Cycle 1, Week 2

Thursday, December 11 was my second experience with chemotherapy.

On the second week of each cycle, I get two drugs: Gemzar and Taxotere. The Gemzar takes 30 minutes to infuse, and the Taxotere, 60 minutes. In between getting these drugs, I get saline to flush my veins and steroids to prevent swelling and reactions. The drugs are monitored by a machine that beeps, clicks, and shrieks the entire time.

Taxotere belongs to a class of chemotherapy drugs called plant alkaloids, which are made from plants. The taxanes are made from the bark of the Pacific Yew tree (taxus).

For being natural substances, this drug packed a wallop. Based on the first cycle, the day after chemo (officially called Day 2) I felt I could take on the world. Day 3 and Day 4 found me in bed, but by Day 5 (Monday) I was able to go to work and be productive. After the Taxotere, I was dragging on Day 2, and in bed for Days 3-6. I haven't felt energetic since.

I spoke to the oncology nurse and she was going to talk to the oncologist about tweaking the dosage. She also said not to get my hopes up, because there is so little is known about my type of cancer that he might not want to deviate from known protocols too much.

Gotta love the fact that I am so special!