Cycles 1-4 consist of 3 different types of chemo drugs: Fluororacil, Doxorubicin ("Red Devil" 👹), and Cyclophosphamide every 3 weeks. Chemo week is supposed to be the hardest. It starts on day 1 (chemo day) and symptoms are supposed to progress through day 7. Today is day 6 of dancing with the devil. Somehow, my body tolerated the dance incredibly well!
Nausea/ fatigue- Overall, just a little nausea and exhaustion. I experienced about an hour (over the span of 6 days) where the exhaustion and nausea were pretty strong but those moments passed very quickly. As an example (on day 2), I took a shower and loaded clothes into the dryer. Just those 2 tasks, KNOCKED ME OUT for about 15 min. haha! From then on, I've had to downshift my energy level to about 25% by sitting most of the day.
Stomach / Pain- Night 4, I experienced some wicked stomach cramps!!
Hair loss- So far, hair is still on my head but I'm dreading the moment it begins to fall out. I fear brushing it and seeing a clump on the brush.
Appetite (Weight loss/Weight gain)- The steroid the first couple of days gave me a huge appetite but the nausea helped me keep it under control. So far, I haven't lost or gained any weight.
I feel so damn lucky. 💗
Chemo Round #1
Things are about to get real. I had to buy barf bags online last night and had my 1st chemo cycle this morning. We arrived at MD Anderson at 6:15am. Had blood work and at 7:30am went into this room. I was expecting a very large room with lots of people having treatment in reclining chairs, so a private room was a pleasant surprise.
We were in the room for 3 hours. The first 30 minutes consisted of flushing my port and administering 3 different nausea medications and a steroid. The following 2.5 hours consisted of the 3 chemo drugs (F.A.C). One of them has a "street name" of Red Devil. Love the warm and fuzzy feeling that it gives me hearing the name, but I'll welcome and embrace this little cocktail as it helps me beat this thing. Thankfully, it was a non eventful day and I feel great other than sleepy and a little queasy.
CHEMO #1 with MY #1- ✅ ❤️
7 to go!!!
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| It was actually RED. 👹 |
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| Sunrise from MD Anderson this morning. |
Port Surgery
I had my port surgery at MD Anderson yesterday with Dr. Ervin Brown. He is an incredible surgeon that specializes in port surgeries. He has done over 11,000! He is also known for singing oldies to his patients during the entire surgery (I was in there for an hour and 20 minutes). At the end of the surgery, he held my hand and sang "Hooked on a Feeling". The nurses were singing along as well. Amazing right!? For me, this was an experience, not a surgery. Then, last night Dr. Brown sent me an email with "A Song For You" written in the subject. He included his rendition of "What a Wonderful World". This man is doing what he loves and it shows. I am so thankful to get to know these wonderful people that are taking care of me. I would have never had the privilege to experience something like it, but I got to because of you, cancer. You are not as big and tough as you think you are!!! 😤
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| Ready! |
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| My new friend. |
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