After the halfway mark, my doctor has informed me, the chemo cocktail changes. Two ingredients will be dropped and a new one will be added.
I will be welcoming Paclitaxel, commonly called Taxol, into my life. This medication is used for the treatment of ovarian, breast, lung and other cancers. It is infused into the blood stream over a number of hours.
Because allergic reactions may occur during the infusion, my chemotherapy nurse will be very alert in watching for any reactions such as back pain, flushing, shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, itching or rash. It will be given slowly, to ensure that the infusion goes safely.
The more common side effects will be chills, cough, low white blood cells, numbness and tingling in hands and feet, muscle or joint pain, nausea, shortness of breath, and thinning or losing hair. Lovely! We will meet whatever comes and try to do our best.
Because I have diabetes, I have to be careful about the fact that certain medications I receive tend to raise the blood sugar levels too much. I am trying to maintain a balance between the medications I can control, and the carbohydrates I can avoid. Soon I will be meeting my endocrinologist to make sure we are on track with all this.
All of these developments have given me a renewed appreciation for the science of pharmacology. A very helpful and empowering part of my treatment has been the "Pharmacy teaching" component. The pharmacist explains everything, and shares printed materials regarding the drugs. This has made me feel like I have some control of the information, and a more concrete idea of what awaits me.
Waiting, preparing, looking forward, visiting with my daughter, talking with family and friends, and moving toward the next time. Moving, ever closer, and we will see you again, soon, on the way to Santiago.
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