Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Toxic Girl

I am officially toxic girl. I bet I even glow in the dark.

Today three lovely toxic chemicals entered my body to rid me of this horrible disease (see previous post on treatment drugs, FEC100). The first one was bright red and nicknamed,

THE RED DEVIL. All weren't too bad but this one seemed to sting and burn the most.

All of them made my arm icy cold. I had a heat pack put on it and that made it much better. THE RED DEVIL is also the one that makes you pee red. It must go through your system pretty fast as the moment I was out of oncology and went to the loo it was bright red.
A little too much info sorry.

So far I am feeling OK. A little nauseous but then I was nauseous for the last few days anyway with a bug I picked up from Leah, so it could just be that. Have a huge headache as well. My appointment was at 10.30am and we arrived early. FOUR hours later I went in for my chemo and we left the hospital at 4.30. Wig shop and then home and it was close to 6. All my heart and blood tests are good so chemo could begin (after a consultation with Dr Kate Hamilton and Dr Campbell). I am so so tired.

Chemo were running way behind and promised me they are not normally like that. Then to top it off we had car problems on the way home.

I spoke to a few woman there who have all said that the anti nausea drugs have worked well for them so I am hoping I will be the same. I am having a slightly different treatment though as I have a stubborn bugger to get out of my body.

Whilst in chemo I chatted to a woman who has done heaps of fundraising to pay for her Herceptin drug. It costs nearly $50000 a year so its a major outlay for woman who are HER2 +. She has partitioned the government and nagged and nagged. Well today the government announced that Herceptin will be put on the pharmacutical benefit scheme. The tv station arrived whilst we were all hooked up to our IV's and took a heap of photos of her and interviewed her. It was lovely to watch. She was very emotional.

Nibbled some crispbread with vegemite for tea. I am starving but too scared to eat too much just in case the devil makes an appearance. I hope I am one of the lucky ones. I need a little luck to go my way.

After the hospital we quickly stopped off at the wig shop. I have visions of pulling off my wig to scare people lol when they ask if I have had a haircut lol. Ok warped sense of humour.

The hospital contribute $175 towards a wig so I thought I may as well check them out. I tried a few on that looked ok but nothing I would wear. Wendy the owner gave me a book to look through and we have decided on a few to look at in a few different colours. Jason wants me to go black lol mmm no I don't think so. Might get one with foils or highlights.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I had heard on the tv, about the new breast cancer drug, I think anything to do with cancer should be free, they get enough money from funds and diffrent things.
all my life I have given to cancer and the salvos.
One because I went to salvos, when I was growing up,and because my mum died of cancer

Coby said...

Hi Dawn, I have been thinking about you. I am glad that your first Chemo session had some positive moments, wonderful news about the breast cancer drug being listed!! I hope that the nausea settles quickly for you. I am going to have a little look at those wigs now, I'm not sure about the brightly colored ones though!!

love Coby xxx

Jodene said...

Hi Dawn
I have been keeping you in my thoughts. Sorry you had to wait so long for your treatment. And I hope that you don't suffer too much nausea.
I saw on Sunrise this morning the story about the drug being listed - that is fantastic. But it is how it should have always been anyway!
Take care. I am off to check out the wigs and will let you know which ones I like.