Officiallly Done with Chemo!

Yesterday I completed my last banana phone (take home chemo). And then I went into the clinic to have my central line removed. Praise God. I've had those plastic tubes sticking out of my chest and arm for 6 months! You don't know what a relief it is for me not to have them there anymore. I am soooo happy!

So yay! I am done with that. Moving on to the next phases... Some testing, lots of waiting. But I'm sure it will be easier than chemo was.

Time for some pix!

My bananaphone bag... Yes, it's a fanny pack - but look how cool I made it. Haha, yes - you heard me right. I said cool. hahaha. I'm soooo funny! Don't bother telling me how crooked my flower is, I'm gonna pretend it's just perfect ;o)

Me & my Godson Adrian at Hibachi Grill - celebrating his continuation, which I didn't get to go to 'cause I was supposed to be getting chemo (2nd try).
Alejandro and Jayda at his graduation party.

Me, Jayda and Nikkita at Alejandro's Graduation Party

Me, Mateo and Karen at a Potluck for Mateo's last day of pre-school! (Two days after chemo, looking good - not)

Darren and Mondo - out for Pho.

And Eric too....

Aubreyana and Mondo at the BBQ

Jayda Marie at the Memorial Day BBQ

John & Lisa at the BBQ too...

Chemotherapy - Session I

Guess what. I am done with my first chemo treatment! 1 down. 11 to go.


My appointment with Dr Azar was at 9:30. I didn't get in to see her until 10:30. Didn't really talk about anything. Just checked my central line and asked if I needed pain meds. Darren went with us and she told him, "No one calls me Doctor, just Azar." I don't know how long it will take me to get used to that though.

Next, went over to the chemo wing... I can say that 'cause it really is a whole wing on the 12th floor with an awesome view of the city. Met my nurse - Stephanie who gave me some pre-chemo meds (8 pills!) and eventually got my chemo hooked up. I guess it takes a while 'cause the pharmacist mixes it right there at the time of the appointment. But the drip actually only took about 2 1/2 hours.

Then, the pharmacist came over and explained my take home meds (pills) and the pump that I will wear for the next 48 hours. I am stylin' with my new fanny pack! I think everyone should have one and wear them whenever we are together. Wait till I put the sequins on it... I think this calls for an extra special craft night.

And then the nurse came back, unhooked the IV meds, hooked up my pump (see Note Below) and changed my bandage. My dad picked up my scripts for me or we might have had to wait a bit longer. Anyway, afterwards, I was hungry so we (me, mom & Sheila) stopped at McD's for a bite. So after about 6 hours total, here I am.

I don't feel too bad. A bit hot, and a bit of a headache... And now, starting to feel tired. I am told the side effects will get worse as time goes by so I am drinking an Iced Coke right now! Yay! It does feel a bit weird in my throat, kinda tingly and a bit hard to swallow (but that might just be allergies too :o) - anyway, I will deal with it as long as I can take it :o)


Note Below:
When I was first told about "the pump", I was told it was about the size of a banana. But we joked about not knowing what size of banana. Nevertheless, I decided I would affectionately call it my bananaphone. So anyway, today I got my bananaphone and it doesn't look like a banana at all. Sheila said out loud, what we were all thinking - "it looks like a condom inside a baby bottle". And that my friends, is exactly what it looks like!

Where's my banana phone?

Last Thursday, I told my mom that she could drop me off for the central line surgery and then go back home to take Darren to school. Then I told her I wouldn't be out until about 11 if she wanted to wait to come back till then. The thing is, I wasn't out-out the whole time and I didn't realize how much I would notice that I was alone. Thank God Mondo walked in (unexpectedly) when he did. It was right before they told me about the minor complications. I think I might have had a breakdown if he weren't there. Instead, I laughed. And he took a picture of me bundled in warm blankets.

So honestly, I'm a bit freaked out. I went in on Friday for the class on my central line, and I am not sure what I was expecting... I guess I thought that they were gonna show me how to clean the lines with Heparin (which I am okay with) and maybe show me how to connect and disconnect the banana phone (aka, the pump, which I still haven't seen)... but I found out I have to change the dressing on my own once a week, for the entire time. The nurse was stressing how it had to be sterile cause the line went straight down to my heart and an infection could.... what?!?!?! The first time I have to change it is Friday and I asked Sheila, who is a nurse and who has been going with me to appointments, if she might help me and make sure I don't kill myself.

My first round of chemotherapy is this Wednesday. Two days. I wonder if I will use it as a measure of time? Like, before chemo and after chemo. I do that sometimes... Oh man, we're really going now aren't we?

