Never having written consistently in a journal before, I'm at a bit of a loss at how to start. I feel like I should be writing something like "Captain's log, Star Date..." But I don't suppose that's fitting.

So I guess I'll begin like this...

Chemo, Take Two

This whole cancer thing has been quite a learning experience. For instance, I had my second chemo treatment last Tuesday the 24th. It was a busy morning getting the kids ready for school and I barely had a chance to get breakfast. My brother and sister-in-law had come to help, but only Mommy can really get a kid ready for school in our house.

We hopped in the car at 8 a.m. and headed for Rose Medical Center. Upon arrival, I hopped onto the usual hospital bed, and was prepped for the treatment.

A very warm, wet towel is wrapped around my lower arm to dilate the veins. Now my veins usually pop out easily, and I've been told that I have good veins. On this particular morning, when the towel was opened, my veins were out of sight, and I'm not meaning amazing. They had seemed to literally go "underground"!

I really felt for the nurses. They poked, they prodded, they even pleaded. But no veins. They asked how much I had to drink that morning. Drink?! Who had time to drink? Not me! So as it turns out, I was slightly dehydrated. I started pouring in the water, but it was too little, too late. They were finally able to find one on the under side of my forearm.

So what I've learned is that I need to hydrate before my chemo treatments!

Now, it's fairly important that the needle actually goes into the vein during treatment too. If it doesn't, and the chemicals leak out under the skin, the tissue can actually be destroyed. Eek!

Needless to say, they take extreme care to ensure that all is going where it's supposed to: in the vein! But that made me think about how amazingly the human body was created. Nasty chemo can destroy normal tissues, but yet, the blood vessel walls are strong enough to carry the nasty stuff through the body to the even nastier cancer cells. WOW!

Like the first treatment I was given pills to help with the nausea during treatment. And again, the treatment itself was fine. Like the last time, I got a sneezy feeling that went to the back of my neck, but that was about it. I got home feeling basically normal until after I had something to eat. I took a couple of things to help prevent the gas from coming again, but it didn't seem to do much. So my stomach felt a little icky that evening, but nausea really wasn't an issue.

The next day also brought some bloating in my stomach, and I slept most of the morning. But by afternoon I was back at the usual routine, although it was made much easier with my brother and sister-in-law and friends who brought meals. I have been so blessed with great family and good friends that the whole process just goes so much more smoothly knowing that all my needs will be taken care of if I'm not able. Even when I am able, my friends are still there doing things for me!

But even though the process is going well for me, I still would rather not have to go through it. And that's why I'm journaling my "adventure".

If you're a woman reading this, please be sure to get your mammograms when needed, and do your self breast exams. There is nothing "dirty" about it.

It could save your life, and at the least, keep you from having to take chemo. Early detection is SO VERY important. Guys, make sure the significant women in your life are also doing their exams. And be aware that men too can get breast cancer.

Until next time....

Pam Daale The Happy Cancer Patient