Day two after Treatment #5

-So I know the culprit.  It’s 7:00 pm, and my friend just stopped by to administer my Nulasta shot.  She typically comes in the early morning after my treatment, but tonight just couldn’t make it.  I think it may be best this way.  (Too bad we only now figured it out.)  I’ve been very groggy/sleepy today, but not that painful, excruciating feeling I usually feel.  So,  I’m assuming that it’s the Nulasta that makes me feel that way.  Hopefully, I’ll sleep through a good bit of that and only have a rough two or three days versus my typical four.  We shall see.  I’m watching Holiday Cupcake Wars on the Food Network and thinking about making cupcakes tonight.  By far, very different from my last 4 (day after treatments).

-Yesterday, my chemo nurse submerged my fingertips in ice during my Taxotere.  Apparently the ice prevents the drug from getting into the cells and causing further nail damage.  She also recommended I go to a skin care clinic.  I really feel that my toenails are starting to lift.  They are getting pretty bad, but only one more treatment to go, so maybe they will hold on!   Another nurse friend of mine suggested that I take Biotin and a B-complex vitamin, so I’m doing all I can at this point.

-Did you know that each chemo treatment is roughly $17,000.  That’s $17,000 x 6, plus all of the doctor visits, and extras that are added for chemo only. (Lab work, scans, etc.)  And that not so kind little Nulasta shot?  Those are $8,000 a pop.  Wow, between Mary Clare and me, our household has some pretty expensive cargo!  Just an interesting little fact, I thought.

-My Oncologist, Dr. Butler, told me that after my last treatment (December 28), I’ll need wait about 3-4 weeks to get my body back in “order” and we’ll schedule surgery.  I’ll meet with Dr. Sweatman, surgeon, soon to discuss options for surgery.  He’s very pro-lumpectomy, so I’m hoping for a smooth, less-invasive, easy-recovery surgery.

-And speaking of less invasive.  The advantage of having chemotherapy prior to surgery was the possibility of shrinking the cancer tumor.  Guess what?  It worked!  My tumor was originally around 2.5 cm and is now about 1.5!  Yay!

-I’ll have to leave my portacath in about a year after my last treatment, “just in case,” so that will be one awesome Christmas present next year!  A port-free me with a short new do!  (I was also told that my hair will be long enough to have a short and sassy do by then!)

Cheers!  One more to go!

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