Chemo Round 8, Treatment 2

Sorry I've been a bad blogger. I don't really consider writing every day. Just when it seems decently important.

Last Wednesday, I started Round 8?!?! B and I had a long conversation with Devlin; mostly dispelling rumors floating around on the BC support sites. Not officially sanctioned stuff from the organization, but some of the posts by women who think they know what they are talking about, but really don't have a clue. Then I had my regular dose, Taxol and Avastin with my hefty dose of Benedryl and a shot of Neulasta (white blood cell booster). Nothing eventful, side effect wise, happened the rest of the week/end.

On Saturday morning, I got a visitor. My cousin Marie Levine, from Boston was in town and stopped on by. She has three grown children and is really my mom's first cousin, although the genes all pass on just the same. A BC survivor herself, and recently, she and I shared stories about the post-millennium oncology world. It was really nice to see her and feel some comradery.

Tuesday was my "Project Runway for the Mainline" class. This was only our second meeting. About a third of the women dropped out, so we had more work space and individual attention. We brought in our own little projects. Some of the ladies had some really cute, modern patterns and fabric. I got the scoop on a local notions and fabric store Cloth and Bobbins, closer than our neighborhood Joann Fabrics store. I was so pumped up that I went to C&B and signed up for a class in November to learn how to make hobo bags.

Yesterday, we went in for treatment #2 which is Zometa (bone strengthener) and Taxol. I also got my Neulasta shot, but my red blood cell count was good so I didn't get my booster (Aranesp) for that. Aranesp is another drug that has some bad, misunderstood rumors surrounding it. It was super busy and I got my newly-back-from-maternity-leave chemo nurse Kathleen. I was done around 2pm (about 4 1/2 hours, ugh) and B and I went Rubies for lunch.

One of the newest studies found that chemo patients shouldn't eat soy products because it promotes cancer cell growth, so eating out has been a challenge. Since the nut allergy phenomena hit, most places have been switching over their frying/cooking oils to soy. This makes it a challenge to eat anywhere. When I told our waitress about my concerns, she went to the manager and even though they use soy oil in everything (they read all the labels on all the condiments too) they were willing to customize my choice. So, two thumbs up for the Rubies in Ardmore for being gracious and accommodating without being rude and obnoxious.

Ok. It's time for Cyan to go out for a walk.