Chemo starts tomorrow, 4-16, 2012. I will be receiving Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) and Doxorubicin (Adriamycin) by chemo port and then the next day, I will receive Neulasta to help protect against infection. The side effects from the chemo are listed as moderate to severe, so I can expect pretty much total hair loss in addition to all the other side effects. I have to really get into a routine of drinking lots of water as I go through chemo. We have bought the Vitamix so I can make nutritional smoothies that will also help with some of the side effects, like mouth and throat sores and nausea. I am NOT looking forward to going through this, but I am looking forward to living.
On Wednesday, I went to the hospital to get the chemo port put it. Because of the lymph nodes removal and possible lymphedema, I cannot have anything done to my arms. So, to get an IV started, the nurse FIRST tried the top of my foot. No go. Then she tried the other foot. No go. Talk about pain!!! Then she tried the back of my hand. No go. Then she tried a prominent vein on my wrist. No go. Finally, I told her to do it in my left arm (only one lymph node removed) and call it good. It worked.
When I went into the surgery room, one of the nurses asked me what kind of music I wanted. I said, “Christmas.” So they put on Pandora and played Christmas music for me. Of course, I was “asleep” for quite a bit of the surgery, but I awoke to Dean Martin playing in the background. I asked one of the nurses if he were bored listening to the music. He said he would have been prior to his marriage. But his wife LOVES all the holidays, and he said he now likes Christmas music and loves to celebrate all the other holidays, too.
