Chemo #5

What a week!

Chemo #5 went as expected yesterday. I'm feeling weird and steroid-filled today. I had some serious night sweats last which is gross because chemo is also seeping out of my pours. I have had this previously and don't think I've mentioned this here. I have experienced a few hot flashes since starting chemo too, and can't really know if it's the chemo or hormone changes causing them. It has been about 10 weeks since I last had a period, which is sort of a blessing since I don't have to worry about managing cramps or anything, but it sure has me wondering what's ahead of me when it comes to hormones and managing menopause.

My chemo nurse yesterday was the same nurse who looked after me for my first treatment. She had already learned about my exciting chemo port dehiscence. I guess word gets around when freaky things happen. There are so many different situations I see while I'm in the chemo suite. Two different people came in to be hooked up to a bag of chemo that will slowly enter their bodies at home over the course of a week. One person has been coming for chemo and other therapies for 8+ years and seems to be friends with everyone on the floor. They ate a HUGE submarine sandwich during their treatment and that was a sight to see! Someone else much younger than me was struggling with nausea yesterday and that was hard to watch because it felt like an invasion of privacy to be present when someone else was throwing up in a basin.

Yesterday morning before my treatment the girls and I accepted an invitation from one of my colleagues to visit the NINE puppies at their house. They are, I think, double doodles? So cute. I would recommend the experience to everyone! They were very curious, roly-poly pups and at any given time two or more of them were napping while we played with the others.

Rick gave me a haircut before chemo yesterday as the hairs on my noggin were getting a bit too long for my liking. I put some eye makeup on because my eyebrows and eyelashes have thinned out. Since chemo day is my 'big day out' this week, I thought it might be nice to get fancy. I have to say that while it was nice to put some makeup on, putting it on means having to take it off. I lost quite a few brow hairs during makeup removal. Usually I don't touch my brows too much, so this made me second guess my choice.

Fancy eyes.

Eyes without makeup for comparison. Things are getting a bit thin and patchy! I am used to having heavy brows and thick lashes, so compared to my 'normal' this is much different.

Ice bucket time! Very comfy chairs.

This week my platelets were quite low again despite everything I am doing to keep healthy. It is something that is really not in my control, so I am trying hard to not let it bother me. I just squeaked by for my treatment this week, so it is likely my final treatment will be delayed. If it isn't, that will be a wonderful surprise! I've decided that lowering my expectations will be the best strategy since it's my last treatment and I want it done ASAP.

My newly stitched up port incision is feeling good. I have some sense of itching and pulling but no pain or swelling. My sleeping went right back to normal; the unusually loud snoring that kept my family awake Sunday and Monday nights was most certainly related to the battle my chest was waging with the port. Isn't is strange and wonderful how bodies sometimes let you know when something's up? It's too bad cancer cells don't trigger the snore alarm.

As we enter the weekend I'm bracing myself for the fatigue, brain fog, and taste bud trouble. The brain fog and mouth issues are my two least favourite things. The brain fog makes it hard to focus, make decisions, and recall words. I have trouble thinking at all if the room is noisy. I am forgetful and need to rely on lists and reminders. This is only really bad for two or three days, then it gets somewhat better but I never quite get back to normal. The taste bud trouble means that food has less flavour (or 'wrong' flavour) and textures feel strange in my mouth. This makes it hard to figure out what I want to eat. I still enjoy cooking but don't get any enjoyment from eating. This lasts for almost a week, starting the day after chemo, peaking 3 or 4 days later, then very slowly returning to normal. I can't say if things return to pre-chemo normal because things taste SO MUCH BETTER one week later that it seems amazing compared to the bad days so I may have lost proper perspective on what normal is.

I'll leave you with this tranquil canoeing scene from last week. I hope everyone in Ontario has enjoyed the lovely start to our summer. The temperatures have been my favourite thing so far. I don't like HOT days.