TGIF!
What a great week. While I was struggling with a cold at the beginning of the week, it for the most part has passed and I only have lingering sniffles and a dry cough remaining. My energy is also back… even had multiple people comment yesterday and today that I don't seem like someone going through chemo. I agree. My energy levels are awesome and I feel as good (if not better) than I did before my first chemo treatment. All of the oddities of the chemo and feeling like I wasn't in my own body subsided, my taste buds seems back to normal, and my energy levels are awesome. It's nice to know that as I continue through the 4 rounds of AC treatment every three weeks, I can count on the end of the three weeks bringing me back to feeling more normal than alien before we start the cycle all over again.
I went into my weekly check-up at the Vince Lombardi Cancer Center today feeling awesome … my cold concerns from earlier in the week were no longer worrying me and as I mentioned above I felt great. Last weeks blood numbers were great and I was hoping for a repeat this week. Sadly, that wasn't the case. My test came back showing concerning low counts on my Absolute Neutrophil and somewhat low white blood cell counts. This isn't abnormal at all. My oncologist was trying to avoid giving me shots that would help stimulate the bone marrow production to combat this, since the side effects are unpleasant. This is why I go in each week… to get these incremental checks on my blood work. In layman's terms… my immune systems is severely low, and they need to counter that with a shot that will help my body combat that. So… as a result, I received a Neupogen injection today. The known side effects of drug are bone pain… which I didn't quite understand until today. Some people describe it as a severe pain similar to growing pains, others sharp aches and pains in the lower back, sternum, or neck/shoulders. In talking with the nurses, they don't expect me to have these problems based on the low dose that I received … but also suggested that people who have pain in these areas naturally, tend to be the people who have the worst side effects of pain. That is concerning, since I have ongoing battles with my body fighting lower back and shoulder/neck pain. Other side effects of concern are increased fever and increased risk of infection. Good thing we have a thermometer at home, and Heather insists on taking my temperature on a regular basis. She sure would have made an amazing nurse … I bet her mom is an amazing nurse. Heather was bummed this was the check-in appt we decided she shouldn't come with me to. What was supposed to be an uneventful check-up was not. I missed her being there, and I know she missed being there as I was getting all of this news. She's such an amazing partner, wife, and all around cheerleader to have on my side.
I had an unexpected visitor at the infusion room today, Dr. Tjoe. It was so wonderful to see her, especially after receiving the unfortunate news about my counts and impending injection. We talked about a variety of things… she asked if I could feel any difference in the tumor size. I told her I didn't think so, and she said after the 3 weeks of my next cycle I will. That's super exciting! Nothing better than feeling success while going through this very unpleasant experience. Hear that Vladimir? … you're going down! I can't wait to have confirmation, that is true… but I have confidence my body and the poison of the chemo is taking care of it as I type. Dr. Tjoe also confirmed I'm not eligible for Team Phoenix this year … Booo! I think I knew it in my heart, but was bummed to have it confirmed. I asked her if there was any of the training I could do with the team, so I could be around it and she said she'd get back to me. I was excited to tell her about the walks Heather and I have been taking.
The most entertaining part of my appointment was when Genevieve came into the infusion room. She wasn't my nurse today. Instead, I had a wonderful nurse Karen who was floating from St. Lukes. Genevieve couldn't believe how much hair I still have at 15 days. She also couldn't believe how much hair I have in general. I told her I'm still waiting for it to "start falling out in droves." Heather and I think it may be thinning out slowly, but apparently that's not how it normally works. All of the nurses said it should start falling out any day. I have a suspicion it's going to take another round of chemo to get these thick hair follicles to give up. Time will tell. =) In the meantime, my hair is growing pretty fast. It's so much fun to play with, I'll be sad to see it go. I'm finally used to seeing myself in the mirror and feeling rather bad ass like a marine with it cut like this. Sometimes I joke like I'm G.I. Liz … granted not nearly as fit or hot as Demi Moore in G.I. Jane. Maybe I should start a pool on when I'll loose my hair, lol.
As for the Neupogen injection, it was a proper shot in my arm and couldn't use my port … boo! It also hurt! For those that don't know, before this experience I was terrified of needles. I would overcome that when necessary, like when I gave blood and have to get pricked for medical reasons, but I still remain a wimp when it comes to needles of any size. That was part of the attraction of having a port installed. This shot used a small needle, which was great … but the injection itself hurt. Nothing I couldn't handle, but ouch. I've had a headache since the injection, but nothing a couple ibuprofen couldn't take care of. Our Friday night plans are pretty chill, just hanging out relaxing for a chill evening and catching up on lots of fabulous shows on the DVR.
