My Breast Cancer Update: NO MORE RED DEVIL!

April 11th was my 4th cycle and final infusion of Adriamycin (AKA The Red Devil), and Cytoxan. Part A of treatment is complete! No chemo treatment this week, so I'm enjoying my last days of freedom. 

Part B of treatment begins May 2nd, and will be 12 weeks straight of Taxol. I have been told by doctors, nurses, and friends that the Taxol will be easier. I'm staying positive that it will be, and will hopefully feel more like myself throughout. 

I'm still not used to being bald. I haven't been able to go out in public with my naked head. I usually cover up with a hat, or a scarf wrapped turban style although I'm not very good at it. I was just telling friends how being bald is harder than I thought it would be. Before, I hardly styled my hair. I actually hid behind my hair, and hardly wore makeup. Now I'm wearing more makeup, trying to figure out my eyebrows, and spending way more time on scarf wrapping than I ever did on styling my hair. I'm sure I'll figure it out once my hair starts to grow back. LOL.

As many of you know, I am a huge fan of music. All genres. With the recent passings of some of my lifelong favorite musicians including David Bowie, Merle Haggard, and Prince, this process has been made extra emotional for me. So far, I have worn my David Bowie Blackstar tank under my shirt to every infusion. Seems silly, but it gives me courage.

I end this post with my favorite Bowie song, that I  listen to everyday. It may seem a bit heavy at first, but I find it empowering and encouraging. If you are feeling down, the message is clear... You're not alone.

David Bowie - Rock 'n' Roll Suicide,

taken from ‘Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars (The Motion Picture Soundtrack)'

My Breast Cancer Update: First Chemo Treatment

Answering the selfie requests for my new short haircut.

I began yesterday very anxious about my first chemo treatment. I over packed, you would have thought I was going camping... but better have too much than too little. I had a lot of great tips on how to get through treatments from lots of lovely ladies. I absorbed all of their advice and I had my mother (AKA Memaw) and my super-hero of a husband with me. I knew that I would do just fine.

So yesterday was treatment 1 of Part A: AC with tons of anti-nausea meds beforehand. My anxiety went away as the nurse began with the infusions. I drank a lot of water on the days leading up to treatment, and the day of treatment, which I think helped. During treatment, I sucked on tiny ice cubes throughout (great tip from friends), sipped on water or ginger-ale, and snacked on graham cracker cookies. I watched Freaks and Geeks on Netflix and just tried to relax. Memaw was, as usual, knitting. Husband was working, so was in and out of the room throughout treatment.

The "Red Devil" of Adriamycin (Doxorubicin) is no joke! It looked like red Jell-O being injected into my system, which already freaked me out. I could feel an overwhelming surge of drowsiness come over me as it was going in. All the water I had been drinking seemed to help get it through my system quickly.

Once complete, I was feeling ok. I had been told that I would feel great, but to also take it easy, especially with food. When I got home I went on a nice long walk with Memaw and Karma dog. Then relaxed on the sofa for the rest of the evening. I began to feel a bit woozy, like a mild hangover. I ate some brown rice with scrambled egg, my go-to comfort food when I am not feeling great, and went to bed fairly early.

This morning, I still had the hangover feeling but a bit stronger with the addition of a slight headache. I ate some granola with yogurt, and keep drinking water. I just finished up a short walk with Memaw and Karma dog, and now am trying to get to my unanswered messages and write this update post.

Excuse my flabby arm. :)

Oh, I was also sent home with this cool Neulasta kit. I'm supposed to have a Neulasta injection the day after chemo, but instead of making me come in, the nurse stuck this little kit to my arm (picture right). It will beep to let me know when it will begin injection, and has a blinking light that will go solid once the dose is complete. How cool is that! I don't have to make another trip to the doctor's office, AND I'm not sticking a needle into myself.

Soo... So far, so good. As I have been telling friends, it feels like a hangover BUT without the funny stories from the night before. Also, if I had a hangover, I'd be at the diner by myself in a lonely booth, wearing sunglasses, downing a giant omelet.

Thank you again for all the advice, tips, good vibes, and encouragement throughout this moment of my life. I cannot thank you enough and explain how much it means to me... but I'll do my very best to try. You help keep me tough.

Lots of love!
Jackie