I thought I might take some of the mystery away about chemotherapy knowing that most of you will never experience it.
And thank your lucky stars for that!
I had a Power Port surgically implanted in my chest at the IU Med Center shortly after I was diagnosed. It creeps me out because I think it sticks out like a second head. If I had a little more fat on my body, it would be more hidden…but no…it is the proverbial sore thumb.
The good thing though is that it keeps me from having my arms stuck over and over again and it keeps my veins from collapsing. I’m told I am a bad stick, so the port helps. Even though it creeps me out. It doesn’t prevent pain from a stick. The needle still goes through skin.
For me, chemotherapy takes about three hours. During that time, I get pre-treatment drugs for nausea in a drip, then a bag of Gemzar followed by a bag of Taxotere.
Chemotherapy is no picnic. I suffer many side effects. The potty and I are intimate friends due to nausea. My hands and feet constantly peel causing them to hurt and become hard to use. (It’s very hard to get through a day without using hands and feet as it turns out.) I’m also extremely fatigued. If I fall asleep during a conversation, don’t be hurt…I just do that. Sorry!
The good news is I have wonderful people taking care of me. Chemotherapy nurses are a rare and special breed and they treat me with such kindness and gentleness. They know when I need a hug or a bag of animal crackers. This is my nurse Anne Kingston. We were friends before she became my nurse. She’s one of the special ones.
So, that’s chemotherapy. Welcome to my world. I hope you never join me here!
Ann, Thank you for your info on chemotherapy.
My mother-in-law just started chemo for lung cancer
this Wednesday. I’m worried about all the side effects
she may have and how she will cope. Thanks for
sharing your journey. May God bless you and shine His
light on you! Teresa
Oh, mine seestar. I would gladly join you there if it would mean I could carry half the suffering. I love you. K.
Dear Ann, I’m so sorry you have to go through this. I agree with your “seestar”…if only each one of us could take away a bit of
your suffering…May God continue to bless you. Nancy
Dear Ann — God knows everything about Chemo and I know He is saddened you have to endure this. I too wish I could take over the treatments for you. I also know He is there with you as He is keeping Trilla from spreading or growing. (I named your tumor Trilla — she knows we do not like her at all.) Keep your faith — He will see you thru this. Love & Blessings – Jan
Ann,
I hate that you have to go through this but I am also happy that you have been having great success. I pray that you continue and also that science continues to improves the treatments.
I wanted to share with you a trick my mother used for her chemo. She would take a plastic sandwich bag with her to chemo. Then take ice out of the ice machine in the chemo room and hold it over her port. This would numb the skin and she would not have the pain of the needles entering the port. She had the powerport installed at IU as well. I hope this helps.
Hey Auntie Ann…
I am sorry we missed you at Tee’s wedding! It has been so fun to have the fam all together these last months. Would have liked to have caught up on your side of the Greek Islands trip stories to balance out mom’s!
You look gorgeous in these pics– chemo or no chemo. I still can’t figure out how to look as pretty as you and with such nice DARK hair. Grrr…
Happy Christmas and a thousand and one blessings. I love you I love you I love you.
Chrissy
Dear Ann,
My fiance was diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer this past October (he’s 44 years old). With the exception of being male, he doesn’t fall under the typical risk
factors either. He has a power port in his chest as well and just underwent round 4 of Chemotherapy. He’s in a clinical trial in Seattle.
I’ve been reading your blogs and you both share the same indomitable spirit. I just wanted you to know that others out there understand and relate to what you’re going through. If you’d like to see his website, he is at caringbridge.org (dougbeaulieu). God bless you and your family this Christmas.
Yah, the only thing that remains to us – to pray that the treatment will be successful. As they often show in movies (http://rapid4me.com/ ), and as it happens in life, the chances are usually 50/50