Author: suesilvano

This morning i had my yearly physical with my primary care physician. i did really well, my general numbers are in the range they are supposed to be in. So except for the fact that i have cancer, i’m quite healthy!!

Well, except for a couple of things – When they took my temperature, it was 100.4. (This is the number that i am supposed to contact my oncologist office.) i asked if we could check it a couple more times. Last time i had a temperature, by the time i got to the oncology office, it was back down to 98.6. i didn’t want to waste anyone’s time. After taking my temp 3 more times, it was 100.3, 100.1, the back up to 100.4. So my pcp called my oncologist directly, and i went right out to Dr. A’s office.

Also during the physical with my pcp, there was also something funky going on with my eyes. i hadn’t noticed anything out of the ordinary, but then again my ordinary is pretty different than most. 🙂 My pcp also talked to my oncologist about that, since that it could just be a side effect of one of the chemos.

The blood test that they did right off the bat at the oncologist office showed my levels were lower than they were last week. Which means i’m continuing to lose white blood cells. This may be starting a pattern, as the first infusion had the same issue- the numbers kept going down through the second week, then they turned around to have decent numbers on the third monday. Hoping this is the same. i also have a couple of tests they want to do this week. Just checking out a couple of things.

My anc is .05, which is realllllly low. That means i need to stay away from others again, at least for the next couple of days. Wheee!!

Other than that, nothing new around here! ha ha. Let me know if you have any questions.

Quick Recap:
The first chemo/21 day cycle treatment expected to feel SE near the end of the the first week. Nope! Near the end of the second week they started. (fever of 102, antibiotics, etc.)
The second chemo/21 day treatment expected the same kind of schedule starting on the second week. ha ha! right! Felt good until day 3/Thursday morning. After checking in with my bosses, it was decided that i would get more work done from home. But this time i also started having burning pain in my mouth, tongue, and throat. The meds needed to help with that is on back order. Hoping to find out if there is another med i can use tomorrow.

Now for the good news! i went in today for my day 7 labs, and all my numbers were about where we thought they would be. i do not have a fever, my platelets and ANC* numbers are low, but not nearly as low as last week! i will need to wear a mask this week, and watch out for any miscellaneous bleeding. Since this round the issues started early, and i am already working ahead on meds, i pray this means that for the next two weeks my body will be building up for the next round of chemo.

One interesting wrinkle, last week my scalp started feeling very sensitive. i could barely touch my head. For the next day or so, i was finding hair everywhere. on the pillow, on the chair, and perhaps the most unsettling, on the dinner table. Thinning and/or losing my hair is a known side effect from one of the chemos, but with the amount of hair i have, it was hard to tell which way it was going, or how long it was going to take! i decided, to be respective to those around me, my hair should just go away. (picture pigpen from the Snoopy cartoons, only it was hair and not dirt following me around.)  🙂 i still have my long wig, and most of my scarves and hats, so i am still covered. My co-workers never said anything, but i’m pretty sure they will feel a little better sharing a lunch table with me for the next few weeks.

And just in case you thought i was getting off easy this time through, so far i have pulled a muscle in my right shoulder and my left knee. There are days when i can’t tell if my body is responding to age, or to chemo. (i’m choosing to believe it’s chemo – at least for a while longer.)

All Praise to Him who created everything! He knows the end from the beginning.

*ANC=Absolute Neutrophil Count. A type of white blood cells that fight infection.

#2 of 6 chemo treatments, and so far so good!

Each chemo has its own personality. When i was first diagnosed, i did a lot of research into my cancer and the treatment. i based quite a bit of my expectations on the information i found from other patients and papers posted by well known medical sites and cancer fighting facilities. It has taken a third type of chemo to treat the same type of cancer, to realize that everyone, every drug, every time is different. Bodies react differently. i don’t know why i’m surprised!

In 2017, the first set of meds were strong acting, short time turn around (one set of infusions every week). The second set of 2017 was stronger acting, and the recovery time between each dose was longer (one set of infusions every other week). The first dose of 2018/2019 was strong acting, with a short turn around time (one infusion every other week) – unfortunately my body was not able to handle it well. It took 3 months just to get 5 infusions.

This fourth time, 2019, the dose is still strong, but more old school. It also has the longest turn around time one infusion every 21 days. i got the first one three weeks ago. The first week the side effects were very easy. The second week, usually the time my body would be rebuilding, it actually went the other way, and more SE were kicking in. By the second weekend, i had gained a possible set of infections, and a fever hovering around 101/102. Last Monday, as previously posted, i was getting high doses of antibiotic via my port, with a followup antibiotic pill taken each day.

This day was a good day! My numbers were up! The infusion went well, with the only side effect being really tired. So i came home, and took about a 3 hour nap, and feel really good tonight. Like last time, labs are run on day 7 to see if my body reacts like it did for the first set. Hopefully these series will run the same course, and if so, i will be able to plan ahead, and be prepared.

Dad and i are very thankful for your prayers. We can see God moving so much! We are trying to keep up a “normal” life throughout this whole situation, so we are also thankful for everyone’s patience and support.

To God be the Glory!

i have had quite a few people ask me what the SE are this time around/are they as bad as previous rounds. My usual answer has been, “If i had these SE the first time around, i probably would have blogged about them, but after all i have been through, they seem kind of mild!”

Be wary of mild SE. They can come back to bite you! One of the SE this time around has involved platelets. i am more susceptible to bleeding or bruising.  Another one is mouth sores & ulcers – makes it hard to eat anything. That and the ongoing nausea makes it hard to keep up my strength.

So a couple of nights ago, i had nosebleed that lasted about 10 minutes. When i finally got the bleeding to stop, i was afraid to blow my nose for fear of starting it again. Twenty-four hours later, it was a full blown sinus infection. Add to that a few other infections that quickly started. Things can move that fast.

You can’t rely on how you feel. You have to go by the numbers. In my case, the numbers were a fever of 102. The fever then went to 101.7, which i thought meant it was getting better…until the fever went back up to 102 today. i spent the rest of the day at doctors offices. First my Primary Care Doctor, and then the oncologist. Getting antibiotics and fluids. And being reminded that there is a reason why they tell you to call in when your fever is over 100.4. Point well taken.

God’s still got this!!!!