August 15, 2004

port-a-cath, are you crazy?

I remember my first day of chemo very well. After all was said and done, the oncologist recommended 6 rounds of CHOP chemotherapy. That is a combination of four drugs, three to be given intravenously and the last prednisone to be taken orally. I went in on Feb. 24 2003 and was ready to roll. They give chemo through an IV which is kinda ironic because I always thought it was something given in some huge machine or something. I had all these horrorific images that were going through my mind of being strapped and and basically flogged with stuff that was going to make me really sick. That's the thing about chemo, it might be killing the cancer, but it also is killing every other good cell in your body as well. There is no immune support and I think that is why so many people end up getting really sick form the chemo even if they were not that sick from the cancer.
I happen to have poor veins so on my first round of CHOP it leaked out and created a huge burn on my arm, that is when they told me that I needed a port. OK no way I said. I already feel like a lab rat and you want to put something under my skin that looks like it is from Star Trek, no. But as we know in the medical world when they want you to do something they press on so needless to say I got the port. It was like a tiny button under my skin, and actually it was one of the best things I did during chemo it was great to not have to worry about being stuck with needles. And my hands were always free during treatment to read or do whatever. I highly recommend anti-nausea drugs when going through chemo, also if you can get pot it was extremely helpful. It helps with hunger, nausea and the prednisone jitters. Nurses were really great in making those suggestions. Remember this is just what I found to be useful other people might have different things they found helpful.
After the first treatment I came home and kept waiting for my hair to fall out. It took about two weeks then I just shaved it. I was pretty self conscious about the hair thing, but I wore scarves and hats. I had a wig but didn't really wear it that much, it was itchy. I believe at this time I truly was ready for the cancer journey I felt like I was right where I needed to be, and that I was going to be ok.

Posted by Monica L. on August 15, 2004 09:35 PM