CYCLE 1 - All is well

I have reflected on the last month- lots of ups and downs on the blog!

Cycle 1 on GEMTAX has been OK. My old band - the "side-effects" have struck a chord  again to say a lovely hello- remember me? a little earlier than expected, I am surprised to say.

I have the obligatory sore mouth and gums and have some minor trouble swallowing food- so I have started taking Somac which is helping.

I experienced some severe pain from the injection, which for some reason I had forgotten about from last year's chemo. The injection came Day 10 in the cycle, the pain came Day 12, 13 and 14, so I had to go hard on some Oxynorm (fondly known as Oxymoron tablets!!!!), as I persisted in going to work at the time.....

The pain is a "good thing". No-really, it's a sign that the bone marrow is being produced, which in turn means that more white blood cells are being produced, which means my immune system is being more protected at my most vulnerable time during the Chemo cycle, which means I am less likely to get sick, or get a high temperature or fever and possibly end up in hospital.... and we don't want that!

The tongue is a bit crazy white and sore and yes I have to mouth wash very regularly to help with swollen gums and to avoid ulcers. I also have this interesting thing happening to my heels- huge deep big-mumma blisters developed Day 16, so I have taken to lovely warm foot salt -soaks to help ease the pressure there.

I won't say too much about my digestive system at this stage- suffice to say I am always planning ahead and trying to make sure the situation is not too hard to manage wherever I may be. I keep hearing my Research Nurse from 2011 saying "drink Georgia, drink lots of water, before, during and after chemo! Water, water, water!"  I feel it was such good training, that I know what to do for myself this time around.

So, Cycle 1 ends in 3 days- Tuesday, so all is well. I have pretty much stayed at work through Cycle 1, it has been Ok, for the most.

Cycle 2 begins in 4 days- Wednesday 23 May  (Day 1)- where I have bloods to check white bloods cell levels and other things..., then meet with the Sarcoma Doctor, then have Chemotherapy: Gemcitabine.  the After that, the whole 21 days of thing repeats as per the first Cycle. I will also see a psych at Peter Mac on Thursday (Day 2), so I can continue to ear-bash someone apart from my dearest loved ones and friends. Some things I don't say on the blog, but I may get there yet!

I am in good spirits and doing well.

Love your life,
Georgia