Chemo number 5

My visit today to the oncology ward brought some anxiousness as I began my next 4 treatments of a different kind of chemo (Taxotere). My appointment was early so I was up with Nick and anticipated just getting there, seeing Dr. Murphy and then settled into my easy chair to await the new drugs. Seeing Dr. Murphy went well. I have lost a few more pounds and my counts were good.

It wasn't too long when the ward really began to pick up the pace. No one was with me and I was managing all of it until the sudden rush of the business of the ward caught me totally off guard. My first vein that they tried failed. When they have to go into the vein at the bend of the arm, it always is a bit more stressfull. Between that and the sudden bustle, I could feel my emotions rising to the top and they began to spill over. Before I knew it, I was in tears. (I even tried to turn up my ipod with my piano music nice and loud to manage to noise, but that didn't work)

They had to give me benedryl for this first treatment to be sure I had no allergic reaction and it made me a bit drowsy. I put Nick on standby for coming and driving me home. I soon found that the tears were not gonna stop so I called him back and asked him to come sooner.

When he finally arrived, he could tell I was visably upset, but I soon drifted off into a more relaxed state and before I knew it, the treatment was done and we were ready to go home.
I was able to rest and nap for several hours when I got home and it felt good. I will return for my next treatment on May 6th and that will be number 6 (of 8). No more shots on the Friday after chemo anymore either. That part of the treatment is done - Yeah! Another one under my belt - it's a good thing.