Chemotherapy #1

Thursday 23rd February 2012

I wanted to update the blog earlier, but I've been so busy (and not in a good way) and this is the first opportunity that I've been able to get near the laptop.

So, I've had one chemo session already, only 11 more to go!  I started the cycle last Friday morning and I'm thankful to say that the process wasn't as scary as I'd built it up in my mind.  Paul and I were taken to a side room to start the process.  We were looked after by a very attentive and caring Oncology nurse who explained the whole process of administering my particular regime. No mucking about, she got got straight to work hooking me up to a saline solution to flush my line, then anti-sickness, steroids and anti-diarrhea all to help with the nasty potential side effects of the chemo.

Once these had all been given I started the chemo, Oxaliplatn with Fluorouracil (5FU) and Folonic acid, or FOLFOX for short.  This is the special elixir which will stop this disease coming back, it made me feel better to think about it coursing through my body and kicking any stray cancer cells butts.  Take that you little sods!

Me with "Johnny 5" from the film Short Circuit:

I must admit, I didn't feel any different while the infusion was taking place.  Paul kept asking me if I was ok and I felt fine...again this was a huge relief.  I have read some horror stories where people have an immediate reaction to chemo, this is something that I had a huge fear of.  As much as I hate having to take this toxic drug, it's there to help me and I didn't want anything to hinder that.

The nurse continued to reassure me and also give me a few tips of advise.  The most alarming was the threat of Neutropenia, something of which that is not ideal when on chemo....I've got myself an electric thermometer at my side at all times now.  If my temperature rises to 38C, I have to get to the hospital within an hour without any delay and have antibiotics administered.  Scary stuff, hopefully I can avoid this through my treatment...could do without that, it could delay treatments.

Two hours later, my infusion was finished and I was unhooked from the pump, but that's not the end of it unfortunately.  Part of the Fluorouracil (5FU) treatment is to take it home on a little pump and the infusion will continue for the next 46 hours.  As you can see from the photo, it's the size of a baby's bottle, so nothing too large.

Got home on Friday after my first chemotherapy session and was feeling quite pleased with myself.  I sat down and Paul got me a cold drink, that's when the first of two side effects to really hit me.  I took one sip of it and the water felt like lots of little pins and needles in my mouth and throat, a common side effect called Peripheral Neuropathy.  It was a really weird and fairly unpleasant sensation, but thankfully very avoidable.  Lukewarm and hot drinks for me from now on! The other side effect I experienced was tiredness, something easily managed by having a good doze! The infusion carried on until Sunday morning and I was very lucky so far to have very minimal effects of my first treatment.

I was happy to arrive at the hospital on Sunday to have the pump removed and the dressing changed, I felt a bit more back to normal without having to carry the pump with me everywhere. I'm sure I'll find a system with it as I have more treatments, but I found the best way to deal with it was to wear cardigans with pockets in them.

So, on with the new week I went with the hope that all I feel is tired until the next chemo round starts on 2nd March.  Unfortunately, things are never that simple!

During Monday daytime, I started to develop a heaviness at the top of my chest and into my right shoulder and neck. This got progressively worse on Monday night and my chest was tightening more and more.  This was starting to make me panic.  The more I panicked and stressed, the worse it got.  I wasn't feeling very good at all.

I called the Oncology day unit and they suggested getting an emergency appointment with my GP.  This was arranged and off we went to see a Dr who was standing in for my GP who was on holiday that day.  I must admit, I did have a little cry in front of the Dr.  I was scared, stressed and thought I was on the verge of a heart attack.  The Dr checked my obs and I was fine but she did want a blood test to see if I had any signs of blood clots. After blood was taken, I was told to wait in the seating area for 10 minutes whilst the results came through.  Unfortunately the results were positive for a blood clot so another trip to the hospital for me.

I took the letter the Dr had given me up to the Medical Assessment Unit and was seen to quite quickly by the team there.  I had an ECG which was normal.  A chest X-ray, which was normal and another blood test which was also normal.  Normal!!! I was starting to think I was going mad and the stress was starting to take it's toll.  The Dr didn't think I had any blood clots, but to be on the safe side I was given a course of Clexane to thin the blood and prevent any blood clots forming and was suggested to come in at a later date for a full scan of my lungs in case there is any clots.  Great, but I still feel crappy!

Got home that night and my arm with the picc line was starting to get progressively more heavy, swollen and achy but brushed it off as the picc line still being new and irritating my arm slightly.

Tuesday morning, I was in agony with my arm.  I phoned the oncology day unit again and this time they suggested I come straight to the day unit so the oncology Dr could take a look at it. The Dr wasn't very happy with the swelling and suggested an ultrasound on my arm.  After a short wait at the Vascular department (I think I've visited every department in that hospital now) my arm was scanned and lo and behold, a blood clot was found - wrapping itself right around my picc line.

Great, I thought that was it.  Picc line would have to be removed and chemo regime back to the drawing board. We went back to the oncology department, he took one look at the results of the arm scan and said that the line could be left in. Hmm, I wasn't convinced by this plan, however he explained that the blood thinners I was on would prevent any further clots and that my body would eventually reabsorb the clot that was around my picc line.  It does mean that I will probably have the blood thinning injections until early September, but I suppose there are worse things!

Today, I've taken the opportunity to have a good sit down and rest after such a hectic two days at the hospital and I'm already feeling better for it.  My arm is still swollen but it's not as painful as it was, I'm hoping it's starting to settle down now. Looking forward to my next week of freedom before the chemo #2 starts.

Hayley x