Chemo cycle 5
I thought this cycle of chemo would be pretty cruisy. My dosage of chemotherapy seemed to be lower than previous cycles and although I did get warning from my doctors that it was still intense, I guess I was holding out high hopes. Well it certainly is kicking my butt.
I started getting the idea recently that my hair might fall out again, and well, sure enough, today I've had weird hot flashes and now handfuls of hair are coming out. I guess that means time for the clippers again. Just when I was getting used to having some hair... I hope I can still keep my eyebrows and eyelashes this time round.
I'm also already what's called neutropenic. This means that my immune system is really low at the moment (my white cells, red cells and platelets.) It means I have to be extra careful around people that are sick and check my temperature often so I don't end up needing to be admitted into the hospital. I didn't think this would happen so quickly, but then again, I'm 16 days into this cycle and I should have been prepared for it.
I guess I just got so excited about all the things happening in the next few weeks that I really thought I could will myself to be healthy. It is impossible to control though with all the chemicals and steroids being pumped into my body on a daily basis. Sometimes I need to remind myself- HEY! You are going through CHEMOTHERAPY! You have CANCER. At the moment it is OK to go to bed at 9 o'clock because you're body is literally fighting for it's life and you need to cut it some slack.
I am beginning to learn that. The weather is helping. The fact that it is excruciating to move sometimes helps that.
I just really hope I can still go away to the beach this weekend and not end up in the hospital or having something horrible happen away from home. I am really looking forward to this trip (A bunch of volleyball friends are renting a house in Foxton Beach for the weekend and Brian and I plan on going up Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon.)
We'll see what happens. Just taking it day by day. It's working well so far. :)
I started getting the idea recently that my hair might fall out again, and well, sure enough, today I've had weird hot flashes and now handfuls of hair are coming out. I guess that means time for the clippers again. Just when I was getting used to having some hair... I hope I can still keep my eyebrows and eyelashes this time round.
I'm also already what's called neutropenic. This means that my immune system is really low at the moment (my white cells, red cells and platelets.) It means I have to be extra careful around people that are sick and check my temperature often so I don't end up needing to be admitted into the hospital. I didn't think this would happen so quickly, but then again, I'm 16 days into this cycle and I should have been prepared for it.
I guess I just got so excited about all the things happening in the next few weeks that I really thought I could will myself to be healthy. It is impossible to control though with all the chemicals and steroids being pumped into my body on a daily basis. Sometimes I need to remind myself- HEY! You are going through CHEMOTHERAPY! You have CANCER. At the moment it is OK to go to bed at 9 o'clock because you're body is literally fighting for it's life and you need to cut it some slack.
I am beginning to learn that. The weather is helping. The fact that it is excruciating to move sometimes helps that.
I just really hope I can still go away to the beach this weekend and not end up in the hospital or having something horrible happen away from home. I am really looking forward to this trip (A bunch of volleyball friends are renting a house in Foxton Beach for the weekend and Brian and I plan on going up Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon.)
We'll see what happens. Just taking it day by day. It's working well so far. :)