I start the second phase of chemo today: 12 weekly treatments of taxol. It's supposed to be kinder and gentler on me than my first four treatments of "red devil" adriamycin/cytoxan. "Funny" thing about managing the main side effect of taxol (neuropathy, or numbness in fingers and toes): A nurse recommended taking glutamine, something I'd get at a health food store and mix into water or juice a few times a day. Guess what the main side effects are? Yep, stomach pain, nausea and vomiting. You can't win for losing with all the competing side effects. Now for a mish mash of speedy-quick updates from a couple weeks that have been blurry busy:
Loved having my brother and niece Sofia visit, despite a low-energy spell that slowed me down. They understood and delighted in chilling with me and the fam. I powered through my fatigue one day to stroll through Pike Place Market, have lunch with one of Frank's college buddies and ride the waterfront Ferris wheel with them.
Loved having Sean's sister visit right after Frank and Sofia left. She got to walk with the kids during their walkathon when I couldn't because of work commitments. She cooked and cooked and cooked some more. So awesome.
I enjoyed a surge of energy and appetite for five straight days. Swam, went to the gym, relished every meal, slept well, then overdid it one day working too late and rising too early and wound up so spent I had to end me work day early and nap. Note to self: Not a good time to be trying to burn that proverbial candle at both ends (or even either of them).
A few days after our Ferris wheel ride, my brother aptly noted that it's quite the metaphor for my cancer battle: lots of ups and downs, alternating rhythmically, changes in perspective, and then the ride ends and you move on with your life. Some days, the end of this ordeal seems dreadfully far away: mid-March. Ugh. Really? Then again, time flies when you're a busy working mom who has no choice but to squeeze in a second job: this whole cancer shit sandwich. ________________ UPDATES (post treatment):
Infusion was a breeze.
My nurses hovered for the first 10 minutes to make sure I didn't have an allergic reaction (which about 1% of folks do).
Nothing funky happened, so I'm good to go for the 11 rounds to come.
Time flew thanks to the fine company of my friend Julie Davidow.
Sean (finally!) starts the first of his two trials tomorrow. He's been working his ass off, which isn't easy under the best of circumstances. I admire his ability to juggle so much, without letting the crappiness of having to do that while I'm slogging through cancer overwhelm him. He's always there for me when I need him and is such a compassionate listener.