Chemo Class and Port Placement

On Friday I had chemo class. It was really enlightening. I took awesome notes, cried a bit, and was given some homework (to read a bunch of papers about possible complications and info on the specific drug regimen that I am receiving to treat my cancer.) Here are some interesting things that I learned:

• Chemotherapy is individualized. Even though I am going to be receiving a common set of drugs the amounts, etc. are going to be specifically dosed to give me the best results possible. This is done using chemistry and math and is checked multiple times. It is also adjusted according to my reactions to the drugs along the course of my treatment.
• I won't lose my hair for a few more weeks. Generally hair loss begins 2-4 weeks after treatment starts.
• My immune system will be at its lowest a week after I am treated for about 3 days. During this time I am to avoid eating salads, fresh fruits and vegetables, and also to avoid crowded areas, physical contact, and ill people or people who have recently revived vaccinations containing live viruses because I will have the ability to contract them.
• My skin will be more sensitive to the sun.
• One of the drugs they give me will also turn my pee pink for about a day after I take it.

So that's a little bit about what I have to look forward to. The good news is that while there are a lot of restrictions I can still participate in mild to moderate exercise and I can drink all the slurpees I want, it is after all important to stay hydrated.

In other news, today (Monday) was Port Day. I was not excited for this, and I'm actually still not super happy about it because it is quite uncomfortable at the moment. I went in this morning and they performed a minor surgery to install a port that connects through my jugular vein and into my heart. This will make giving chemo, drawing blood, and other IV stuff much easier. Yay. I have mixed feelings on the matter, but I'm sure I will come to appreciate it, plus I was given a prescription for Lidocaine cream that should make the needle poking much less bothersome. This picture is backwards but it gives you the general idea. I am going to have quite the scar collection when all this is done. On the bright side, I got a ton of sleep today and I still feel mellow from the happy drugs they gave me during the operation.

 

I thought I better write this now because I'm not sure how I will feel tomorrow. It's the big day. I'm going to plan on an update at some point, I'm just not sure when. Chemo #1 here I come. :)