What a great week. While I was struggling with a cold at the beginning of the week, it for the most part has passed and I only have lingering sniffles and a dry cough remaining. My energy is also back… even had multiple people comment yesterday and today that I don't seem like someone going through chemo. I agree. My energy levels are awesome and I feel as good (if not better) than I did before my first chemo treatment. All of the oddities of the chemo and feeling like I wasn't in my own body subsided, my taste buds seems back to normal, and my energy levels are awesome. It's nice to know that as I continue through the 4 rounds of AC treatment every three weeks, I can count on the end of the three weeks bringing me back to feeling more normal than alien before we start the cycle all over again.
I went into my weekly check-up at the Vince Lombardi Cancer Center today feeling awesome … my cold concerns from earlier in the week were no longer worrying me and as I mentioned above I felt great. Last weeks blood numbers were great and I was hoping for a repeat this week. Sadly, that wasn't the case. My test came back showing concerning low counts on my Absolute Neutrophil and somewhat low white blood cell counts. This isn't abnormal at all. My oncologist was trying to avoid giving me shots that would help stimulate the bone marrow production to combat this, since the side effects are unpleasant. This is why I go in each week… to get these incremental checks on my blood work. In layman's terms… my immune systems is severely low, and they need to counter that with a shot that will help my body combat that. So… as a result, I received a Neupogen injection today. The known side effects of drug are bone pain… which I didn't quite understand until today. Some people describe it as a severe pain similar to growing pains, others sharp aches and pains in the lower back, sternum, or neck/shoulders. In talking with the nurses, they don't expect me to have these problems based on the low dose that I received … but also suggested that people who have pain in these areas naturally, tend to be the people who have the worst side effects of pain. That is concerning, since I have ongoing battles with my body fighting lower back and shoulder/neck pain. Other side effects of concern are increased fever and increased risk of infection. Good thing we have a thermometer at home, and Heather insists on taking my temperature on a regular basis. She sure would have made an amazing nurse … I bet her mom is an amazing nurse. Heather was bummed this was the check-in appt we decided she shouldn't come with me to. What was supposed to be an uneventful check-up was not. I missed her being there, and I know she missed being there as I was getting all of this news. She's such an amazing partner, wife, and all around cheerleader to have on my side.
I had an unexpected visitor at the infusion room today, Dr. Tjoe. It was so wonderful to see her, especially after receiving the unfortunate news about my counts and impending injection. We talked about a variety of things… she asked if I could feel any difference in the tumor size. I told her I didn't think so, and she said after the 3 weeks of my next cycle I will. That's super exciting! Nothing better than feeling success while going through this very unpleasant experience. Hear that Vladimir? … you're going down! I can't wait to have confirmation, that is true… but I have confidence my body and the poison of the chemo is taking care of it as I type. Dr. Tjoe also confirmed I'm not eligible for Team Phoenix this year … Booo! I think I knew it in my heart, but was bummed to have it confirmed. I asked her if there was any of the training I could do with the team, so I could be around it and she said she'd get back to me. I was excited to tell her about the walks Heather and I have been taking.
The most entertaining part of my appointment was when Genevieve came into the infusion room. She wasn't my nurse today. Instead, I had a wonderful nurse Karen who was floating from St. Lukes. Genevieve couldn't believe how much hair I still have at 15 days. She also couldn't believe how much hair I have in general. I told her I'm still waiting for it to "start falling out in droves." Heather and I think it may be thinning out slowly, but apparently that's not how it normally works. All of the nurses said it should start falling out any day. I have a suspicion it's going to take another round of chemo to get these thick hair follicles to give up. Time will tell. =) In the meantime, my hair is growing pretty fast. It's so much fun to play with, I'll be sad to see it go. I'm finally used to seeing myself in the mirror and feeling rather bad ass like a marine with it cut like this. Sometimes I joke like I'm G.I. Liz … granted not nearly as fit or hot as Demi Moore in G.I. Jane. Maybe I should start a pool on when I'll loose my hair, lol.
As for the Neupogen injection, it was a proper shot in my arm and couldn't use my port … boo! It also hurt! For those that don't know, before this experience I was terrified of needles. I would overcome that when necessary, like when I gave blood and have to get pricked for medical reasons, but I still remain a wimp when it comes to needles of any size. That was part of the attraction of having a port installed. This shot used a small needle, which was great … but the injection itself hurt. Nothing I couldn't handle, but ouch. I've had a headache since the injection, but nothing a couple ibuprofen couldn't take care of. Our Friday night plans are pretty chill, just hanging out relaxing for a chill evening and catching up on lots of fabulous shows on the DVR.