First Chemo session was today.  I’m not going to lie.  I was a mess this morning.  I mean the whole “this could be the last time I wash my hair”  but then countered with “this could be the last time I shave my legs”  So it kind of evens out a bit.  Going in was rough.  Learned that if you cry they clear the room.  So that’s something to keep in my back pocket for the future.

The doctor came in and talked to me about what was going to happen and my Genetic Test report came back and I do not carry any gene for any type of cancer.  So…..fluke.  “No variants of clinical or uncertain significance were detected by sequencing in BRCA1 or BRCA2.  No large deletions or duplication were identified.”  So at least nothing that was detected through this.  It is still possible that there is a pathogenic variant that isn’t detectable in these tests or another gene.

The other test that came back good was the EKG. So heart is good to go for stuff.  Also good to know.  That test was fun to watch actually.  I mean pretty amazing stuff.  I do think that when you are like in your 20s you should have a PET and EKG done just so that you can see that you really do have these organs and stuff and how delicate everything is…and maybe you won’t do things like eat stupid shit for a long time or smoke or drink like a fish.  I don’t know…just a side thought.

Okay so today.  They do some blood work to make sure everything looks good, and to see if there have been any changes since the last time they took blood from you.  (this is going to be a thing.)  Then because I don’t have my port in yet they had to do an IV.  There is one chemo drug that it’s not ideal to do it this way but more on that in a second.  After they do the IV they run saline through you then give you a bag of it to hydrate ya up a bit.  Then you get some drugs for nausea and a steriod. (Zofran and Compazine)  This is about an hour.  Then you get the good stuff.  Because I had the IV they had to manually push the Adriamycin in.  It’s really hard on the veins so they had to go back and forth and administer it in small doses and dilute it a bit with the saline. Nurse had skillz.  It’s red, kind of aggressive looking.  But it’s the stuff that’s going to knock Cruella off her horse.

Then after that one they hook up the Cyclophosphamide.  This lasts about an hour.  After that’s done you finish off the saline, they disconnect you and you go home.

This part of the chemo is the most aggressive and harsh.  That’s why it’s every other week for the first 4 sessions (cycles).  Then the next 12 weeks is still aggressive but not as…so I’ll go once a week for that. For all you medical types that chemo will be TAXOL.

I talked to the dietitian today which was very helpful in what and how to eat.  Not too many changes.  Don’t eat any added sugar if possible.  Stay away from processed foods.  Don’t eat anything low-fat or fat free.  Don’t cut out food groups.  Basically a Whole Food diet.  Everything in moderation. And exercise.  I feel pretty good about that because I really do love certain things!  But the goal throughout chemo is to maintain weight.  Not the time to be trying to lose anything.  And obviously try not to gain any.  Then after chemo is over I can work on the losing weight thing again…but I have to use the parameters stated above.

Tomorrow I go in for a shot of Neulasta/Neupogen to boost white blood cells.  I have a bunch of anti nausea meds and anxiety stuff.  So I should be in good shape.

Now.  I had to tell the story of the tiara.  The nurses are all going to see if they can’t make Tiara Tuesday an official thing every week in the “Chemo Lounge.”  And they are going to see if they can order minion stickers or band aids.  See….changing the world one step at a time!

That’s all I know right now.  So we wait to see how I react to all these drugs and stuff.  OH.  The chemo drugs stay in the system for about 72 hours.  And then I recharge and reload til next time.

Warning. If I start repeating myself it’s not my fault!!!!

Thank you all for the love through this so far.  I really am lucky to have such a wonderful group of family and friends for support…even if everyone is far away.  Just know it does help pull me back into battle mode.  And tonight…and every Tuesday in addition to tiaras, everyone should pour their favorite drink and raise your glass for me.  I can’t drink right now so knowing that all of you are will make me happy!  Live vicariously through you all until I kick this thing in the ass.

MUUUUUUUUAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH