Chemo #2 - Another Day of Poison

This round of chemo started out pretty much like the first... which is good news.  I didn't sleep at all the night before - anxious and hopeful that this time would go as smoothly.  My doctor told me that each treatment is unpredictable as to how "the patient's body" will react.  I feel like I'm playing a game of darts.  If I hit the bulls-eye I'll have mild effects but anywhere out of that.... it's anyone's guess what will happen.

But I'm getting ahead of myself... several weeks ago I wrote about taking off my acrylic nails.  Well, they are finally gone.  After letting them grow out for almost 2 months - I had the last little bit removed.  Keep in mind - I have had either polish or acrylic on my nails since 1970.  YEP... Junior High and I never went longer than 2 weeks without doing my nails. So this is a SHOCK to my system....

I can't pick up anything... or even TYPE very well without my nails..... UGH

Anyway, back to THE DREADED CHEMO saga....

Here I am as we are leaving for treatment with my little bald head but cute hat holding up the #2 for my second treatment.  (note the lovely flowers from my friends up North)

I met with Dr. Bott at 10:20.  He asked me about all my symptons - told me my blood work was excellent and.... chuckling a little.. mentioned that my platelet count is 495,000!! HOLY COW.... this is a FAR cry from the 7,000 - life threatening count that I receive (and had to cancel my Cabo trip) in January of 2011.  Apparently, Rituxten (chemo) did the trick (knock on wood) for my platelets!  Now I can only hope and pray that my combo treatment does the trick for my cancer!!

After the doc visit, we found us a couple of chairs close to the corner we prefer.  About 30 minutes later my concoction is mixed and ready to be delivered.  I first receive the nausea drip as I did last week... HURRAY for that stuff!!  Then I get a bag full of benedryl.  

It didn't really matter that I didn't sleep the night before as I slept for about an hour...... ahhh so restful! (for the record, I do not take attractive sleeping pictures!)

After the benedryl bag was empty 

I was started, one by one, on my three chemo drugs.  

We were done and left around 3:15.

  We finished an hour earlier this time as the last drug was a shorter version.

So far, I am having basically the same symptoms.  Some nausea but not much - just pop one of those pills, eat a cracker and I'm good to go.  I'm drinking LOTS of water to try and keep away mouth sores and flush the chemo out of my body.  I've got a little more fatigue this time and my headache seems worse.  Last time the headache lasted 3 days after the chemo.  I'm enjoying a nice flushed looked that just started and will probably last 2 more days.  All in all - if this is the total of my side effects this time - I will be so grateful and feel so blessed.  So many people known to me and not known have been praying for me and sending positive thoughts.  I am such a lucky person!

Kindof a scary self portrait .... eek...which I took today... but this is the thing - I have never been a big fan of pink. NOW I am a BIG fan of PINK!!  Beast cancer is still the #1 cause of death for women followed  by heart disease.  I'm going to kick this cancer's butt and then I am going to do all I can to support and educate people to find a cure for this killer disease. I don't want another woman to go through the fear, pain and all the emotions associated with breast cancer.  I'm fighting like a girl and I'm going to win!