Treatment #112 at the cancer center ends in a BANG

Today, Wil and I embarked on the second full round of chemo, or round 2A as we have named it. I had my first full exam today. Dr. Skinner said I was healing well but not completely healed yet. We will have another exam in four weeks. I am cleared to walk and swim, but no weight lifting. She said I am at a higher risk for a hernia since this is the second time I had open abdominal surgery. I can start working with weights after my abdomen has had more time to heal.

I also had blood work done this morning. My white blood cell count is a little low but I'm not housebound, which is amazing news! The levels were high enough to get treatment as well. My nurse today was Cynthia, who was our first chemo nurse ever. I got my premeds, which includes IV steroids and IV Benadryl. So I took my nap, all bundled up in warm blankets, courtesy of my sweet hubbie. My Taxol (chemo drug I get every week x 3 in a cycle) went in with no problem, then Carbo (chemo drug I get once a cycle) was going in. I started having what I thought was a hot flash. Off came the blankets and head wrap, and even my sleep mask. I am such a dork, but it helps my nap time   :)

After 3/4 of the Carbo was infused, I went to the bathroom. When I was washing my hands, they really started to itch. Then I looked in the mirror and saw my cheeks and in between my eyebrows (called your glabella, just a interesting fact for you) were flushed and red. I walked back to my chair with my IV pole. I felt more short of breath than normally. Wil pointed out that my ears and back of my neck were turning red. Wil grabbed a nurse, my lovely Kristin, who came to check me out. She figured it out really quickly that I was having an allergic reaction to the Carbo. Apparently, you can form a sensitivity or allergy to the Carbo around treatment 6-9. This was the 8th time I have gotten this drug since my first bout with cancer.

Then we were SWARMED by all of the nurses and equipment. Kristin stopped the Carbo and ran to get more steroids to give IV push and more IV Benadryl. My shortness of breath got worse and it felt like I had an elephant sitting on my chest. I was put on oxygen which seemed to help.  My face, chest, and neck were on fire; this lead to me feeling nauseated. One of the nurses put a cool rag on my head and that ease the wave of nausea. I was having pins and needles going from my hands up my arms.  My blood pressure was normal and so was my oxygen level. My pulse was higher than normal, but that is to be expected too. Here is the picture that I asked Wil to take. I wanted to document this journey better this go-around! I did take the wet washcloth off of my head for the picture :)  Had to keep some vanity!

 

My PA, Alison and then my Doc came to assess me. We will still go next week for the regular Taxol infusion. At that point, Dr. Skinner will talk to us more about options moving forward. Since I already had a reaction, I would have the same or worse, if I were to get it the same way again. I will do another post to explain more about that when we know more.

 

 

Wil and I try to write something good that God has given us each week during chemo. This week, during my nap before the chaos started, he met a lady named Alisha who is battling pancreatic cancer. She was so sweet and had an amazing testimony. She even let us know she prayed for us during the chaotic time. Wil helped her out with her phone. He is always looking to help other people, he moved my recliner over and offered his chair to another visitor.

 

 





God is good, all the time. This situation could have become much worse. God surrounded us with amazing nurses that caught it early and intervened. We are so very blessed to have them all in our lives.