Round #2 - Scenes from the Chemo Suite

I got a surprisingly good night's sleep last night, but awoke this morning slightly anxious...

Would my WBCs have rebounded enough for treatment today???  My total WBC has to be over 2 and my ANC over 1.5.  Recall that last Wednesday they were .8 and .1 respectively :tdown

Well, I had to prepare nonetheless!  Nothing to eat, just tons of water (a virtual pink sister swears by fasting the day before chemo to prevent tummy upset and nausea, but I'll settle for the night/morning ;) - it seemed to work last time!), pack the bags...

Ready to Go!
blanket and pillow, lotion and chap-stick, notebook for meeting with onco, iPad and work stuff

Notice whose head is sticking out of the top???  Just in case \m/

AND: Ice for the "A" drug push and granola for a quick snack

I'm really not a Vera Bradley freak, but these bags are SO cute - gifts from my sweet Mama.

Precious daughter is home for several days this week and served as my escort today <3

5 minutes before we left I did the requisite lidocaine application to numb the skin area over my port for a low-pain access :tup

nickel-sized dot over port, then cover with saran wrap ;)

We checked in around 8:30.  MORE forms to complete - "Didn't I do this LAST time?"
Different form, a place to check side effects from last round and write questions for the onco.  Well, okay then.

Back to the lab for vitals, then into the chemo suite to get a blood sample - MUCH easier to use the port than one of my tiny veins ;)

This young nurse was great!

We both have to wear masks while she breaches the port.  First is has to be flushed with Heparin - which has a rather nasty, metallic taste - then blood can be drawn.

Precious daughter and I staked claim to our prize positions in the suite, then set off to drop my vials at the lab down the hall and meet with my onco, still wondering if I'd be UP enough...

Onco came in and, HALLELUJAH!!!  Counts are UP and I'm good to go 8)

Since miss precious was there, I asked about the BRCA test.  He said they could draw blood there and send it off  - IF she'd be okay with me getting the results first...  "Of course!"  The awesome lab nurse :star was even able to find her small vein!  I'm just so relieved that we'll know something relatively soon.

Back to the chemo suite - time to get Round #2 underway!

These chairs recline and are actually quite comfortable!

Had to snap a quick selfie :)

 Like the first round, my first dripped meds were fluids, steroids, and 2 anti-nausea drugs.

My first 4 rounds are the same drug combination (Adriamycin and Cytoxan) - remember the :v???  The first drug has to be administered via a push, over 12-15 minutes, by the nurse:

-RED DEVIL-
But hey, if it works!!!

"Get those ice chips ready!!!" - anecdotal evidence is they help prevent major mouth sores :tup

The push!
(note the cute blankie - from a special cousin)

Next was the Cytoxan drip - one long hour...  "Is it done yet?" (That's ME, not my much more patient precious daughter!)  This time was thankfully uneventful (see round #1 strange occurrence).

Precious daughter <3

Her job isn't over yet!  She's going to drive/accompany me to turn in some HR documents tomorrow for work, then back to floor #4 for my Neulasta injection :brow

Thanks to all of you who sent sweet messages and good wishes for today - I SO appreciate it!

Another special cousin and I were talking on Monday evening as I walked my requisite 30 minutes on the treadmill.  She told me I sounded "light and free" (compared to those major pain days).  I told her I couldn't explain it, of course I FELT much better, but it's truly more than that - I KNOW that it's all the prayer warriors out there sending me such a strong and sustaining sense of support and encouragement :h 

The higher power is THE power!!!

And she shared this verse:

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

2 Corinthians 4: 17-18

Round #2... also in the books :)