Chemotherapy

I had my first chemotherapy treament on April 25.  I am on an escalated BEACOPP.  It is a 21 day cycle.  I have IV chemo on days 1 & 8.  During the first two weeks I take a lot of oral medications (chemotherapy, prednizone, preventive medicines,...).  I also have injections of aranesp (red blood cells)  and nulasta (white blood cells).  The third week I am only on preventive medicines.  In the beginning of each cycle I take 25 pills a day, at the end just 4 a day.

I was very scared the first time.  You hear so many terrible things about chemotherapy.  But what choice is there?  I have to do it.  Today's medicine is so wonderful, they give you plenty of medication to avoid getting sick.  Thank God, the worst that I feel after treatments is very tired.  I can handle that.  I am so happy that I do not vomit from this.  The most unpleasant side effect for me is hot flashes and night sweats.  I hate them because they disturb my sleep.  But it is still better than vomitting.  Other side effects I've had are a metallic taste, coated tongue, weakness in my hands, and being a little forgetful.  But nothing too the extreme.  Most of the time I feel pretty normal.  People ask me if I am an invalid.  No!  I can function quite well.  I am even starting to exercise lightly again so I am more than pleased.  The best part is that my breathing is great.  I can feel the chemo working.

Steve takes me to all my treatments and Andrea comes with us most every time also.  It's like I have two body guards.  It's a long boring day of waiting.  Waiting to see Dr. M, waiting for the medicine to come up from the pharmacy, waiting my turn, then waiting for the treatment to finish.  And here we are in NY where there is all this great food, and all I want to do is go home after I'm done.  Poor Steve and Andrea look at me with sad faces and say-it's all about you Jack.  They take very good care of me, and make my chemo days bearable and amusing.