So, people sometimes wonder why I always opt for the tougher medicines or surgeries when given the choice. There have been multiple times along this journey where Michael and I have been the ones to choose the tough road instead of the easy one. We have also chosen the tough road in these instances. Sometimes, this meant surgery, but other times this has meant doing chemotherapy when there was no known assurance it was the "right" thing to do.
I wanted to explain that a little today. I have also talked about how chemotherapies and other drugs are a luxury for my cancer, breast cancer. There have been many brave people before me who brought attention to breast cancer, raised money and made a difference in terms of research. These steps have directly affect me, someone who had no known risks of the disease and no family history.
Chemotherapy, itself, is the name applied to several drugs that make blast at the fast-growing cells in the body. Cancer cells are fast-growing, but so is hair, stomach and the mouth. Chemo, though tough, does not have the ability to discern these cells from eachother. Because of that, it wipes out the hair, causes mouth sores, depletes the white blood cells and causes nausea and other side-effects. There are many meds that keep these side effects in check. In all my chemo, I have only had one incidence of vomiting and very little nausea. Each chemo will have additional side effects such as peripheral neuropathy (numbness in fingers and toes).
These side effects will roll through the body after the chemotherapy is infused into the body via a vein or temporary port that is placed in the chest or arm. For me, I have weekly treatments. During my treatment, they will give me pre-meds that include anti-nausea meds that will be in my system for three days. Sometimes these meds are in pill form, it just depends on the type of med being administered. These meds work in amazing ways. Noone should have major nausea issues on chemo because the meds are out there to help.
For the first three days after my treatment last week, I was pretty out of it. I had fevers and slept a lot, but as my body gets acclimated to the medicine, those days will get easier. Motrin helped and Michael and my family are troupers. They keep the kids busy and pay attention to them so they are happy. On the fourth day after, Tuesday, I started to feel pretty good and didn't have to take any over the counter meds to feel better. Today, which is day five, I am even better. I do get the chills every once in a while, but I was able to get the kids ready for school today and go to Target. That is pretty good for me.
Chemo, overall, is very doable and if given the option to do meds or stay away from them...I will always choose meds. They have helped keep my disease manageable and be an active person. Don't get me wrong, there are bad days. When they are bad, I let myself feel bad. I rest and don't overdo it. If I get down, I journal. I take action about things, I always try to feel that I am in charge of my treatment and disease. I have also been afraid of my cancer, but I try to turn that into respect. I tell people I dance with my cancer, but I always try to lead. Before this new medicine, I felt that the cancer was leading a little and I was ill-at-ease. Now, I feel much better because I am armed to fight.
I haven't lost my hair yet, but my friend Tina taught me how to tie a bandana into a do rag really well today. So, I am going to get some of those and wear them through the summer. I will start wearing them now so the kids are used to them by the time the hair falls out. I have learned that hair is over-rated when it comes to staying healthy. There is no comparison. I attached a picture of Jack and me with my do rag on. As I start to lose hair and get acclimated to that process, I will take pictures and keep you a part of that as well. It will happen in about two weeks, but the shedding process takes only 3 days. WILD.
Blessings,
Lolo
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