Re-Ported Yesterday

I got my second port put in yesterday, just about 7 years from the time I had my first inserted.  The interventional radiologist decided to put it in the opposite side from the first one.  Now, I'll have less problems with the seatbelt as a passenger but more as a driver.  Last time, I tried the sheepskin-covered seatbelt covers, which didn't work all that well.  My husband just bought one meant for kids that has a pillow attached to one side of it.  It's meant for little kids to take a nap on, but I hope it will cushion the pain from the seatbelt on the port for me.

I'm starting chemo on 5/17.  I'll be getting Carboplatin and Gemzar the first week, Gemzar alone the second week, and have the third week off.  I'm supposed to have to do this for about 6 months.  I had Carboplatin and Taxol seven years ago.  My GYN/onc said the Gemzar is "about equivalent" to the Taxol but without the side effect of all the hair loss (although I'll have thinning) and peripheral neuropathy I had last time.  I might still develop a little peripheral neuropathy from the Carboplatin, though. 

I've put paperwork in to go with Foundation One for genomic testing.  It could cost me up to $5,800 depending upon where I fall on their scale of household income.  My GYN/onc has never tried to get approval for someone with UPSC, so I'll be a guinea pig in his office on that front.  Both my mother and grandmother had breast cancer.  My mother had it twice in the same breast 10 years apart and my grandmother had it in both breasts at the same time.  In addition, my father had prostate cancer and his daughter by his first marriage (my half sister) died of lymphoma.  It seems like there's likely to be something genetically wrong in the family.  I already know I have one genetic mutation that causes hemochromatosis.  That has likely been the reason so many members of my father's family members had very bad hearts, but most died before the hemochromatosis genes were even discovered so we can't be sure.

Now, I'm still in pain from the 2 intestinal resections and abdominal wall repair plus now I have pain from the port placement.  Things have to get better soon. At least I'm no longer required to be on the low fiber diet which was awful.  I drove again on Thurs. for the first time in over a month, so that felt good to get a little freedom back.  I only have 4 Lovenox shots left to give myself.  Twenty-eight were far too many!  I'll be so glad to stop having the pain from them and all the weekly blood tests that go with them.  I'm sure I'll be switching those for other labs once I start my chemo.  The blood vessels are worn out already and I've barely started.  This too shall pass (I hope!).