First Chemo

Today was another full day, starting with my first chemo treatment appointment at 7:30. My chemo regiment is three days a week, every three weeks for four cycles. Each three-day week is considered a cycle. This week is my first cycle. The oncologist will make the decision after the second cycle whether or not he thinks my body can handle the 3rd and 4th cycles. The first day of each cycle (like today) is the longer chemo day. It includes (all via IV, one after another) two anti nausea drugs, a steroid, and two chemo drugs….and all the is accompanied with extra fluids. I learned the first chemo drug usually just thins your hair (good news)….the second one usually finishes off the hair (darn it!). Oh well, I came prepared with my hats! Chemo is a fairly slow IV drip…the first one took about 2.5 hours and the second one was about an hour. All in all I was at this treatment for about 5 hours. Tomorrow’s chemo is much shorter. I only get the second chemo drug, which only takes an hour.

Later today I had another Educational Visit, this time with the Radiology nurse to learn more about the potential side effects during treatment. With many of the side effects is it not a question of if I will experience them, the question is how bad will it be…oh my! Not looking forward to any of this. The good news is that they will be there to help me through it and that they have things to make it more tolerable.

My treatment day ended with my 3rd radiation treatment.

Outside of my many appointments we are trying to stay active, which has been hard to do with all this oppressive heat we’re experiencing (and so much time tied up in appointments). Walking as much as I normally do has been challenging. I’m only averaging about 10 miles a day this week, but hope to get the mileage back up soon.