No Longer Chemotheraphy Naive

Chemotherapy Naive is a term used by oncologists to describe people who have not experienced chemo.  It is a good place to be in, unless you really need it.

Earlier this week I got a 3 page "summary" from the oncologist, detailing his diagnosis and the treatment plan.  It was a really good and informative note, but his assessment that my case constitutes "incurable disease", caused a double take.  Logically I was aware of it, but seeing it in print was hard.  My actual prognosis is not discussed, I would like to get a bit further down the track before thinking about that.

The PET scan was done yesterday, it was a long drawn out process.  In order to work effectively I needed a minimum of stress and activity in a quiet room to allow the radioactive tracer to find its way to high areas of glucose uptake.  Cancer normally uses a lot of glucose due to rapid cell multiplication so if we can avoid activity and stress, which is the normal user of glucose, the tracer will only go to the cancer areas.  The results of the PET scan should be available after 2 days or so, they then go to my oncologist, liver surgeon and my GP so I will be pestering each of them on Friday until I get an answer.

Today started out tough, we were both quite stressed in anticipation of the chemo.  However it all went fairly well.  Even the parking issues at the hospital, which has been a nightmare since the earthquake, did not turn out to be a big deal, more by good luck than good management.

The actual chemo regime (FOLFOX6) has quite a bewildering array of drugs, some by IV via my PICC line and some in tablet form.    Most of the drugs are to counter side affects and enhance the action of the core chemotherapy.  The tablets I take using a fairly complex schedule over 5 days.  There was a 2.5 hour session of IV drugs this morning and I am now on a 46 hour infusion delivered from a pump bag attached to a belt on my waist and feeding through the PICC line.

So far I am feeling OK, a bit spaced out and aware that I am feeling different.  I have had some tingling on my lips and throat after contact with cold air and fluid but nothing significant.  I did take a call about work a few minutes ago and had to do some thinking, it went OK but I did feel quite tired just after.

So what next - most likely I will feel progressively more tired and sick as the infusion goes in and for a further 2-3 days after.  But I may not get much worse and will easily cope, or may get VERY ill, hopefully more the former than the latter, but whatever.  As always, I feel very confident in the support I get from the hospital and they have made it very clear that we MUST call them at any time if I am uncomfortable about anything.