Chemo – Round 2 (April 2011)
As many of you already know I started round 2 of chemo early April.
This time Im taking a drug called Capesidabine, this is taken via 3 pills morning and night which means I dont have to go into the hospital which is great as you can imagine.
Unlike the ‘A.C’ I had first time round (completed August last year) I wont lose my hair this time, my white cells wont drop so low and I wont crash as hard each time I take it.
I take it for 14days on, 7 days off, and so on. I could be on it for 3 months, I could be on it for 3 years if Im lucky enough to be around that long. It all depends on how well I handle it and how long it stays effective for.
Today (9th May) is day 8 of cycle 2. On day 13 of the first cycle I noticed one of the symptoms I was warned about. Red, sore and swallon soles of my feet. I can only liken it to the feeling that you have walked on burning hot sand all day. I had to stop taking it which wasnt so bad as I only had one day to go. They told me at my next assessment (a week away) they would decide if my dose needed to be lowered to keep this side effect under control. It took about 5 days for the redness etc to die down.
The Oncologist decided that seeing as it happened towards the end of the cycle that he would keep me on the same dose and see how I go the next round.
THE GREAT NEWS IS THAT AFTER ONLY ONCE CYCLE MY ‘TUMOR MARKER’ IN MY BLOOD TEST HAS COME DOWN FROM 107 TO 67!!
THIS IS THE FIRST GOOD NEWS WE HAVE HAD SINCE DAY ONE OF FINDING OUT I HAVE CANCER IN MARCH LAST YEAR. WOOP WOOP TO PUT IT MILDLY =)
On day 5 of the second cycle it came back again. I planned on telling them the next day that it had happened but for some reason I forgot to take my pills that night for the first time. When I woke the redness had gone so I continued to take the pills. It came back but soooo mildly Im not even noticing it so I’ve made the call that it wasnt worth telling anyone. Id rather keep taking the dose I am as it seems to be doing me good!!
Aside from the red soles of my feet Ive been tired (which I expected) and Ive had a bit of PMS going on which apparently is a side effect they dont tell you about. Ive been finding myself feeling less…..’tolerant’. But it’s manageable I guess. I just make sure I get some time out when Jackson sleeps and again Greg gets home if I need to, to rest and unwind before I face the next task.So all in all Im feeling grateful that this chemo has been manageable and hasnt turned my life upside down at all. Now that Jackson is that much older than he was during the first lot, Im glad he wont have to watch me lose my hair again or lie on the couch unable to play etc. Im even more grateful that hopefully my results mean I may be around longer than they first thought…but hey I already knew that anyway 
So I wake up on Mothers Day knowing I was going to have an article in the paper…I was looking forward to reading it as I had no idea what was going to be said after an almost 2hr interview. Greg made me breakfast in bed and Jackson brought me flowers, then Greg went and got me a copy.
You can imagine my surprise when I saw myself plastered largely on the front page!! The article was lovely but those that know me best will know Im hard to please when it comes to things being written about my story…. I just wish THE WHOLE STORY could be said, just to get the awareness out there as much as I can but hey there’s just never enough space! I was a little disappointed there wasnt more of a push about checking yourself early etc but it would seem the angle was more just a mother’s day story about a not so ordinary mum’s circumstances..? Anyway, just thank ful that I was asked to do it and my website was noted so that those who wanted to can go there and read the FULL story If you havent seen it you can see it online here….http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4976259/Fight-for-another-Mothers-Day
Thanks so much to everyone who has written to me and even donated since reading this article. And to all of those who continue to follow me on facebook and via my website and continue to show your love and support every step of the way. You all play a very special part in my story. x
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