15. Chemo Day Plus 5 - Meet Ralph Nadir
I have begun the expected downward spiral into nadir, and finally felt enough concern for the gurgling in my tummy to take an anti-nausea medication, settling on the mildest of the three options I've been prescribed. The most potent is a narcotic and I'm really hoping I do not have to resort to that one!
The friend we met on the Love Like You Mean It cruise who had battled cancer for the first 2/3 of last year was a case in point. His chemo was being given along with radiation, and that on the heels of robotic surgery. His wife and he both described taking whatever medications they could just to knock him out, to sleep through the pain and nausea. He slept for 36 hours straight one time, and often for 18 hours. Days on end curled up on the bathroom floor. At one point his blood cell count was near zero, so dangerously low that he was hospitalized and placed in a bubble. People who attended him wore hazmat suits! Interestingly, his wife was the only one allowed in his presence without a hazmat suit on. Apparently, her cooties were his cooties, and perhaps there was even something healing in her being there.
The advice we received regarding nausea at the chemo class was, "Don't wait one minute beyond the indication you're getting sick." They said that it would really be hard to get on top of it once it started, so take the mild pill and if that doesn't work, take the next variety, and if that doesn't work, go straight to the narcotic without delay. Thankfully, within a half hour of taking the mild one, I felt OK.
The chemotherapy I am on is called Taxotere, and the onset of nadir is from days 4-7, actual nadir from days 5-9, with recovery taking the full 21 days of the cycle, although I should be relatively "safe" after the 14th day.
While I have had little to no nausea, I have had to deal with headaches and an unhappy mouth. I've had significant throat pain and a corresponding difficulty in swallowing, as well as pains in my teeth and a rough feeling to my tongue, as if it has lost its protective surface. I am also quite fatigued and feel slow. Because fever is so important, we take my temperature pretty often. The night I felt nauseated was disconcerting as well because my temp had started to rise, reaching 100.0 by morning. Thankfully, it stopped there and returned to normal because if it had reached 100.4 we are instructed to call in to the clinic and perhaps take a trip in for antibiotics.
While I have had little to no nausea, I have had to deal with headaches and an unhappy mouth. I've had significant throat pain and a corresponding difficulty in swallowing, as well as pains in my teeth and a rough feeling to my tongue, as if it has lost its protective surface. I am also quite fatigued and feel slow. Because fever is so important, we take my temperature pretty often. The night I felt nauseated was disconcerting as well because my temp had started to rise, reaching 100.0 by morning. Thankfully, it stopped there and returned to normal because if it had reached 100.4 we are instructed to call in to the clinic and perhaps take a trip in for antibiotics.
We have learned that Taxotere works by attacking rapidly dividing cancer cells at the DNA level. Normal cells stop dividing when they come in contact with "like" cells. Cancer cells lose this ability, causing them to grow out of control. Unfortunately, chemotherapy cannot differentiate between normal cells and cancer cells. It destroys them all. The cancer cells should die though, and the normal cells will regain their health, but in the meantime, the loss of normal cells creates these wonderful side effects.
I expect to get a new "haircut" soon. And perhaps an innovative new eyebrow look. We were told during the infusion that some people don't lose all their hair. Yay! Except she went on to say they may only lose half of it... as in one eyebrow stays attached while the other one disappears. Boo! The beginnings of this should show up around the third week. I can't wait. Thankfully, everything eventually grows back when the chemotherapy treatments have been completed, although perhaps in different colors and textures.
I'm hoping for one old-man style grey eyebrow and one classic bushy dark Danish one.
And maybe curly hair without the perm?
And maybe curly hair without the perm?
Dan,
ReplyDeleteI also was on Taxotere. I had seven, three week sessions. The longer I was in the treatment program, the side effects became less prominent. I did loose my hair, but not my eyebrows. My hair has grown back and today it is almost the same as before treatment. I never had nausea, however I did loose my appetite for certain foods. One that I particular remember is dill pickles. It took a long time before I could eat one. My finger nails and toe nails gradually began to peel off. There was no discomfort and they have grown back stronger. I was tired for a couple of days after the infusion. Those spells became shorter and the rest of the three week cycle I led a pretty normal life. I found Taxotere to be quite tolerable. I hope and pray that you will have the same experience that I had.
hey bro. Praying for you. Has Juli offered to shave her head in solidarity? I'd like to see that. I would be willing to do it if it gave you any encouragement although Lorraine and my kids might object.
ReplyDeleteThank for documenting here in your quirky way. I appreciate how you have made it easy for your family and friends to be a part of your journey. I'd tell you that I stick my finger down my throat to simulate nausea but that would be a lie. Love you, bro.