So, I haven't put my thoughts down here for quite a number of years, and that's because everything was going so well. No news is good news, right? Well, I was in observation since my 2010 surgery until my latest MRI results came back in July with news that my tumour was starting to grow again. As things did last time around, they have progressed very fast. I am in radiation therapy and chemotherapy treatment to treat my brain cancer.
Right now, I am staying at the Lodge connected to the cancer centre for my radiation times which are Monday-Friday, and I come home on the weekends. I am currently on the Chemotherapy pill, Temodal, 7 days a week and so it allows me to take it while at the lodge and while at home on the weekends. That chemotherapy pill. That little itty bitty pill. Who knew it could pack the punch it does? I started radiation to the brain on August 20, 2014 and I started (or tried to) chemotherapy on August 21, 2014. It didn't go so well. I took my first dose as per instructions, on an empty stomach 1 hr before radiation. Radiation went fine, and then I had 1/2 a sandwich. Silly me. That set me off on an intense vomiting session of almost 12 hrs straight. At one point I was just bringing up pure chemotherapy. It was burning every inch of the way, up from my stomach, into my throat, out my mouth, etc. I couldn't believe how intense the pain was. I literally cried every time I vomited. I had my husband with me, and we worked really well in tandem. The minute I shot up out of bed, he ran for the kleenex and glass of water at my bedside. I proceeded to vomit and cry and when I'd be done I'd wipe my tears, wipe my face and rinse my mouth. He'd either put his gloves on to dispose of the toxic mess or get someone else to dispose of it. We made a pretty good team.
The next day, I skipped chemotherapy and met with my Oncologist to discuss what happened. I also discovered that my lips were red and raw, and I had chemo burns on my tongue from the drug coming back up. Not fun. My Oncologist gave me a steroid to take, and I now am using a different anti nauseant 1 hr before the pills. My worst fear is my head being bolted to the radiation table (yes it's bolted) and going into a vomiting fit. Where does it go? I'm stuck in a hardened mesh mask and I can't talk or move. It's not a pleasant thought, so I want to get this nausea under control. Tonight was my first chemo dose with that new pill, so here's hoping it works! I'll let you all know if it does, but I really am hoping that it works with my body. I've been told that this chemotherapy drug is well tolerated by most people, so I hope it's just a matter of figuring out what will work best to keep me from vomiting.
~Tara
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