The Inaugural Chemotherapy Live Blog

So this will either turn out to be a really great idea or a really stupid one, but assuming I don't get kicked off the GHC visitor network I figured I’d try to live blog my first chemotherapy session. 

Come back throughout the day for updates (assuming I don't start feeling too bad to be typing)...

8:00 am

Sib4 arrives at the condo to keep my company for the day. She left her house at 6:45, so a fairly ugly commute in. It does make me glad I can walk three blocks to my chemo session rather than having to drive across the state the way some people must.

8:15 am

On the recommendation of some co-workers we elected to try the Volunteer Park Cafe for breakfast. I had a lovely stuffed french toast with caramelized bananas and Sib4 opted for the granola with yogurt and apricots. I can definitely recommend the french toast. The coffee was kind of weird, though.

9:10 am

My chest port gets its inaugural use, though for the purposes of drawing blood out rather than putting chemo in. All things considered, it was pretty straightforward. The nurse grabs the port, has you inhale and then exhale, and jabs the needle into the port during the exhale. It'll stay there for the next three days for the chemo infusion. The blood draw takes five minutes, and then we cross the hall to wait for my 10:10 appointment with the oncologist. 

9:20 am to 9:45 am

Waiting...

9:45 am
The nurse takes me back to the exam room to wait. On the way in, she weighs me. My official pre-chemo starting weight is 218 pounds. We'll see what it is in a few months.

9:55 am
The oncologist comes in for a brief chat. Mostly she's there to answer any questions I or Sib4 might have. I have two. First, how was the chest scan? Happily, while I have "nodules" in my lungs, everyone does and they aren't necessarily a sign of cancer (but will be watched). Second, does she think I'll make Book of Mormon? On that issue, she's hesitant to comment. But I'm cleared to proceed with chemo, so we'll see.

10:05 am to 10:20 am
Waiting...

10:20 am
The nurse takes me back to my designated infusion space. Now she's got to order up my designated drug cocktail (I was given a handout at my first appointment explaining why chemo "is not like a milkshake"). Sib4 also got a tour of the kitchenette, and the beverage options that I have available. Most important, we learn that once the chemo starts I'll be here for two-and-a-half hours. And, of course, I'll go home with a machine set to deliver a second infusion over the next forty-eight hours.

11:00 am
I've been given the two anti-nausea medications, one of which is going to make my blood sugar go through the roof, but still waiting for the chemo meds to show up. 

11:15 am
The chemo has arrived. And here we go...

12:00 pm
So for the last forty-five minutes the nurse educator has been going over the drugs I'm getting, how to respond to the various side effects, and providing an orientation to the treatment regimen. In short, I'll repeat today's experience three more times -- Avastin being added to the drug cocktail in session 3 -- and then they'll take a scan to see if there's been any impact. 

Forty-five minutes in and I'm not really feeling anything from the chemo yet.

12:15 pm
Hey! Chemo comes with lunch. In this case, a nice grilled chicken, corn, green beans and watermelon. Non-diabetics probably got chips or crackers or something, too, as I get a scoop of guacamole but nothing, really, to put it on. Non-diabetics also get orange slices in place of watermelon (which we know because the nurse came in and traded out my original oranges). Sib4, unfortunately, has to starve, but we'll probably go find second lunch after the chemo experience is over. 

Still no real sense of any side effects yet. Fingers crossed...

12:31 pm
OK, my first side effect: headache. We'll see if the nurse will bring me some Tylenol. (I normally use Excedrin, but aspirin is now on the do not take list.)

12:45 pm 
The nurse gives me the rundown on how to use the home infusion pump for the next phase of this cycle. Most happily, she agrees to train me on how to remove and flush the tubing from my chest port so I don't have to come back to GHC to have someone else remove it. I can just take it out myself and then drop the pump off when convenient. Sweet!

1:00 pm
It's time to test the fire alarms. Go figure. The nurses all leave to run through they're emergency planning, but at least they don't make me drag my IV pole downstairs and outside. I get to sit in my chair and continue the infusion -- which is enough to make me figure that this is just a test. 

1:16 pm
The chemo bags are empty, so phase 1 of this cycle is done. Now the nurse just has to get me hooked up to the pump and the 5-FU and I should be good to go. But she's got another patient to deal with first. 

2:13 pm
Done and done. Home pump is hooked up and in my free fanny pack, and we're good to go. Off to get some anti-nausea pills and then we're outta here. If chemo continues like this -- unlikely, no doubt -- I'm golden.