Launch of Attack 1: Seek and Destroy!
About midday I was sitting in my comfy recliner ready for my first chemo session. Sitting in the window with the sun streaming through - beautiful day!
Everyone was so friendly, chatting away, getting to know me! Lots of times ahead to be spent in this room. There would have been at least half a dozen other people in there for treatment as well. Tim and I were offered a sandwich and a drink and Tim could get coffee or tea whenever he wanted.
Coming in to this first session my only concern really was could Trevor, my oncologist find a vein easily!! One doc doing my heart scan last week hadn't - bruise still on inner arm. But Trevor went with the vein used by the second doc at the heart scan - outside edge of elbow. Great!! Only felt the initial jab - no pain!! Easy. Yippee!
I had taken the precaution of drinking a couple of litres of water since tea time to keep my veins hydrated. AND had a large bottle of water with me in the session to sip on AND am continuing to sip on this now - all to help FLUSH out the drugs
So once the cannula had been inserted (temporary tube in vein) all 'activity' etc could be done painlessly through this.
Firstly they took blood to check my Blood Count - this is the regular start to each treatment to ascertain that my blood has healthy levels of everything to fight this! Of course, fully armed and ready to go!
The results took 15 mins during which time they added a saline drip through the cannula to help hydrate my veins.
Then they gave me anti-nausea drugs: Emend (tablet) and 2 via IV - Kytril and Dexamethasone. These continue for a couple of days as tablets at home.
Next was Adriamycin which is red, took 10 minutes to administer and is the bugga that guarantees 100% that I'll loose my hair about April 18! I'm ready but not happy about this bit!! I was given an icypole to suck on during this part.
Lastly was Cyclophosphamide - this drug dripped its way through my system over an hour. Listened to the beginning of my second Jane Austin audio book on my iphone: done Pride and Prejudice; now onto Sense and Sensibility. I have also got onto some podcasts of Oscar Wilde (Importance of being Ernest) - very like Rowan Atkinson humour!
No pain or side effects during treatment but did feel fuzzy/thick in the head SLIGHTLY when we left and since then. I also have felt a LITTLE bit funny in the tummy but it's not really nausea. Had tea and one of the allocated drugs and felt better. Still 'funny' now but fine! It's only 7 hours on at the moment so early days...!! 6 to 12 hours after treatment is when to expect the onslaught!
I am just pleased the S&D Team (Seek and Destroy!) are onboard and doing their job! Given them their timetables and duty rosters! (hehe) Go boys!! Right behind ya.
