1st chemo completed today - piece of cake SO FAR!

HHHHHOOOORRRRRAAAAAYYYYYYY. First round of chemo down (5 to go) -- and I feel GREAT. Got my Taxotere, Carbo, and Herceptin. I am so dosed up on steriods I feel like I could go running or dancing. Maybe I'll clean house. The nurse told me I'd probably be up to 2-3 am from all the steriods. I am to take more steriods on Friday and along with anti-nausea drugs. Then on Sat., no more steriods until the next chemo round in 3 weeks, and the anti-nausea drugs are "as needed."

The nurse said the LOW point usually hits the 3rd day after chemo, which for me is this Sunday, and exhibits itself as extreme fatigue. On that day I am to just "give in" to the fatigue -- read, sleep, watch a movie, etc. "Don't push yourself."

I learned that the reason they don't want you to drive yourself this first round is from the Benedryl and anti-nausea drugs - they are not sure how sleepy they will make you. It's not from the chemo drugs themselves, but rather drugs to prevent their side effects and allergic reactions. Well after all the steriods, sleep was/is the farthest thing from my mind. I am Pumped Up right now.

I did get an allergic reaction to the Taxotere, that I learned was very common the first time it is administered. Your body goes "what the heck is this", and raises a fuss. I noticed shortness of breath/shallow breathing within less than 5 minutes of starting the IVm, and then major flushing. My face turned blood red, but by the time that happened, the Taxotere was stopped, and two nurses were there with MORE Benedryl and steriod, and the Onc was checking on the situ!!! After 15 min they restarted the Taxotere IV, and it went just fine. They are not expecting any further reactions to this drug in the future, but will be watching for them anyway.

But after all this excitement, my appointment turned into a 6 hour visit. In the future, it should be about 3.5 - 4 hours. They doubled the drip time on Herceptin this first round due to potential allergic reactions - I had none on that one; so it goes from 2 to 1 hour next time.

Oh yea -- in typical female fashion, I must have packed a 5 pound chemo bag -- blanket, socks, BIG 24 oz water bottle, several magazines and several books (could not decide what I might feel up to reading), Sudoku, snacks, small cooler with more water, iPod, the always present cancer journal, plus my little purse with wallet, glasses, pens/pencils, sun glasses, lipstick and hand lotion.

Well here is what I actually used from all that -- blanket, cancer nutrition/eating magazine, 20 oz water bottle, snack, iPod, journal, reading glasses, sun glasses, highlighter, pen. That's about all I'll take next time. So if any of you know someone about to enter this, this is my "chemo bag list" from now on. The soothing music on the iPod turned into a "must have."

And this concludes my story for this first chemo day. All my worst fears WERE NOT realized. And I contribute that to all you prayer warriors out there. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for all your thoughts and prayers. God listens and is so good!

Blessings, love, and thanks again to all of you!!!

Pat (BC survivor -- with only 5 more to go!)

PS. Forgot something -- need to add:
Although God doesn't promise us "no troubles", he does promise to give us what it takes to walk thru the stormy waters. And for me right now, that includes all the encouragement from each of you. Whether you realize it on not -- YOU are the angels God has put here to help me thru this. So when you evetually get your Angel pin for this one, remember I was the first to tell you about it! I am so grateful for YOU.