more about cancer
Well..it's been a while since I last posted...I've started the chemo and so far so good. I went into the cancer unit a couple of weeks ago and they fitted a 'picc' line. This involves shoving a largish needle into the vein of my inner left elbow and feeding a thin plastic tube with a wire inside it (for rigidity) into it and following the vein up my arm and across my chest to the mastectomy site. It was facinating watching it being done....I felt like I was being 'borged'!!! Once they'd taken an X-Ray to make sure the line was where it was supposed to be...the wire was removed, a valve added and the whole thing stuck to my arm with sticky stuff so it wouldn't catch.
The next day I went in for my first treatment...I was warned about various side effects (constipation, diahorrea, hair loss, nausea, hair loss and numerous others, hair loss)...oh...and my pee turning red because of the colouring in the drug. The actual administration of the drug was simple...just injected in (via the line). Afterwards I felt fine...and have continued to feel fine apart from a little tiredness (ok a lot...I fall asleep at the drop of a hat) mouth ulcers and chronic indegestion.
One thing I have done is chopped my hair very short...it was half way down my back but I've been assured I will lose it....so I figured get rid of in now before I start shedding over the furniture like a long haired labrador.
To be perfectly honest I feel a bit of a fraud...none of the promised symptoms have manifested themselves as yet and it's only a week and a bit to my next dose. I was expecting to be laid low by the whole thing and as yet this hasn't happened...I felt a bit fuzzy round the edges for a couple of days....then nothing major...I'm not complaining mind you...hell...if all I get is indegestion and hair loss...I for one will be grateful.
Well...thats it so far....as I said..nothing major, I'll see how I feel after the next dose of chemo and post any changes....as I've said...I doubt anyone will read this...but what the hell...at least I've got a permanent record of what has happened!!
The next day I went in for my first treatment...I was warned about various side effects (constipation, diahorrea, hair loss, nausea, hair loss and numerous others, hair loss)...oh...and my pee turning red because of the colouring in the drug. The actual administration of the drug was simple...just injected in (via the line). Afterwards I felt fine...and have continued to feel fine apart from a little tiredness (ok a lot...I fall asleep at the drop of a hat) mouth ulcers and chronic indegestion.
One thing I have done is chopped my hair very short...it was half way down my back but I've been assured I will lose it....so I figured get rid of in now before I start shedding over the furniture like a long haired labrador.
To be perfectly honest I feel a bit of a fraud...none of the promised symptoms have manifested themselves as yet and it's only a week and a bit to my next dose. I was expecting to be laid low by the whole thing and as yet this hasn't happened...I felt a bit fuzzy round the edges for a couple of days....then nothing major...I'm not complaining mind you...hell...if all I get is indegestion and hair loss...I for one will be grateful.
Well...thats it so far....as I said..nothing major, I'll see how I feel after the next dose of chemo and post any changes....as I've said...I doubt anyone will read this...but what the hell...at least I've got a permanent record of what has happened!!
posted by shezzy's sanitarium at 3:52 PM
4 Comments:
the first treatment you usually feel pretty good. The next one is going to knock you on your ass....I just went thru all this with my brother. He will be cancer free for one whole year in MAY!!! hang in there. you can do it.
i'm glad the side effects haven't been horrible so far. hoping it continues to go well.
Best of luck to you. I have one piece of advice for you. Stay the heck away from sick people. My brother in law just completed his treatments and was doing great but then he caught some kind of illness, probibly from the many women hugging him and crying all over him. He had a rough three months but is doing well now. Never give up.
Greg
I went back and read your Oct 19th, 06 article called, "cancer" in order to get the background for this one.
My mother-in-law had ovarian cancer and went through chemo and radiation about 6 years ago...she got her "5 years free and clear" a year ago, so she's doing good so far.
I hope your treatment goes as successfully as hers did!
Peace.
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