CANCER, PART 2: DAY 60: Catching Fire

Thank you all for being so patient with me as I process my appointment from yesterday. It went as I expected.

What am I having?
I’m having a chemotherapy regime called GemCarbo

When?
Starting Thursday, 14th September at 9:30am

We could have actually started this week but I need to start Zolardex which shuts down and protects my ovaries. That will take a few days so chemo will start next week instead.

More about GemCarbo:
http://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancerinformation/cancertreatment/treatmenttypes/chemotherapy/combinationregimen/gemcarbo.aspx

Each cycle lasts 21 days. One day 1 you have both chemos, Gemcitabine and Carboplatin (it literally has platinum in it!) On day 8 you go back and only have Gemcitabine, then day 21 you start all over again.

What will be different this time around?

  • I will be tired straight away, there won’t be a buildup to fatigue like the first time
  • I won’t be able to taste food
  • The treatment team won’t push my system to keep onto a schedule. If my system isn’t back up in-time to have chemo on Day 21 then they will simply wait until it is. It could make it more of a 28 day cycle.
  • I will most likely need a couple platelet transfusions in between cycles.
  • This chemo regime shouldn’t be as bad as the first time
  • My cancer has more a basal like cell structure so my oncologist thinks it will respond better to this chemo regime
  • Overall nausea won’t be as bad
  • Only need limited amount of steroids (thank goodness!)
  • Will get to have sleeping pills for the few days after treatment to help me settle

How do I feel? 

I got a bit emotional when I had to sign my consent form, that was hard as my doc rattles off about the side effects (she has to) and then I have to give consent. That made me cry. But I felt a bit more peaceful about the fact there’s a plan in place, that I know how many days I have left etc.

There’s also part of me that feels terrified. I was watching the second Hunger Games this morning and realised this scene fits perfectly with how I feel. It’s when Katniss finds out she has to compete again. Strangely fitting!!