Monday, February 4, 2013

Taxol: Round 1

Taxol: Round 1

Starting a new chemo drug seems a little bit like an experiment.  It’s a bit uncertain how your body will react.  This new drug has not been as easy as I had hoped…yet.  I am still optimistic.  I haven’t had much of an appetite this time around.  I eat cereal, tortilla chips, and breadsticks.  I’m not nauseous at all so that’s been nice.  I do have some issues with peripheral neuropathy which is a numbness in the hands and feet; I was told to expect that.  I have also had some numbness in my right arm, some chest heaviness, and cramps/body aches.  I was hoping to feel so much better, so I’m a little disappointed with all these symptoms.  My cancer friend has gone through her first two rounds of chemo and her blood counts and numbers have all been coming back perfectly, this is awesome for her!  Her body is handling the chemo really well and she has been given the okay to go out and be with people without the looming threat of infection.  I was joking with her that she has been getting an “A” on all her tests and I have been flunking.  The nurses come back to me with my numbers sighing and say things like “well your hemoglobin is really low again, so we scheduled a blood transfusion for tomorrow morning” and “your white blood count is literally at zero, so your body is incapable of fighting off infections.  You are not allowed to go anywhere for a few days.”  I have another CBC (complete blood count) on Thursday before chemo and I am hoping for at least a “D”.  It would be nice to not flunk for a change. 

Looking on the Bright Side…when you consistently flunk all your tests, a “D” doesn’t seem so bad.  I’ll be happy just to pass.

2 comments:

  1. Angie, I'll let you cheat off of my tests this week if you want! Hah. I've been eating much of the same. All carbs, but I've been nauseous, too. My fingers are crossed that your CBCs go really well!

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    1. LOL! Thanks Lisa. My fingers are crossed that your CBC's continue to go really well.

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