Thursday, July 30, 2009

Round 3, Treatment 1 of 12

Hello everyone!

Well, here we go again! Got to the clinic at 9 for the "training" session with Colleen. Seeing as I have been through 2 other rounds, most of the stuff was just a refresher, but there were a few things I found out. I will have two weeks of treatment and two weeks off and then start again. So, a harder schedule this time and won't have a lot of time to get back to 100% health. Most of the side effects are the same with a few new ones thrown in just for good luck!!!

Had a new chemo nurse today, Whitney, she is new and was really good and funny!

And of course, I just go and have a chemo treatment - noooooo - I have to have an allergic reaction to the Gemcitabine after about 15 minutes. My right eye felt really itchy - and I asked Colleen if it was inflamed (I was thinking the whites of the eyes) - nope - it was the eyelid. Then called over Leslie - one of the nurses I have had before and got her to take a look - The entire eyelid was red and really swollen. She stopped treatment right away and then called Dr. P and explained - he asked her if she could see it five feet away - and she said, yeah no problem with

that...LOL... he said to start me on the hydrocortisone and benedryl and see where it went.....and he would come and see me (hmmm never did make it!!). So put that batch in, which took about 25 minutes and then had to wait about 20 minutes to see if the swelling had gone down - it went down about 80% and Whitney started the first drug and it was ok and then did the other bag of drugs. So what sould have been an hour session landed being over two hours. And will get to do it all again next week.

Got to chat with 5 of the nurses I have had before and that is always fun. They ask - that the hell are you doing back here......lol..... and as the nurse Colleen said, we hate to see you here but we are glad to see you!! Me too!

They have told me that I will get flu-like symptoms within 24 hours and not to worry - yeah right, I have rehearsal for the World Police and Fire Games at 7 today and then rehearsal at 1pm tomorrow and then line up for the parade of athletes at 6pm tomorrow.... along with the heat wave we are having. LOL.

But that is about it - nothing overly interesting. More next week!!!

Roni



May be hard to see, but the right eye is puffy and swollen - though it had gone down considerably by the time this was take. Allergic reations are so much fun - NOT!

Colleen and I





Whitney and I - was a great new nurse



















Whitney explaining my medication schedule and one of the nicest patient and I didn't get her name!















5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am often asked hows Roni stays so positive. I cannot lay claim to being the author, but the following pretty much sums it up. Roni chooses to be positive!


A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with his hair fashionably combed and shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today. His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary.

After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready. As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window.

'I love it,' he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.

'Mr. Jones, you haven't seen the room; just wait.'

'That doesn't have anything to do with it,' he replied. 'Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged ... it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it. 'It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice;
I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do.
Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away.. Just for this time in my life.'


Cheers

Brian

Fighting cancer is a team sport...get on a team!

BCSugar said...

Hi Roni,

Although you had the allergic reaction again with this round of drugs, it seemed, from your blog, that it was easier for you this time 'round... That's excellent!

I'm sure part of it is due to the portacath, too - and although I was apprehensive about it at first, now I see how it simplifies the administration of the drug input, and makes it so much easier on you, and easier for the nurses to get into you!

... When I look back on the time you first discovered that you had breast cancer, and the person having to come to terms with this most terrifying disease - I see a totally different person now than I did then. For the better, I must add! Your attitude is MUCH more positive! You have a much more prevalent sense of humour about the entire process now...

I know it was all new and scary back then, and you didn't know what to expect in any way. And I don't blame you for being scared - I'm sure it's still very scary, though not always so new any more. And not that I might not be exactly the same way that you were when initially diagnosed, should it happen to fall into my lap at some point.

However, I really love this new attitude that you've adopted! And I wanted to tell you this, in front of all your friends and relatives who read this blog. You truly are an inspiration to all of us, especially me!

Keep up the positive attitude - keep up the fight - keep on keeping on... We're beside you and behind you all the way!!

Love, your friend always,
C

Anonymous said...

Hi Roni, So the battle starts round 3, and I would say the score is Roni -1 - Chemo-0. Despite the reaction to the drug, it sounds like it went okay... hope you are having fun volunteering at the Games and remember to try and take it easy when you can... Take care Rae xo

Anonymous said...

Roni and Brian, and family..you have one of the strongest teams I've ever seen. We cheer you on, and you inspire each and everyone of us through our trials with your positive outlook. Roni, you look lovely and more importantly are lovely and courageous, hugs and love to you Sandra

Kim M said...

I'm thinking of you every day, this is just one more hurdle that you will LEAP over! We are all here for you! I'm headed to Scotland then Mexico, but you better believe when I can check in on you I will :0)

All my love