The 25% club

Some of you have commented to me that you've never heard of some of the side effects I've had from chemo. Of the 15 or so possible side effects, I've experienced 10 of them! My nurse said that only 25% of chemo patients are usually affected by so many of the odd ones that have adopted me...I seem to be extra sensitive. Aren't I the lucky one?!

My latest side effect started just after my 5th nasty chemo infusion...my ankles became swollen. The swelling has seemed to come and go and not be bothersome until this past weekend when I was standing around quite a bit. My feet, ankles and lower legs/knees swelled up like sausages! It's all water retention from the chemo and, according to my research, it occurs just after the 5th cycle of taxotere (chemo), which puts me right on schedule! I've called my doctor and will probably be put on a diuretic to help get rid of the extra fluid. It sounds like I may be making frequent trips to the bathroom as a result, though!

The good news is, my energy level is slowly getting better! I still tire easily, but I'm feeling alot more alert and perky than I have in the past weeks. It should only get better with time!

No hair regrowth to report yet, but I do have some fuzz leftover from when Rich buzzed me. I'll probably be switching over to wearing scarves and baseball caps now, with the coming of the warm weather. And once I have some thickness to my fuzz, I'll muster up the courage to go bare-headed!

Ponderings

Yesterday I almost had to remind myself to go to chemo! Now that my nasty chemo is over, it's as if I've shut the door on that chapter of my life, but in fact I have to remember that I still have a ways to go on my journey, even though it's easier. But I've been misleading myself in my calling this chemo my "easy" one...it's easy because of it's lack of visible, day to day side effects. But the fact of the matter is, it's a dangerous chemo that can cause heart failure, and so it is monitored every three-four months by having a MUGA scan (MUltiple Gated Acquisition Stand) which produces a moving image of the heart, from which the health of the heart's major pumping chamber (the left ventricle) can be assessed. This is done by putting a radioactive dye in my veins and then placing me under a special "gamma" camera, which takes movies of my moving heart. I had my first MUGA scan before I started chemo in January, and I am scheduled to have my second scan on Monday. I'm not anticipating any problems, it just brings me back down to earth a little.

As I continue to celebrate each day's progress, knowing that it will only get better from here on, I can't help but be reminded of how, "there, but for the grace of God, go I". I am so thankful for how early my cancer was found, how treatable it was and how tolerable the treatment has been. Anytime I thought I might be feeling too sorry for myself, I would just remember how blessed I have been with tremendous doctors and care, and by all the wonderful love and support I continue to receive from so many loving people. I have two friends who are currently facing a cancer crisis of their own...one newly diagnosed, and the other fighting to get through her stem cell transplant. I admire them the courage they are showing as they face their own adversaries, ready to meet them head on. We may initially shake in our boots with fear, but it's that fear that motivates us to move forward,conquer and, as best we can...to be warriors.