Chemo round 3 - “OOOOh we’re half way there!!!” -Bon Jovi
In support of
The Gerber Family
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The Gerber Family
Just a quick update - so far so good - I think 3rd time is the charm when it comes to adjusting all my “pre meds” or as I call them my supportive meds to help with the side effects of chemo. I also suspect acupuncture is helping too. Only new thing is my taste buds are always changing and water and Gatorade no longer taste good. I have a newfound fondness of diet ginger ale lol.
However, this time my WBC are low with my Neutrophil count being borderline. They almost had to hold off on my chemo. They decided to proceed but will add in a medication to stimulate my bone marrow to produce more WBCs. I was warned about this during my chemo class, so I think it’s fairly common. I have mixed emotions, worried that chemo is taxing my body and now I’m more at risk of getting sick, and a fever is now considered a medical emergency. But also optimistic that the chemo is doing something for sure and hopefully attacking the cancer as well as my WBCs. This update does mean that we are going to be even more careful moving forward - high quality masks for all like its 2020 ;) Im glad I was already being cautious, because my numbers were already trending low.
My platelets are WNL but on the low side, so I think my wrestling days are over, and I’ll have to retire from my football career. JK, but gotta watch out for my active 4 year old!
Taylor joined me for this round of chemo, and he did a great job cycling through the ice packs, and playing DJ. We listed to some UGA football pregame songs, lots of Mumford and Sons, and at one point Spotify decided to play Ice Ice Baby which was so fitting to someone going through cryotherapy lol.
I did start an additional medication this round that I’ll take for 3 rounds total if I tolerate it. It’s not chemo but can help with treatment. It’s called Avastin, and can help reduce blood flow to tumors. Unfortunately it can cause some side effects, some serious, but I feel that in my situation the risk is relatively low, and I am being monitored closely with lab work in the clinic and checking my BP at home. Also doing lots of ankle pumps and moving around. The drug can cause high blood pressure, bleeding or clotting issues. My oncologist had a long chat with me about the pros and cons of taking this medication or not and what either path would look like for me. I decided I didn't want to leave any treatment options on the table, I wanted to be aggressive (without being reckless), and I didn’t want to look back and regret not taking everything offered to me.
Last week was a normal week for me, I felt great! I even did a strength routine and felt sore afterwards, and it was so nice to move my body and feel more normal again. Brady and Taylor got haircuts. I spent some quality time with close friends - my face hurt from smiling afterwards :) Sunday, when the air quality improved, Taylor and I walked with Brady as he rode his balance bike on the nature trail near our home. Brady got tired but luckily Taylor could carry him to help get us home. I could only carry him for about 5 mins before I got tired. He has gotten heavier and I spent 12 weeks not lifting, and haven’t regained that lost strength yet.
Brady is still being a 4 year old, but impressively resilient, empathetic, and trying to help Mama by letting her rest, often by resting with me. I will gladly take all the snuggles :) He’s also well behaved and adaptable to multiple caregivers. And he’s been enjoying the Bro hangs with Dad while I am away. He has also gotten to meet some of my close friends, and is very friendly and chatty, offering up dinosaur facts and knowledge like a college professor :) I am so proud of him.
Okay I said this would be brief, I lied. In short, I’m doing well. Immunocompromised even more now, starting new meds to help and new drug to reduce blood flow to tumors. I feel involved in my care, supported by family and friends, and Brady is the best little dude.
With love, hugs, and gratitude,
Claire
However, this time my WBC are low with my Neutrophil count being borderline. They almost had to hold off on my chemo. They decided to proceed but will add in a medication to stimulate my bone marrow to produce more WBCs. I was warned about this during my chemo class, so I think it’s fairly common. I have mixed emotions, worried that chemo is taxing my body and now I’m more at risk of getting sick, and a fever is now considered a medical emergency. But also optimistic that the chemo is doing something for sure and hopefully attacking the cancer as well as my WBCs. This update does mean that we are going to be even more careful moving forward - high quality masks for all like its 2020 ;) Im glad I was already being cautious, because my numbers were already trending low.
My platelets are WNL but on the low side, so I think my wrestling days are over, and I’ll have to retire from my football career. JK, but gotta watch out for my active 4 year old!
Taylor joined me for this round of chemo, and he did a great job cycling through the ice packs, and playing DJ. We listed to some UGA football pregame songs, lots of Mumford and Sons, and at one point Spotify decided to play Ice Ice Baby which was so fitting to someone going through cryotherapy lol.
I did start an additional medication this round that I’ll take for 3 rounds total if I tolerate it. It’s not chemo but can help with treatment. It’s called Avastin, and can help reduce blood flow to tumors. Unfortunately it can cause some side effects, some serious, but I feel that in my situation the risk is relatively low, and I am being monitored closely with lab work in the clinic and checking my BP at home. Also doing lots of ankle pumps and moving around. The drug can cause high blood pressure, bleeding or clotting issues. My oncologist had a long chat with me about the pros and cons of taking this medication or not and what either path would look like for me. I decided I didn't want to leave any treatment options on the table, I wanted to be aggressive (without being reckless), and I didn’t want to look back and regret not taking everything offered to me.
Last week was a normal week for me, I felt great! I even did a strength routine and felt sore afterwards, and it was so nice to move my body and feel more normal again. Brady and Taylor got haircuts. I spent some quality time with close friends - my face hurt from smiling afterwards :) Sunday, when the air quality improved, Taylor and I walked with Brady as he rode his balance bike on the nature trail near our home. Brady got tired but luckily Taylor could carry him to help get us home. I could only carry him for about 5 mins before I got tired. He has gotten heavier and I spent 12 weeks not lifting, and haven’t regained that lost strength yet.
Brady is still being a 4 year old, but impressively resilient, empathetic, and trying to help Mama by letting her rest, often by resting with me. I will gladly take all the snuggles :) He’s also well behaved and adaptable to multiple caregivers. And he’s been enjoying the Bro hangs with Dad while I am away. He has also gotten to meet some of my close friends, and is very friendly and chatty, offering up dinosaur facts and knowledge like a college professor :) I am so proud of him.
Okay I said this would be brief, I lied. In short, I’m doing well. Immunocompromised even more now, starting new meds to help and new drug to reduce blood flow to tumors. I feel involved in my care, supported by family and friends, and Brady is the best little dude.
With love, hugs, and gratitude,
Claire
Comments
Sherry Holladay 16 days ago