Episode 1: First Visit to MD Anderson

I had my first Chemo on Friday, Oct. 2nd. I had to be there at 11:30am, and they took me right into a room with a bed and TV. I get into bed and they give me some shots beforehand. Then going on 12:30 they put the IV in and start the first chemo medicine which is TRASTUZUMAB (Herceptin) they all have 2 names, this is the one I tested positive for the Her2 cancer cells, unfortunately this is a very expensive drug I take this every 3 weeks with Chemo and continue for a full year, this runs $4,439.00 a treatment, wow, it is suppose to be 100% effective in killing this cancer cell. I did fine with this drug.

The second chemo medicine was CARBOPLATIN (Paraplatin) one of the side effects was tingling, numbness and pain. I had a little tingling but the time I pushed the nurses button and she came it started to go away, so I had no problem with this one, they take 1 1/2 hrs. each.

The third chemo medicine is DOCETAXEL (Taxotere) this one after she gave me with in a very short time I felt my face just flushing and getting hot I told her right away and then I felt funny in my chest, but she had immediately stopped it, she said that is why I stayed in here longer up to 15 minutes she would have, because she said the majority of people have a reaction the first time. It was kind of scary she gave me a steroid and strong benedryl and redid it 30 minutes later and I had no problem then.

I had to go to the ladies room and you have to unplug this big circular stand with all your medicines and take a plug out from stand. So I am starting out in the hall and a nurse sees me and says "Oh are you looking for the bathrooms?" So I told her, "No, I am going home!" she laughed. Oh how I really would like to of gone home and would wake up from this dream still. But I think it will really become real when I have no hair, ha. Oh, my lunch was delicious. I had a Chicken salad sub on wheat bread and fresh fruit, it was impressive.

I got a shot 24 hours later PEGFILGRASTIM (Neulasta) to help in preventing or reducing the risk of infection while I am being treated with these cancer-fighting medicines. It stimulates the bone marrow to produce white blood cells (the cells responsible for fighting infection), boosting the body's immune system. So I will do this each time after Chemo.

I can not get sick at all, I can never have a temperature over 101 or I have to go to the emergency room or I can die. They were VERY specific about that. So I will miss a lot of functions this next 4 1/2 months as flu season and colds are all coming up, and I always get sore throats and colds so this is going to be very difficult and scary time for me, hopefully it will go by fast!

I do not have the energy I had before that is for sure, I can do things and then have to go rest, I tend to overdue still but I will learn fast. Nausea not to bad I have to eat when I am hungry. Your bones get a little sore, but I have medicine. I pray it doesn't get worse I want to start walking again, they say that is good. Before I know it I will be back there. Keep me in your prayers, oh how I FEEL them. THE FIGHT IS ON! And Debbie will WIN!!! Love you all!