She's Radioactive

This week, I've been busy with a surgeon follow-up, a Herceptin Treatment and a MUGA Scan. I saw my surgeon on Monday afternoon and he was pleased with my progress and range of movement. Although I do still have quite a bit of numbness in my arm, chest and back, it is lessening and not unexpected from lymph node removal.

On Wednesday, I had my first Herceptin treatment since "the rash" and in all honesty, I was a tiny bit apprehensive, but nothing happened and the rash continues to be a mystery and luckily, just a memory. As I was scheduled for a MUGA Scan on Thursday morning, the nurse left my port accessed overnight, which took the IV anxiety out of the MUGA appointment.

Ok, you are asking yourself, what the heck is a MUGA. Here is more info than you wanted and this photo is of me having my MUGA! The MUGA scan (MUltiple Gated Acquisition scan) is a noninvasive test that assess the health of the heart's major pumping chamber (the left ventricle). The process is really very simple, but a little odd. They take a vial of blood and then go away for 25 mintues while they make your blood radioactive, then they come back with a white box with a big "Caution Radioactive" label on it, take a vial encased in metal out and then reinject the radioactive blood into the patient. The next part is easy - you don't even have to challenge the fashion police in a hospital johnny - just lie on the table, and the machine takes 16 pictures for each heart beat for 7 minutes. I had a MUGA back in March prior to beginning treatment and will have one every 3 months for the duration of my Herceptin treatment, as heart damage is a reversible side effect of Herceptin.

So, one week past my last chemotherapy treatment I am starting to feel much better. As expected, I did have a difficult weekend, and this one was a bit more emotionally difficult than in the past. I don't know if it was the change in my treatment drugs that Dr. Muss made, or the fact that it was wonderful weather and I was feeling a bit sorry for myself, but I'm sure I made my husband crazy on Sunday with a little more than my share of whining. Other than that, I did have a little more than usual nausea, but nothing too bad. I am beginning to feel better, and by all accounts will feel more and more like my old self each day now that the toxins are leaving my body for good.

Feelin' Fine

So it's the 5th day since my last Chemotherapy treatment and I'm feeling quite well. On Sunday and part of yesterday, I did have pretty much a "maybe its better if I just lie down" kind of a day, but nothing really bad. I've been able to continue to walk either on the treadmill or outside for at least 1/2 hour every day and I've been able to continue to eat healthy meals. The first couple mornings I switched over to Carnation Instant Breakfast, but this morning had no problem with the pancakes and bacon we had to celebrate my mother's 87th birthday.

I've learned that one key to a successful morning is slowing the process of getting up (although I'm not sure that's possible for me - an expert snooze alarm manipulator). I've found waking up and having a few crackers and something to drink and waiting for 20 - 30 minutes diminishes the chances of long-term upset stomach, which is probably something all of you who have faced morning sickness already knew - but it's news to me. Also, a friend of mine gave me some great ginger chews which have proved to be quite helpful for settling my stomach - especially after eating. I'm working hard to continue to eat right, exercise daily and get enough rest so that the incredible machine we call a human body, aided by some pretty cool science, can do its thing and ensure I have a long and healthy life.

If you have any tips or tricks for getting through chemotherapy, or even just run of the mill stomach ailments, please feel free to share those in the comments section. THANKS!

Oh, my nose!

When I was at the Cancer Center the other day for treatment, I mentioned that I was having trouble sleeping which really isn't anything new, but I thought maybe I could get some help. The nurse suggested that I try using Benadryl as an option. I had occassionaly used this in the past, so I thought I'd give it a try. Yeah, that was a mistake! I took 2 Benadryl 2 days ago and my poor little nose hasn't been the same since. Benadryl clears up a runny nose - I didn't really have a runny nose, so my normal nose (which, lets not forget has been subject to the effects of chemotherapy) got extra-dry and began to bleed. So, I am now without the option of Benadryl-induced sleep and have become addicted to my nasal saline spray.

Chemotherapy Treatment #1 Side Effects

So far, I have experienced very limited chemotherapy side effects. I had no real naseau, thanks to the great drugs I was given, but did have some quesiness and heartburn. I have discovered I can no longer tolerate foods with tomato - does that mean I won't be able to have a pizza until June??? Yikes! Once I cut out the tomato, my heart burn pretty much disappeared. I'm working with Instant Breakfasts for breakfast and dinner and trying for some solid food at lunchtime. I have a slight metallic taste in my mouth and my sense of taste has pretty much disappeared except for very strong flavors - I'm suddenly a peppermint patty fan. This morning I discovered if I put a layer of honey under the layer of peanut butter, I can get down some high-fiber toast.

The Herceptin (which I receive weekly) produces flu-like symptoms - sore throat and neck, slight ear ache.

Effects of Neulasta Shot

I did experience quite a bit of pain from the Neulasta injection I received the day after chemotherapy. Neulasta stimulates bone marrow to increase production of white blood cells which can cause pain in the "long bones", and in my case was quite painful. I was leary of taking additional medications, so I although I did take some Tylenol, I waited until the pain was close to unbearable. I found that baths helped and on Saturday took two! I now know that I should have taken Advil (3-4 of them) around the clock and could have avoided much of my discomfort. Lesson learned: my tendancy to tough it out will not serve me well during this experience. Most of this pain has passed, although I seem to be having trouble with pain in my feet during the night - last night was very painful.