Friday, February 15, 2013

Cause and effect

Post chemo this is my usual run down. I’ll start with day 1 and go through to day 21.

1. Chemo day is usually fine. 
2. Still feel ok but get flushed. Looks like I have a tan.
3. Still a bit flushed and vision gets a bit blurry. Nothing glasses can't fix.
4. Fatigue sets in and mild nausea starts. Lots of rest and meds to help with the nausea.
5. Same as day 4.
6. Same as day 4 but getting milder.
7. For the most part, generally feeling better.
8. One of the chemo drugs causes some pretty bad constipation. Nothing meds, an ice cream stick and     some TNT can't cure.
9. Ok.
10. Ok but slight fatigue.
11 −21. Generally ok.

So in summation, if I have 5 out of 21 days that are not great at least I have 16 days that are more or less OK. I’m also very relieved and happy that the maintenance therapy that I’m on is doing it’s job. Stable and no spread. The only pain in the arse is scheduling all my travel between chemos :-)

Carpe Diem.

Blow by blow for chemo day


I usually don't sleep well before chemo day. Maybe it's because I have to take Dexamethasone (steroid) tablets the day before chemo, the day of chemo and the day after chemo. I prep my port with a numbing agent and then off the Infusion Center (hospital). I live about 5 minutes from the hospital and no, I didn't plan it that way.

I check in and get my wrist bracelets so they don't confuse me with Mrs. Mittleschmatz (fictitious name :-)). I then get my vital signs taken. Weight, blood pressure etc and then proceed to my assigned chemo chair. I usually work with the same nurse but sometimes they change it up to keep me on my toes. Yea, right. Medical questions are asked (yada yada) and then I'm hooked up to a saline drip. They draw my blood and send it off to a dedicated lab for chemo and infusion patients. The results usually come back after about 45 minutes. I also have to give them a urine sample so they can check for protein in the urine. The Alimta can sometimes mess with your kidneys.

When the blood work comes back and all looks good then Dr. Schraeder orders the premeds and the chemo. The premeds are given before the chemo. I get more Dexamethasone tablets, Pepcid via IV (for heart burn) and then Aloxi via IV (for nausea). Then I get the the Alimta and the Avastin. The Avastin takes about 30 minutes to administer via IV and the Alimta takes about 10 minutes. When that is all done I get  a 5 minute saline IV flush and I'm off. The whole process takes about 3 hours. Not too bad. I can walk around with the IV pole and go bother the nurses and staff so it's not too terrible. In the past I have had treatments that lasted as long as 8 hours !

Carpe Diem.


Chemo 7 (Round 8)

Well, that crept up fast !

Monday, February 11, 2013

My Toronto visit

                                  Saturday night dinner. The schnitzel barely fits on the plate !


Don Valley Parkway burning car action.


Breakfast by Chef Lemon (a before and after shot).



Sunday lunch at the mall. Does the eating ever stop ?



A fun time was had by all. But you can keep the cold and snow !

Carpe Diem.

Visiting LM Pie and Viv


I spent the weekend with Spike and Aviva in Toronto. It was a brief but enjoyable visit. Timing was a bit off as they had just had the biggest snow fall of the season.


Carpe Diem.