Second and Third Treatments

My second and third treatments were about the same as the first. I am now down to 4 1/2 hours for treatments instead of 5 1/2. Side effects for treatment number two was the same as one, they just lasted longer. One additional and very painful side effect for treatment three was mouth sores. They lasted about four days, it was so hard to talk and eat.

I get bored sometimes....so tired of being house bound...but I have to remember I can't DO all that I want to do....my body can't take it right now. Its frustrating.

Tuesday June 21, 2011
Checking in for my forth treatment. Started out like any other day, hook me up to do the pre blood work. And wait for results. I was ready to get this going. I wanted to move another bracelet over to my right arm (see photo above....I have 12 bracelets, after each treatment I move one from the left to my right wrist.) The blood work came back with Low White Blood Cells.....we were going to have to postpone this treatment. I was totally bummed. We had to cancel and reschedule 4 different appointments because of this postponement. Being warned that I was extremely susceptible to infection, I was sent home.  In the middle of all of this...my insurance got cancelled in error. What a nightmare. I had to make and followup on SO MANY phone calls I was just running out of energy. it's ridiculous that I had to handle all of it...it was no fault on my part, simply a paperwork mix up, but the amount of energy used to get it all straightened out was huge.

So, here it is Sat. June 25, 2011 I'm going stir crazy. I worry about my white blood cells all the time. What if I am not OK by Tuesday? What then? They got approval from my insurance to inject me with a drug called Neulasta. A growth hormone that will help my body produce more white blood cells in between treatments. From what I read on the Internet this has to be administered no sooner than 24 hours after a chemo treatment...so does that mean I have to go back down to the infusion center to have it done? These are all questions that will be answered on Tuesday. I have been praying and visualizing my white blood cells increasing. I don't know what else to do at this point.

I am very blessed with TONS of family and friends supporting me. Lifting me up with their words of encouragement. This is not a fun journey. My hope is to beat this, to kick this cancer's butt with as much dignity and grace as I can.