Chemo at last!

This post is by Selena's trusted companion Sancho. (Actually it's by Chris, her husband, but if you compared me and Sancho Panza from MAN OF LA MANCHA you would get the two of us confused.)

So, since the last post Selena has been sleeping, coughing, hacking and been just generally miserable. She's been on clarithromycin which will cover pertussis and sinusitis. She's also been taking inhaled steroids because she has RAD (Reactive Airway Disease) from the pertussis. And finally, she's been on a codeine cough syrup which she takes sips constantly. She's like one of those gamblers in an western movie using their pocket flask. (Or if you are a Harry Potter fan you could think of her like the fake Mad-Eye Moody in Goblet of Fire sipping his Poly Juice Potion all the time.)

We didn't have any appointments Monday, July 7 or Tuesday, July 8. This gave Selena some nice down time to get over her pertussis and sinus problems.

On Wednesday, July 9 Selena went to a cancer support group meeting from 8:30-11:30am called LOOK GOOD/FEEL BETTER and got all kinds of free stuff including a wig. It was nice for her to talk to other women with cancer going through the same thing she is going through. It was a little scary for me listening to all the complications many of the women have had. The class only had 5 women there and only 1 had not had any serious complications. If you exclude Selena since she has not had any treatment yet, that leaves 3 out of 4 having serious (hospitalizations) complications. These are not great statistics....

I am going to let Selena tell you more about LOOK GOOD/FEEL BETTER. She had a real nice time and was glad she went.

After the meeting we went to see our Medical Oncologist and the perky Physician Assistant. She has a habit of saying "Good girl" after every other thing she asks Selena to do. It's a funny affectation.

After exam her doctor felt that she was significantly better and could start her chemo the following day. Selena was relieved. She has been chomping at the bit to get it started. (I think she's just looking forward to being bald so she doesn't have to wash her hair!)

We went out to a little Mexican Restaurant called Gordito's to celebrate. Kind of a weird thing to celebrate, but you need to look at each step as a little victory.

FIRST CHEMO DAY

THURSDAY, JULY 10, 2008

11AM- PLASTIC SURGERY APPOINTMENT

We had a plastic surgery appointment at 11am to discuss her reconstruction which is way down the line. We watched a video about how they do the construction. I had already learned about this in medical school, but it's a little different when you are watching with your wife and not reading about it in a book. The resident that saw us first was really nice and answered our question about how they did the mastectomy. We didn't have the clarity to ask the breast surgeon a few weeks back. We heard "mastectomy" and kind of went numb, so it was nice to get that question answered. The plastic surgeon was my group leader/attending physician when I did my plastic surgery rotation. He spoke to about her options which are tissue flaps only. Because of the radiation therapy, she is not a candidate for implants or tissue expanders. They took pictures of Selena naked from top to below her waist so they had a good idea of what the breast looked like and also what kind of tissue they could use for the flap to make the new breast. It was a rather depressing appointment for us both because once again, it just got a little bit more real. She is going to have her right breast completely cut off.

12:15PM - LUNCH

We rushed home after the appointment and had a really nice lunch prepared by Donna (Selena's mum). It was a delicious egg-salad sandwich. They told her to eat light before the chemo.

1:45PM - CHEMOTHERAPY CENTER

At 1:45PM we went to the INFUSION CENTER. Ominous sounding name for a center that gives chemo and also blood transfusions for people with blood disorders like sickle cell. We waited for an hour and half in the waiting room before we went back. I have decided that this is really what cancer is all about. It's a lot of waiting in a lot of places you don't want to be.

3:15 PM JULY 10, 2008

WE ENTER THE DEN OF CHEMO

BEWARE ALL YE WHO ENTER

Just kidding. It was actually really nice. It was a big room with about 12 big Lazy Boy recliners, each with their own LCD TV on a swivel arm from the ceiling. They started the chemo about 3:30PM and Selena tolerated it really well. She didn't have any side effects other that a really dry mouth.

We had read about the chemo causing mouth sores so we came prepared with lots of water, and a big glass with ice in case Selena's mouth started to burn. We talked with a lady next to us that was finishing her chemo that day and she gave us tips and wished us well. We finished about 4:45pm and went home. Selena was feeling really woozy from the anti-nausea medicine and went straight to bed. We spent the rest of the evening periodically waking her up to get her to drink lots of water because one of the drugs, cyclophosphomide, can really burn your bladder if you don't flush it out. It was hard to get her to drink the 2 Liters that the doctor told her to drink but we got it down her and made her a peeing machine. She actually got up for a little bit and ate a little dinner with her mum and me.

She slept well throughout the night. She is taking an anti-nausea medicine every 6 hours right now to keep her from getting sick. She did have to get up in the middle of the night to take an Imitrex for a migraine headache that was starting.

JULY 11, 2008 - NEULASTA

We got up early this morning and went back to Casa de los Chemo to get a $4000 shot called Neulasta. It makes your bone marrow work overtime to make new blood cells including white blood cells to help you fight infection. The chemo destroys red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. It's important to replenish them or else you become anemic and can get some really nasty infections. We came home after the shot and went back to bed. Selena is in bed right now reading and generally feeling drowsy no vomiting or diarrhea yet. Donna and I are holding our breaths because we know it is coming.....

Thank to everyone that has left comments for Selena. We also appreciate every one's thoughts, prayers and positive vibes. We feel them all and it really makes a big difference knowing we have so many people that care about her.

Sorry for such a long post...... Chris

By the way, next Friday, Selena and I will have been married 14 years!