Well, radiation is a breeze. I realize the effects will be cumulative so I will probably be singing a different tune in a couple of days or weeks but-- so far, so good. I was on the table for about 7 minutes. Easy peasy. I do have some lower back (kidney?) pain, but I think that is from the chemo or residuals from having the stomach bug this weekend....or a combo of the two.
The chemo pills are enormous and I am worried about keeping them down after this stuff starts to build up as I have a terrible gag reflex. But, we'll see.
I do have to take a second to bitch about my neuropathy. My fingers and feet are so numb and it almost seems to be getting worse the further away I get from taking the Oxaliplatin that caused it to begin with. My oncologist said he hears that a lot but has a theory that people just think it is getting worse because the other symptoms get so much better. I think that is bullshit and people know when something is getting worse. It is so difficult to type or write and forget about doing something intricate like closing a Ziploc bag or trying to work a clasp on one of Garrison's 47 necklaces. Don't get me wrong, I will take this all day, every day over a lot of the other side effects I had...but it still stinks.
So that's all for now.
Monday, January 21, 2013
Sunday, January 20, 2013
The Good, the Bad, and the Funny
I am starting radiation tomorrow! While I'm nervous, I know I can't finish until I start so I am excited to get this show on the road. During my final consultation on Friday there were some positives, a few negatives and one down right funny moment.
First, the Good: Apparently you burn extra calories while doing radiation. Yes! I'm skeptical but wouldn't that be awesome!?! My nurse was adamant about me needing to keep my calories up....no problem! Well, hopefully it won't be a problem (see the bad).
I will go in every morning, Monday-Friday at 7:15 for five weeks. I'm really happy I got an early appointment time so I won't have to miss work. It lasts about 20-30 minutes. I'm hoping I'll be disciplined enough to keep up with using the treadmill every morning at 5:30 (more calories!).
The Bad: This is going to be expensive. I mean, in the grand scheme of things, I have very good insurance and I know it could be so much worse, but those co-pays are going to add up fast when I'm going every day.
The other bad part is the side effects. Sounds like I could have some significant pain and since there are a lot of "high functioning" areas where they will be doing the radiation...some of my...um bodily functions could be affected. Of course, there is the ever present promise of diarrhea, so that will be fun. But, like I've said before, it is 5 weeks and I can do anything for 5 weeks.
The Funny: This part wasn't so funny at first but now it cracks me up. When I went for my consult on Friday the nurse started explaining what I could expect in terms of side effects. She said the first week would be ok but somewhere during the second week my breast would start to look very sunburned. HUH? I said, "that's weird, why would my breast look sunburned?" She said, "because that is where the radiation is going for your breast cancer" HUH? "Um, I don't have breast cancer" (or do you know something I don't know??). She says "Ooops! What kind of cancer do you have?" "Colon"...."oh, well then you are going to have a lot more side effects...let me get my paperwork on that!" Good grief! Luckily the radiation technicians had already done their job and they no where the radiation is going.
So that's all for now. I'll update again soon.
First, the Good: Apparently you burn extra calories while doing radiation. Yes! I'm skeptical but wouldn't that be awesome!?! My nurse was adamant about me needing to keep my calories up....no problem! Well, hopefully it won't be a problem (see the bad).
I will go in every morning, Monday-Friday at 7:15 for five weeks. I'm really happy I got an early appointment time so I won't have to miss work. It lasts about 20-30 minutes. I'm hoping I'll be disciplined enough to keep up with using the treadmill every morning at 5:30 (more calories!).
The Bad: This is going to be expensive. I mean, in the grand scheme of things, I have very good insurance and I know it could be so much worse, but those co-pays are going to add up fast when I'm going every day.
The other bad part is the side effects. Sounds like I could have some significant pain and since there are a lot of "high functioning" areas where they will be doing the radiation...some of my...um bodily functions could be affected. Of course, there is the ever present promise of diarrhea, so that will be fun. But, like I've said before, it is 5 weeks and I can do anything for 5 weeks.
The Funny: This part wasn't so funny at first but now it cracks me up. When I went for my consult on Friday the nurse started explaining what I could expect in terms of side effects. She said the first week would be ok but somewhere during the second week my breast would start to look very sunburned. HUH? I said, "that's weird, why would my breast look sunburned?" She said, "because that is where the radiation is going for your breast cancer" HUH? "Um, I don't have breast cancer" (or do you know something I don't know??). She says "Ooops! What kind of cancer do you have?" "Colon"...."oh, well then you are going to have a lot more side effects...let me get my paperwork on that!" Good grief! Luckily the radiation technicians had already done their job and they no where the radiation is going.
So that's all for now. I'll update again soon.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Big Ben, Parliament.
I had planned on posting a jubilant piece about how I wasn't doing chemo today, but it turns out that chemo is the gift that keeps on giving. And there is no gift receipt. I had my post-chemo follow up today where I found out I needed to do "low dose" chemo while I am doing radiation. So....I'm not done with chemo after all. I am sure you all are as sick of my doom and gloom posts as I am but I am seriously bummed that I am not done. Chemo seriously sucks....and while this "low dose" means I take a pill twice a day instead of needing to go to the lab all day once every two weeks, I have heard that the pill form actually has more side effects than Iv chemo....and that does not appeal to me at all.
The good news is that it is only five weeks and I can do anything for five weeks. Hopefully that will be it and THEN I can move on, but I'm so tired of my finish line constantly moving backwards. And did I mention that I hate chemo? I'm feeling pretty good right now but the neuropathy in my fingers and feet is really bad. My feet are so numb that I sometimes miss my footing and almost trip. This afternoon, I finally ate it on the drive way and scratched up my hand and leg pretty bad. I don't believe the new meds will make that worse but there's a slew of other side effects to get used to.
So.....that's the update. I meet with the radiation oncologist tomorrow and should get to start radiation the week of the 21st.
The good news is that it is only five weeks and I can do anything for five weeks. Hopefully that will be it and THEN I can move on, but I'm so tired of my finish line constantly moving backwards. And did I mention that I hate chemo? I'm feeling pretty good right now but the neuropathy in my fingers and feet is really bad. My feet are so numb that I sometimes miss my footing and almost trip. This afternoon, I finally ate it on the drive way and scratched up my hand and leg pretty bad. I don't believe the new meds will make that worse but there's a slew of other side effects to get used to.
So.....that's the update. I meet with the radiation oncologist tomorrow and should get to start radiation the week of the 21st.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)