First Chemo since Surgery - 9/10/05

 
Robin has restarted Chemotherapy again after a four month hiatus to heal from her surgery. But before I tell you about it, let me back up a bit.

On August 19th, Robin's oncologist, Dr. McClure scheduled her to get some new scans (bone scans and CAT scans) to see what's up. She had the scans done on August 26th. On Saturday, the 27th, some of our friends threw a little "Back to Chemo" party for Robin, where they supplied her with her favorite chemo: Tequila. I'm not sure that it killed any cancer cells, but I do believe there were a few brain cells killed that night!

On Tuesday, August 30th, Robin went for her Chemo at the Deke Slayton Cancer Center. We arrived at 8:50 (for her 8:45 appointment ("Robin-time")). Our good friend, Alexis came to stay with us and lend morale support. Robin had the normal blood tests and everything was within tolerance. So about 9:30, the Chemo process started again. She was started on Saline, then she received a bag of Benadryl and a bag of Tagament for nausea. They next started her on the first Chemotherapy drug, doxorubicin liposomal (also known as DOXIL), which is Doxorubicin encapsulated within a lipid (fat) to "time-release" the Doxorubicin. This chemical is extremely toxic, and cannot come in contact with skin without dire consequences. It looked nice, though. Kind-of a deep red like tropical punch. We had a little wine and cheese party (without the wine) while we were waiting for Robin to suck that tropical punch into her veins.

The results from the bone scans and CAT scans came in while we were partying. The results were good, showing nothing profound except evidence of constipation (definitely NOT). About the time she was slurping down the last few drops of her DOXIL "cocktail", Alexis' husband, Raoul joined us for the party. After the DOXIL, Robin was treated with Taxol (a.k.a., Paclitaxel). Finally, after the Taxol was finished, they flushed the port and sent us home. I looked at my watch and it was 4:30. WHAT A Loonngg DAY!!! It was getting late, so the four of us went out to eat (not Mexican), and went home to sleep.

The next day, Wednesday, Robin woke up with an electric feeling throughout her body. Her face was hot and flushed. She medicated her face, got ready for work, and left to return to the Cancer Center for a shot to boost her white blood cell count. This shot is automatically given the next day after DOXIL because the Doxorubicin can wipe out the white cell count in two weeks without the help. She then went to work.

Thursday seemed uneventful. The tingling electric feeling was still there, but less pronounced. The redness in Robin's face was gone. She wasn't sleeping well for the past few nights, but we were not sure if it had anything to do with the chemo, since it started before Chemo.

On Friday, Robin was aching in all her bones and joints. She said it felt like the worst case of flu she'd ever experienced. Apparently, this is a side effect from the white blood cell booster shot she received. She was also experiencing the dizzy-wooziness that she has experienced in the past, but it was not as bad as the last time she had Chemo. She stayed home that day, took Tylenol, and laid in bed most of the day. The symptoms were not as bad on Saturday, and she played piano on Saturday evening. She also played piano at the first Mass on Sunday, but was too sick to play at the second one, and came home and went to bed.

Since then, Robin has seemed almost back to normal, except for extreme tiredness. She has a hard time getting up in the morning, and she's wiped out when she gets home in the evening. Her diabetes has been good except for the first two days after chemo. In the last two or three days, she has been feeling some burning/hurting on her scalp, and she feels like the hair will be gone again soon. I'll try to get a picture of her with her furry head, and post it here soon.

Thanks again to everyone for your thoughts and prayers. Robin continues to receive gifts, cards, and letters from some folks. These definitely help to perk her up a bit, and they are greatly appreciated. One of the books we have read says that there appears to be a definite link between the length of survival after cancer and the patient's attitude and positive thoughts. Please continue to pray for her recovery and make her smile every chance you get.

Love and thanks,
     Larry & Robin

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