(By the way the bag on the right is the one mentioned in my first post.)
Dr K. had the results of my additional testing. I am HER2 positive. This makes targeting my cancer a bit easier. It also gives me more surgical options, but we are going to worry about that later. Being HER2+ means that I get 6 rounds of chemo and herceptin drugs every 21 days. We went over all of the side effects, there are many. All of the daily precautions, also many. Then off to the infusion center we went.
The HER2 medicines and chemo premeds.
I receive the medications for HER2 first. They make you feel a bit tired. These take about two hours to run.
At this point it had gotten so late they had to transfer us from the infusion center to the main hospital because they were closing, while we moved I received steroids and anti nausea medications. Once we got settled into our new room and met the new nurse it was time for the chemotherapy drugs. Taxotere was first. Apparently 25% of the patients receiving this drug will have a side effect. The nurses all mentioned this several times. They keep an emergency kit in their pockets just in case. Well you guessed it, I am one of the 25%. Within minutes of the drug starting my chest became super heavy, my throat scratchy and thickening like when your getting strep throat. The nurse stopped the medication and gave me 50mg of Benadryl and something else. My Bp was 154/101. Fifteen minutes later my chest felt better, my Bp was down but my throat was still dry and tickling and I was definitely feeling the effects of the Benadryl. The nurse had talked to the Dr. and we would try it again now that I had had the Benadryl. Some patients just need the antihistamines to be able to receive the medicine. Now please remember that it is after 10pm on July 3, a holiday. The nurse starts the medicine again. Bp was ok, my chest was a bit heavy but not like it was before ( could have been the Benadryl) but I was still having to clear my throat. The nurse decided I was reacting again and stopped the Taxotere. She was very afraid that my throat would close and because it was a holiday they didn't have the same staff as normal to handle that well. She administered another 25 mg of Benadryl, we waited 30 minutes and moved on to the next and final chemo drug. By 12:30 am we were head home. After all the Benadryl I don't remember much of that ride. I crawled into bed and slept until 9:30. Missing the Taxotere does have one positive, it was the drug that would cause hair loss in my cocktail so I hopefully get a one month more with my new short hair cut
Saturday found me tired and with a massive headache, no Tylenol or Motrin allowed though. We had a quiet day, at dinner at kids house and then watched the neighborhood fireworks.
I did not sleep well Saturday night I woke often feeling queasy and with a headache. By 5am I gave in and took the pain medication prescribed and zofran. Zofran is my new best friend. Hopefully the nausea doesn't last too long. We ran back to the hospital on Sunday for my nuelasta booster. This increases bone marrow to hopefully keep my cell counts up. It can also cause bone pain (let's hope not).
Today, Monday, is quilt bee day. It only happens once a month but I am going to have to miss it. I am in awe of the people who do this and get up and go to work. I am very lucky to be able to stay home while I don't feel well.
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