Second Chemo of Round Two

Jody doing the red devil push



Well it was chemo day this afternoon! Latest appointment I have had so far. We got out of the chemo room around 5:15ish.








Just relaxin....


Had different company this time! Patrick and Alicia came (though she did not come into the chemo room) and Sandy, one of my good friends from high school. So it was a bit of switching around, but that was ok. It was the first time for Patrick and Sandy in the chemo room - and both did well!



With Sandy








With Patrick

My chemo nurse was Jody and she is pregnant with her 2nd girl and is due end of June. She was a blast. Donna, Leslie and Darlene were all there and came by and chatted for a bit. Old home week! I hadn't seen Leslie since before Xmas as she had been off for surgery but she came over to thank me for the Christmas ornament that I gave her.

We were a bit late as poor Sandy got stuck in a "police incident" around Scott Road (and if anyone knows what it was, let me know), so I phoned the chemo room and let them know we would be late. As it turned out, it was good we were late as Jody was running a wee bit behind schedule, so worked out perfectly.

Jody had a wee bit of a problem with my veins, she landed having to put it in the vein that runs downwards from the thumb. But she got it in. Had to keep the heating pad on almost the entire time as the vein wanted to go away. It was a strong vein, just that mine are getting weak from repeated poking and also from the Red Devil.

Jody also gave me some tips on how to control the nausea - take my regular meds and in between them to take the gravol, said it should help it a bit. So we will try that and see what happens.

I also found out what the minimum my white blood cell count can be - 1.5 and mine was 1.8 so just got in under the wire.

And we got cake today!!!! One of the nurses is retiring so they had a party for her, and the left over cake came to the chemo room! It was wonderful - Patrick got some and loved it and so did I. Sandy unfortunately couldn't have it as it was not gluten free.

My next lab work is 9:20 on April 3 and my appointment with Dr. Pansegrau is at 10:20. Chemo is on April 6 but no time yet.

Just a short one today!

Roni

Visit with Dr. P

Well, today was another visit to the oncologist!

It was a good visit. He asked how I was feeling, as in the nausea - which I said lasted about 2 weeks and the fatigue which is still here. He said to try some Gravol with the meds I take now to see how that helps with the nausea and if it doesn't calm it down, then we can look at taking another medication along with the stuff I am on now. He said that the Echo cardiogram turned out good - that my heart was good and strong (nice to get good news once in a while!). He is going to book another CT scan to see how the tumours are doing and this will be after the third treatment, so probably end of April give or take a week or so.

I told him I had been doing some research and asked him about the booster meds to keep the white blood count up. He said it is an option - but it is more for early cancer rather than metastatic cancer, doesn't really work. If I had more fevers and infection it could be a possibility, but unfortunately it is very expensive - $2400 per cycle and it is not a generic drug so I would land paying for 30% of it. Though through the Victory program could probably get it at a lower rate.

I also asked about high doses of Vitamin C - he said that they are finding out that high doses of the supplement are not really good for you and they tend to stay around from them. Vitamin D he said is ok to take higher doses and I do this already, taking 2,000 IU daily. He said they are finding more good coming from the Vitamin D.

I asked him also, if I could do my blood work today rather than on the weekend. He said they normally like it taken within 48 hours, but I could do mine today, and if the count is low or off, he would call me and I would have to get it taken on Sunday. Guess the numbers are good, as I have not received a phone call!

Meghan and Ryan came with us, though not into the room. Meghan did after I had finished my stuff. She wanted to know if he would be interested in taking a practicum student for May. He gave her the name of the person in charge and she will call the secretary on Monday and see what will happen.

So, that is all for now. Have chemo on Monday at 3:15, latest I have had it and will give a further update and pictures. One of the gals from high school is coming with me, so a new experience for her.

Have a great weekend!

Roni

Visit with Dr. Klimo

Well, we decided to see what else is out there as far as treatment is concerned. So, this morning, Brian and I went to see Dr. Klimo on the North Shore. We both found him to be very pleasant, funny and up-front. And he did spend a fair amount of time with us explaining things. He does not necessarily believe all that the Cancer Clinic does - there are drugs out there that they should be using but the CC isn't using them.

He agreed with the type of treatment I was getting, though I think he would have done it differently for the first round. But he said that I should be taking a white blood cell booster so that my count doesn't drop like it did before and end up in hospital (did some research on this - self-injections at home). He said that Dr. P is doing what is he believes is the right course of action - he is hitting it head on and full blast. Think Dr. Klimo would have done a different regime but for the same end. Improve quality of life and extend it as long as possible.

He also thinks, that I should be back on the anti-hormonal drug I was on twice, each time I went on it, landed on chemo - and nothing to do with that drug - just the way things happened. So I will ask Dr. P when I see him on Friday as to when he believes I will back on the Exemestane.

He said if I have any more questions, feel free to come back and see him. And I just might - one never knows. I felt very comfortable with him.

So, Friday see Dr. P again and then my bloodwork done on the Saturday at SMH - and then on the 16th at 3:15, treatment 2 of the chemo. And I have been only really affected by a few of the side effects of the regime I am on now - nausea (lots of it from about day 4 to day 13,sore gums and the fatigue is far worse this time around - so, taking lots and lots of naps. The hair is just starting to come out again - so let's see what colour it comes back in the summer after this round is over!!!

Will update the blog again on Monday.

Ciao for now

Roni