Chemo round 1

I had my first round of chemotherapy on Monday December 30th at the main Huntsman.  The medications that I will be given include the pre-meds for 1 hour, Doxil (Red Devil) for 1 hour, and Carbo for 1 hour. My Dad and Jeff spent the morning up at Huntsman with me. I am still undecided about getting a port put in again because it was not comfortable, so instead I have to have the PICC line team use their machine to get a good vein for chemo.

 (My first real, not liquid, food I had after chemo was a Gandolfo's sandwich, unfortunately it caused lots of stomach cramping)

Something unique I have to do while receiving Doxil is keeping my hands and feet in ice packs the entire hour. There is a condition that patients get where you get sores in your mouth, feet and hands so ice is supposed to help. I am also unable to take any of the normal supplements that I have been taking due to it being too overloading to the liver. The treatment went well with no complications.

I soon remembered how tough it is to get through the days after chemo! I pretty much didn't exist for the entire week afterwards. I was incredibly nauseous despite the constant meds as well as sleepy and in pain---yes the terrible stomach pains with eating are still bothering me daily. I continue to be fearful to eat due to the pain I experience.

I was lucky enough to run across a program that Huntsman offers called SOS and Huntsman at Home. One of the doctors I met with was a pain specialist Dr. Odell. He put me on a Fentanyl patch as well as continuing to take Norco for break through pain from my stomach. I was also placed on lactulose to help keep my bowels working since I can't take any laxatives as it would increase my bowel pains. Prior to starting chemo I also met with a nurse from Hunstman at Home. This is a wonderful resource 24/7 for cancer patients to call and get help managing their symptoms or getting fluids if needed. My parents and I definitely took advantage of all their knowledge which was very helpful, especially when I started to have chest pains. I have been on a pretty strict regimen for nausea, cramping, pain, and sleeping meds to help get me through this first week.

I don't remember much about the New Year holiday but tried to make sure the girls had some fun memories. On Jan 5th my dad took me out to see if I could walk in the swimming pool at the rec center. It felt so good to move in the water that I stayed over 30 mins. As soon as I got out of the pool I could hardly walk to the car due to fatigue, but it was still worth the feeling of being able to move and get out of my bed.

My next round of chemo begins at the end of January....I sure hope to have mores strength to endure the treatments as it is getting harder and harder to stay strong. I'm grateful for my girls who massage lotion into my hands and feet each night and to my parents for continuously helping make sure the girls are fed and taken care of as well as taking care of my needs.