The first of March I felt a lump; hard, round and the size of about a walnut, close to the surface of my skin, low in my pelvis, almost in the groin area. I have never had tumor that could be seen or felt at the surface so I was not sure. It could be something else. I watched it for a few weeks - it grew and started to make walking hurt. A CT scan was already booked for March 17, so I called my oncologist in Kingston, Dr. Gregg, and expressed my concern. He booked me an appointment to see him the same day I went for the scan. Awesome care. Dr. Gregg waited for the report of the CT, then we talked. Yes, it was my current tumor situation but different now is it had grown through the abdominal wall and was forming a tumor between the skin and muscle layer. And the growth was such that he was recommending I consider a treatment option.
In my typical fashion, I wanted to explore my options. I discussed radiation with Dr. Faulkson in Kingston Cancer Centre. I explored clinical trials by consulting Dr. Razak at Princess Margaret. I also talked with other medical professionals by email. Dr. Gregg presented my case at the tumor board and reported back that radiation was ruled out as too much risk to my organs, a newly FDA approved saracoma chemo drug called Eribulin (Haloven) was too toxic compared to the potential and it is not yet approved for funding in Sarcoma (only breast cancer) and the combined expert opinion was my best option was an older chemo regime known as Gemcitabine and Docetaxel combined. Here is a 2007 study link on this drug. It is normally a 3 week cycle, but we are going to give me 4 weeks to be a bit easier on my system.
April 14 was my first treatment - Gemcitabine only. This was done at the Kingston Cancer Center (at KGH) and I was impressed by the system, nurses and facility and all went smoothly.
April 22 was the second part of the first cycle - Gemcitabine first followed by Docetaxel The Docetaxel is more toxic and included a few surprises...the worst being ice gloves and ice socks! Seriously, I wore them for 90 minutes! The ice is to protect my nail beds so I wore them, even though I hate cold feet, as the thoughts of losing my nails and getting infections was even worse. As well I need to take steriods (Dexamethasone) for a 3 days. It was a longer day as we had arrived at 12 noon but by 5pm we were on our way home. 24 hours after the Docetaxel I am to give myself a Neulasta injection. I am familiar with this, as I did the same when I was taking the MAID chemo regime in Montreal back in 2010. Or at least I thought I was familiar with it...but the day after the shot the side effects started and there came the surprise.
Side effects...the big factor in is treatment worth it? The first part, the Gemcitabine, was easy to manage. I was more fatigued for a few days after, and my skin became more sensitive to sun but all in all very manageable. However, the combination of Docetaxel and Neulasta was a different story. Sunday evening everything started to hurt in my bones and muscles and by Wednesday the soreness had manifested into a pretty severe headache and back pain. Thursday the pain hit it's high point, and it was pretty bad. But then Friday morning all was better, by afternoon the last of the headache was gone, and I was feeling much more like myself again.
May 11 it's back to Kingston Hospital to meet with the oncologist and discuss the next cycle of chemo. Some adjustments need to be made...a burn developed on my arm, a result of some chemo leaking under the skin at the injection site so we have opted to go with a PICC line now. The pain it seems was a side effect of both the Docetaxel and the Neulasta, so I am going to double the steroids (watch out family, no sleep for momma and the Roid-rage is going to get worse, I am sorry) to help reduce inflammation and improve recovery time. And I will get some Tylenol with codeine for better pain control when needed. My blood counts are acceptable so Cycle 2 can begin tomorrow.
HAIR TODAY, GONE TOMORROW
I hope my tumor responds as quickly to the chemo as my hair has! Quickly moving towards not needing my hairbrush any more. Hello hats this summer :)
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| Hair thinning out |
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| Bald spot appearing |
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| Molting chicken look |
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| Ick! keep that out of the drain |
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| Hat On :) |
