Chemo Cycle 1 Complete

Hello everyone! Sorry it has been a while since my last update. I had been waiting to complete my first round of chemotherapy before updating the blog and then realized it had been a while. I completed my first chemo cycle last week and it went better than I expected. There were two main parts to the treatment, the first involved getting pills to take at home, followed by an in-office intravenous (IV) dose the next day.

The chemo pills (which arrived via FedEx the night before I had to take them) came with tons of literature on how to take them. I was warned to handle them with gloves, which I did. These pills are apparently toxic so for the next week, every time I go to bathroom I have to close the lid and flush twice. Not a big deal, but just made me realize that it is pretty potent. Also, as is expected with chemotherapy, this medication causes a lot of nausea, so they also came with

anti-nausea pills, with a separate dosing schedule to help me stay ahead of feeling sick.

The mystery is in the eyes

One of the many side effects of this treatment is hearing loss, so I am working with an audiologist and Ears/Nose/Throat (ENT) Specialist to ensure we mitigate any negative effects. The day after I took my oral medication, Eric and I made our way to UCSF for the ENT appointment and the chemo IV. ENT let me know that everything is in the normal range and that we should just keep monitoring the hearing. They also said I should be careful not to be around loud acoustics for a while, as this could hurt my hearing right now. We then made our way to the IV center, and although the appointment was originally scheduled for three hours, they wanted to make sure I was well hydrated and suggested going slow. At the end, the treatment took over six hours. By the time I was plugged in, I was surprised with visits from my twin, Rosy, and a good friend, Sunita. It was nice to break up the time with nice company. By the time we got home, I was spent. I promptly knocked out for the night. 

Just a few of the bags I went through

The next few days went as expected, getting lots of rest. I was told that I would be abnormally fatigued, and as promised, I was. I tried sleeping as much as a I could, and Coco definitely supported the effort. My rest contributed to the delay in the updates. 

Over the last few weeks I have been captivated by Michelle Obama’s book “Becoming.” She is articulate, thoughtful, and inspiring. It is refreshing to see someone with such power be so vulnerable and humble. I think her words are what I need at this point where I am trying to be strong, but also recognize there is an inner voice that is always a bit scared. I’m learning that is normal, and as long as I can coach that voice, I keep plowing forward.

As we approach the holiday season, once again, I am so grateful to all of my family, friends and colleagues for your support. This year has had its challenges, but I am entering into 2019 with my head held high and with a group of people that will help me continue my fight.

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Hugs,

CD