Phase II

The Hero's journey is often divided into a series of smaller quests. Each has its own threshold the Hero must approach, and each has its own challenges or tests. This week marks the approach of new threshold for me, as Phase II of chemo begins.

The last three rounds of chemo are with a drug known as Taxotere or Docetaxel. I'll receive this intravenously over an hour or so, with the first session Thursday. This drug is known to cause allergic reactions and patients must take a steroid known as Decadron (aka Dexamethasone) in three doses prior to the chemo session -- the first dose 12 hours before chemo, the second three hours before, and the final dose one hour prior to chemo. My chemo session is at 9 a.m. so I'll take my pre-medicine at 9 p.m., 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. After the final dose I have to call the pharmacy and let them know I've taken the Decadron so my chemo dose can be mixed. There's no chemo if I mess up my meds. I'll take three more doses of the Decadron following chemo.

The good news is nausea and vomiting are not common side-effects for this drug...although I have a back-up prescription in case I prove the exception. More common are nail changes (yellowing and ridges), dry skin, water retention (another reason for the steroids), and pain in the joints and muscles. Hair loss is also a side-effect, but I don't have much left to lose.

My doctor couldn't feel the lump in the lymph nodes at all and the one in my breast is now pea-sized. She says this is good. She'll also reach out to my surgeon in the next couple of weeks and coordinate a visit with her to discuss the surgery, which will likely take place in late July.

My next clinic appointment will be a week early, May 26th, because of an oncology conference in the US. This will mean an extra trip over to the clinic because I'll still have to go in twice the following week for my regular blood work and chemo.

My mailbox has been busy this week. Yesterday I received a package from my Kentucky teammates. (Yes, I work on a team spread out over multiple states and two countries.) This package contained all kinds of goodies including: a card, a book (The Soloist), chocolates, a bracelet handmade by Susan, a Harry Potter wand (I knew I was special), angel mugs and tea, and an angel pin. It was like Christmas morning wading through the layers of bubble wrap. I also received a couple of cards this week -- one from Ilene in Framingham and one from the Colorado group. Thank you everyone -- you continue to give me strength and courage throughout this journey.

Cole and I went for a quick walk up the street and back. It was a little on the cool side here so we didn't go too far. Tomorrow is supposed to be warmer, so we'll treat ourselves to a longer walk in the park; I can't think of a much better way to spend my pre-chemo day then spending some quality time with my pup. (Tess just had a hair cut and is minding the cold, so she'll stay home with Rob.)