Chemo #1

Tx 1 Day 2 - One Chemo treatment done and 3 to go.

As they told us, we were there for close to 6 hours. That's cause there was a lot of education that we were given. I have a lot to remember and do. Now since my immune system is 'broken', I can't eat raw fruits and vegetables unless I wash the fruit before eating it or cutting it up. The nurse suggested a fruit & veggie wash. I went to Albertons and Ralphs today and couldn't find it - they stopped carrying it. Still have a few more stores to check. But for now, I can't eat the fruit that I have in my house. And when I go out for a meal now, I can't order salad and can't have any lettuce & tomatoe, etc on sandwiches. Guess what - I just called Trader Joe's. They have it. Tom's going to pick it up on his way home. That's easy now that we have a Trader Joe's in the neighborhood.

The nurse told us what to expect as far as potential and expected side effects from all of the drugs that they gave me. Of course the biggest one is that I will loose my hair. The two drugs that I'm getting - Taxotere and Cytoxan - both cause hair loss. That will start happening in about two weeks.

I was given an IV with an anti-nausea drug Aloxi which is supposed to work for several days. I haven't felt as if I've been naseous today altho I felt weird and thought it might be. So I did take a couple of pills early this afternoon. They may have worked or what ever it was went away.

Then today, I had to go in for a Neulasta shot which will stimulate my bone marrow to create new blood cells. We were told that the side effects can be bones aching - had the shot this morning about 8 hours ago and so far no bone aches.

Two more days and I go back to work. I need to get all my stuff together - figure out how I'm going to take with me what I need since I have to be careful about carrying heavy items on my left shoulder. I normally get salad at the cafeteria but now I can't do that. It's either bring my lunch or be very choosy about what I order for lunch. For that matter, any restaurant I go to will be the same routine.