Feb. 3: Chemo #4 report

Yesterday was my fourth chemotherapy treatment. I went through the usual—blood draw, visit with the oncologist—until the real fun began. And the fun began ONLY because of my very sparkly companions of the day: my husband and my dear friend Sunshine.

Dr. O said my blood work was “great,” as she always does. I don’t know enough specifics about the results to tell you what would be less than great, but I know people have been turned away from chemo if they aren’t healthy enough. So far I’ve been lucky. Dr. O also took at a look at that mysterious break0ut on my neck, shoulders, and (now) chest. She pointed out that I’m only broken out where there’s exposure—which is what bothers me most about the breakout, is that it is visible with most any shirt I wear—so it’s probably not related to the prednisone, which is known for causing acne.

Have I mentioned lately how much all this sucks? And acne isn’t even close to being the worst of it.

Anyway, she was slightly concerned about the rash or whatever it is, but for now just made a note in my chart and we’ll keep an eye on it. I’m glad that (so far) it doesn’t really irritate me beyond the fact that it can be seen—it doesn’t itch or hurt at all, although as I type this I suddenly feel super itchy and uncomfortable.

The other question we had for Dr. O was about when I would be scanned again. Originally she said I would go through six to eight chemotherapy treatments, and since we’re getting close to six we’re curious to know how well I’m doing and if I’ll need more beyond that. She said we’ll scan my toomah again between #5 and #6, so probably early March. At my appointment on March 16 I suppose we’ll make the decision to continue or stop.

One thing she briefly mentioned was follow-up treatment. I know there are a lot of tests that will continue after I finish chemo, like eventually coming in every six months for blood draws, etc. But she also said that I’ll continue the R of my CHOP-R regimen even after I’ve finished chemo. The R (Rituxan) is an IV drug, so I’ll have to keep coming in to get it. That part kinda sucks, but at least it’ll be quicker than sitting through an entire treatment. I don’t know how often I’ll get the Rituxan, or for how long, or if there will be anything else along with it. Fortunately, the Rituxan doesn’t have the awful side effects of some of the other chemo drugs (I curse the C, H, and O—mostly the H), but it’s still a poison so it’s not like it’s awesome or nothin’. I’ll find out more about follow-up treatment when I get closer to starting it.

The good thing is that having just finished #4, follow-up doesn’t seem so far away! Hooray!

After the doctor visit we went to the infusion room and got ourselves situated in the corner, away from all the other sickies. I like the corner because even though it’s close to the nurses’ station and there’s lots of activity and chatter there, I hear less from the snorers, tend to have fewer people walking past me, etc. It’s like the window seat of the airplane, but with a more comfy chair. Oh, and poison.

Sunshine came with a goody bag you would NOT believe—and the things sticking out of it (sequins! sequins! sequins!) were just the beginning! She had the trashiest magazines—even the Cosmo with 99 sex tips that Kim F’n brought last time—and lots of candy, vitally-important-in-the-cancer-fight Pop Rocks included. There was also her DSi, which we used to distort photos of our faces into freakishness that made us laugh WAY too hard. (Altogether in a sing-song voice: Awe-some!) Oh, and there were Mad Libs. Mad Libs! How perfect were those? We even had the nurses giggling over them. Or maybe they were giggling at how childish we seemed for giggling over them. Who knows. The Mad Libs were fun fun fun. They were til-your-Daddy-takes-the-T-Bird-away fun.

We had movies that we never watched, music we barely listened to, nail polish we opted not to sicken the other patients with, and Sunshine’s knitting project that was removed from its bag but never worked on. With all the other entertainment, though, there was just no time to get to it all! 

There was no IV pole dancing. We decided that’s Kim’s thang and no one can top her, so why even try? Sunshine’s thang, then, is be-sequined newsboy hats. Victor and I shared the silver one most the day—he wore it more than I expected or really wanted him to. A huge apology goes out to Sunshine’s daughters because I think Vic totally stretched it out and now it’s more of a face mask than a hat. You girls were sweet to share, though!

Here are pictures of me Facebooking and Pop Rocks-ing, both absolutely required activities of every Chemo Day.

I kinda look way too happy to have cancer here, huh?

Vic’s listening to music on his mp3 player, not reading the 99 sex tips in Cosmo (yet)

Thank you so much, Sunshine, for making Chemo #4 more fun than it should have been. I had a great day. You made being poisoned the highlight of my week!

Lisa Ross Nicholson, you’re up for February 23!