Give it to me straight Doc...

Okay, Okay, Okay. Here's the big update. I wasn't trying to hold out on info - the doctor's appointment that started at 1:30pm lasted until 4:00pm! Yikes!

That being said, there was a lot of information. I had even bought a digital voice recorder so that I could re-listen to the conversation. Unfortunately, I didn't press the record button. That was truly disappointing. But Sheila was there and she took notes and we went out for ice cream afterwards to come up with a brief breakdown.

Here we go....

First decision - To chemo or not to chemo? No brainer right? I am going to have chemotherapy treatment. We ended the visit with the numbers, but I am going to note them here at the beginning because this is where I think they fit in.

My Final Pathologic Diagnosis reported at least AJCC Tumor Stage Grouping IIIB.
With this staging, percentages are

- without treatment, 64% cured within 5 years.
- with treatment, 85% cured within 5 years.

So one big answer is, my cancer is curable! yay! Point issued! However, there is a chance of new cancer, so I will continue to have checkups FOR-EV-ER to check for polyps. yay! ok, not really "yay", but you know...

Second decision - Participate in a Clinical Trial or not? If I had to choose right now, the answer would be yeah. But I have until Monday to decide, so.... nope, chances are still that I will say yeah. The deal is, if I decide to participate in the study, I would then be placed in a random drawing to decide which side of the study I would be on. One side would be treated 'standard' with the standard recommended chemo. Second side would be treated with the standard chemo plus another drug called Cetuximab. It's a 50/50 chance that I will end up on either side.

FYI -
Title of Clinical Trial: A Randomized Phase III Trial of Oxaliplatin (OXAL) Plus 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) / Leucovorin (LV) With or Without Cetuximab (C225) After Curative Resection for Patients With Stage III Colon Cancer (N0147).
Shorthand: FOLFOX with C225 or FOLFOX without C225. much easier...
Note: "FOLFOX" is the short term for a standard treatment (with a combination of the 3 drugs oxaliplatin, leucovorin, and 5-fluorouracil).

Pros:

- Medication has already been FDA approved for treatment of recurring instances of colon cancer.
- It is not an experimental drug.
- Dr Azar seems to recommend it.

Cons:

- Side effects, especially a rash on face, chest and back. They were extremely clear that it would be almost a guarantee that I would experience some sort of reaction like this. So be prepared, I may be a pizza face for the rest of the year. Please be kind.
- Instead of getting treatment once every two weeks for six months, I would get treatment once a week for six months plus an extra week.
- Double copays. Does it really matter at this point?

What else about chemotherapy?

• I will be going back to the Franklin Offices on Monday to take a chemo class.
  
• Treatments will occur for 6 months starting May 1st.
• First week will be 4-6 hours, second week will be 2 hours and then weeks continue alternating. Second week will only be if I am chosen to be on that part of the clinical trial.
  
• The surgery department will contact me within the next week to schedule a visit to have a "port" attached right under my collar bone. This will be a permanent fixture for the entire time I am receiving chemotherapy and will enable me to have my IV's hooked up to it on my visits. The doctor told me that I shouldn't experience any of the pain I did with my IV's in the hospital.
  
• This port will also connect to a pump that I will be able to wear around (not sure how often) to receive part of my treatments. I am told the pump is about the size of a banana. Hmmm- a little lunch-box sized banana? A Chiquita sized banana? Or a big 'ol plantain sized banana?? Reminds me of when the doctor said the tumor was about the size of a bar of soap, yeah - a hotel bar of soap.
  
• It is unlikely that I will lose my hair, although it will thin out.
• It is likely to induce menopause.
• Symptoms are likely to get worse as treatment continues, but they should go away once I complete it.
• May be extremely tired
• Will have painful reactions to cold (food, drinks, weather - anything cold). Ugh...this sux to me!
• And many other side effects that I didn't write down... :o) ooops. I'll get more info in my chemo class. I plan to turn the recorder on this time!

Okay friends. I know this is a lot of information, but really - it's the condensed version. I am looking forward to seeing Sheila's notes on the meeting and to taking the chemo class.

How do I feel now?
I have to admit, I was blown away by the 6 month time-frame. I don't know why I was thinking somewhere more around the line of 6 weeks. But all in all, I am still really optimistic. And thank you so much for your continued support. I know it has everything to do with it.

Also - special thanks to my mom and dad, my sister Ruth, Mondo & Sheila W for sticking through the whole appointment! Love ya.