My chemo sessions are broken down into two cycles. The first cycle is comprised of 4 sessions with a chemical cocktail. Yeah...a chemo cocktail, not a refreshing alcoholic cocktail. So, every other week, I sit through a two hour chemo session.
The chemicals are supposed to be pushed through the port in my chest, but as you can guess from reading previous posts, I have not been the luckiest of people. Each time a chemo session begins, the nurse inserts a syringe and draws blood. This indicates the port is functional and the chemo flows to the main artery. Unfortunately for me, the nurse has been unable to draw blood and the sessions have been administered through a vein in my left arm. This is not a good protocol to follow and consequently, I was referred to the hospital for a port study.
The port study will determine if the port is defective and will have to surgically be replaced or my body is producing clogging agents. After a quick cat scan, I was told the port is fine and my body was the cause of the clog.
Next up for me is the 4 hour drip appointment. This drip will unclog the port and on Wednesday, I will have a less stressful chemo session. This drip however, does not guarantee the port will stay clogged-free.
My first 4 sessions include the cocktail mix of Adriamycin(R) and Cyclophosphamide. Adriamycin(R) is a vesicant. A vesicant is a chemical that causes extensive tissue damage and blistering if it escapes from the vein. The amount of Adriamycin given depends on the patients' height and weight, general health and the type of cancer.
In my case, Adriamycin is given in the form of three syringes. Adriamycin is bright red in color and produces urine of the same color. The syringes are inserted in the IV first and then Cyclophosphamide is administered next through a drip.
Why did I titled this post My Chemical Romance? Because I have a love/hate relationship with chemo. Let me break it down for you:
Hate:
- True to the info sheet, I began losing hair at day 14
- Extreme fatigue and muscle weakness
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Poor appetite
Love:
- Poor appetite
- Weight loss YAY (I'll take it any way I can)
- I have lost a total of 18 pounds
- Eating smaller portions
- Hating the taste of sodas
- Hating the taste of chocolates
Yes, this is a full confession of my chemical romance. BOOM.
