chemo side effects

Lucky for you, Ken forgot to bring the camera. Not that I had a bad hair day on Tuesday, but the scenery was pretty unexciting in the infusion room. Nurses, IV poles, green recliners and cancer patients- sleeping, reading books, eating lunch, and working on their computers--but one bonus--no hospital gowns-just everyday clothes.

Luckily all the nervous energy got worked off during the week and I was able to sleep well and show up Tuesday for all my final appointments with the surgeons who were giving the final go ahead as long as mastectomy wounds were sufficiently healed. They all gave thumbs up so it was off for an IV stick and down to the infusion waiting room. Ken was working acute pain so he dropped in here and there, but I nabbed a ride to the hospital from friend Dianne, and roped another friend Jennifer into being my chemo companion (anyone other than me amazed by how many friends I have named Jennifer??) Of course I came prepared with a stamping project in case we had a wait--so when you get our Christmas cards I can't take all the credit--Jennifer and I cranked through 40 before they took me back for the real fun--well, in reality it really wasn't that exciting. I sat in a green recliner with a pillow and warm blanket while an IV dripped all kinds of good stuff and a cute nurse named (of course) Jennifer pushed the other chemicals into the IV with a syringe and gave me the chemo 101 talk.

Things I learned during chemo 101--I don't have to be a hermit (yeah!) I do have to be careful around people with colds, have my kids wash wash wash their hands, no sharing chapstick, towels, or eating off my kids' plates. Throw out any expired food or old leftovers, and replace my toothbrush and makeup--But my favorite new word is "knosh" (at least I think that is how you spell it) Janet, the nurse Practitioner, said that I should knosh--or in less yiddish terms I am supposed to eat a little bit all day long instead of waiting to eat 3 big meals. Did I mention that knoshing usually helps breast cancer patients gain an average of 10 pounds...but supposedly that is better than constant nausea?!? So bring on the cheerios, saltines and gingerale--let the knoshing begin!

So far, so good--tried spacing out the nausea meds a bit too far yesterday am--and paid the price. Took another pill and ended up sleeping for the next 4 hours. Thank goodness for friends who pick Andria up when I don't show up--I'm a borderline case for a social worker--except that my friends keep me out of trouble! Rest of the day went well and I even at a normal dinner-although I must admit that I'm not running around at my usual high speed. Today is slow, but feeling pretty good--maybe slow for me is almost as hard as dealing with nausea.

Okay--for the humor of Chemo from Rachel and Andria as I headed out the door while a neighbor helped them get off to school--Andria hugged me goodbye and asked, "Mom will you still have your hair when you get home today?" I reassured her that hair loss is not very likely, hugged Rachel and headed to the door and heard Rachel yell out " Don't have too much fun today,Mom, Ya hear?!" Pretty hard to cry on the way out the door when someone is being humorous--so I smiled and came home feeling like I had a great day--professional directing my care, friends calling and painting my fingernails pink, packages, cupcakes, emails and lots of hugs from my family--crazy way to get attention, but I'll take the good side effects any day!