have the energy to walk back out and get it. These are all things I did effortlessly just a couple months ago and never gave it a second thought. 

I do not have this, but God does. He faithfully reminds me of this in all the encouraging people he puts in my path, in the many times he gets me through a day when I don't think I'm going to make it, and in bringing Scripture to my mind that reminds me of this truth. A Scripture passage that I memorized shortly after my parents moved in with us while we were caregiving for my mom has come back to me in this current journey. I used to wake up in the middle of the night during those days, anxious about the future. When that happened, I would quote these Bible verses to myself over and over until the anxiety went away or I fell asleep."  You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever for the LORD God is an everlasting rock". Isaiah 26:3-4

God has this, and he can be trusted. 

Cancer Musings (Chemo Appt-Part 2)

I had the chemo appointment this morning, and the Taxol infusion was done. They had given me some oral pre-meds to take and they infused some oral pre-meds plus extra Benadryl before the Taxol. Because of this, I was able to tolerate the infusion over the one-hour period of time instead of two hours. And they feel I'll be able to do this in the future now. This is an answer to prayers. It's difficult for me to sit with ice on my hands and feet for two hours, plus put ice chips in my mouth the whole time. I get so cold, even though they provide me with warm blankets. One hour was still very cold for me today but much more tolerable. Thank you for all your prayers. 

Since I didn't have any extra appointments today, we arrived for the infusion at 8:00 am and walked out at 10:30, the shortest appointment I've had to date. Praise be to God!

Two down, ten more to go (but who's counting?) So far, the side effects on this new drug have been tolerable, and I've regained some of my appetite and taste. Every day is a new day and this something that builds on itself, but I'm so grateful to God for the easier days and the lighter side effects while they are here. Here is go good to provide me with not just bad days but the good days as well. 

I've included a couple pictures from today's appointment below. 

Cancer Musings (Chemo Appt-Part 1)

Today was to be the second infusion of Taxol, but alas due to another scheduling issue, I did not receive the Taxol today. The appointments were scheduled for the afternoon this time around, so I went to work in the morning because I was leading a meeting and needed to be there if it all passible. I was called this morning at work and told I could keep the appointments today for the lab work and the appointment with my oncology provider but because of the reaction to the Taxol last week and the need to infuse that drug over two hours instead of one hour (three hours altogether with the pre-meds they infuse beforehand), my infusion appointment was starting too late in the day and there would not be enough time to infuse it properly. They rescheduled my infusion appointment to tomorrow morning at 8:00 am. I was disappointed as this is a lot of maneuvering of work schedules (mine and Greg's) and expenditure of extra energy that is in short supply these days. The oncology team and the infusion team have been amazing through this whole journey, but the scheduling process continues to be a work in progress. 

I was able to have the labs and oncology appointment today, which went well and will make for a shorter day tomorrow barring any unforeseen reactions or complications.

We still took our customary appointment picture today as seen below. Stay tuned for tomorrow's report.

Cancer Musings (New Drug/Taxol)

Today was the long awaited start of the new chemo drug, Taxol. The last course of drugs (Adriamycin and Cytoxan) were infused every other week, four treatments, over the course of two months. This new m  drug, Taxol, will be infused every week over three months. The side effects of the last course of drugs were brutal, so it is with a bit of apprehension that I started this new course. 

The day started a bit rocky as twice it looked like I would not be able to start the drug. When I met with the oncology team, my feet were examined, and it was recognized that I was still dealing with side effects from the last drug, which included skin peeling off the bottom of my feet (I have spared you all the picture of that, you're welcome). The concern was that this new drug carries the possibility of neuropathy and could damage my feet further. In the end, it was decided to continue with the new drug with some heavy precautions of daily maintenance I need to do for my feet and things to look out for and call about if they get worse. 

With that, we were off to start the infusion. It turns out, this drug has a high reaction rate, and I was heavily cautioned to be on the alert for any sign of reaction. I did react to the drug almost immediately after it entered my system. It was very similar to the reaction I had the very first day I received the first drug, only not quite as severe this time. It was caught very early. I did turn bright red, and my blood pressure shot up, and I was lightheaded, but the nurse quickly got that under control. The drug was stopped right away, my blood pressures were monitored for about an hour, and the oncology team was consulted to decide if the infusion would continue or not. In the end, it was decided that the drug was being infused too fast It was going to happen over one hour. Instead, they decided to infuse it over two hours and see how I tolerated it. 

I did tolerate the slower infusion, but it made for a pretty uncomfortable two hours. One of the possible side effects of this drug is neuropathy. To counteract that side effect, I was asked to keep ice packs on my hands and feet for the entire infusion. This meant two hours of icing instead of one hour. I was also instructed to keep ice in my mouth for the entire time to counteract the side effect of mouth sores. It made for a very chilly two hours. Nothing says "Happy Valentine's Day" like two hours with your sweetheart, shivering. Greg was really great, though. He bought me special ice packs for my hands and feet, brought them with us and carried them around in a cooler. He even helped me get them on and offered his assistance with getting the ice chips in my mouth, as I was wearing mitten ice packs, and they are a bit tricky to maneuver with a spoon. 

I will end with this statement. In all of this God is good and God is faithful. We are grateful for all the care He has provided to us in the middle of suffering. And we are grateful for the many friends, family, church friends, medical staff, and even strangers He has brought in our lives to support us along the way. 

The mask requirement is back at clinics due to an increase in COVID. We wore our Valentine masks.

Greg even got me pink ice packs for my feet and hands. 

Cancer Musings (Next Round of Chemo)

Today I was supposed to start the next round of a new chemo drug (Taxol), but we ended up waiting a week on it. I came down with a cold over a week ago, and between the chemo side effects that have kept me from eating and the effects of a cold on an already immune-compromised body, it has rendered me pretty weak. 

I did have the appointments today and the lab work. It was discovered that my potassium was pretty low this time around. So, instead of starting the new drug this week, I was given IV fluids and potassium. Greg has been working in Arizona for the past week and flew back for the start of the new drug, which didn't happen, but it was so good to have him here anyway. I was very grateful for it. I was the one who made the decision not to go ahead with the Taxol this week, as I wasn't sure I could handle what was already going on in my body and the new side effects that will come with a new drug. I decided to give myself a week to get a little stronger. 

On an upside this week, my first appointment of the day was an ultrasound, which they did to measure the size of the tumor and to see if it has shrunk with the first round of chemo. Praise be to God! It has shrunk considerably, and the process seems to be working. I am grateful.