Chemo - Day ONE is DONE!

Patti is a fighter!



The sign says it all.....



Showing cancer who's boss! -



Hee hee - I slipped this one in while she wasn't looking :-)




Sister Support system!



Sisters - need I say more?



Mike by her side...........



Hi!

I thought I would start this note with pictures of Patti's support system!  First day of Chemo went something like this:

4 Drugs:

1. Dex (nickname for Dexamethasone) - this is an antiemetic med (anti-nausea) - 15 minutes via IV and this stuff "jazzes" Patti up!  She's still running in place today!
2. Aloxi - This is a drug that they "push".  They basically feed it directly into the IV line so it goes right into the vein.  (anti-nausea med)
3. EMend - this is another antiemetic med (anti-nausea).  15 minutes via IV. 
4. Adriamycin - this is another push (IV push to be sure it's in the vein)
5. Cytoxan - The last of the IV drips (takes about 30 minutes).  This takes 48 hours to process through your body.

Other interesting facts:

• She was also given meds to take if she feels nausea in between treatments.  The meds were referred to as "O" and "P" anti-nausea medicines.  First she would take the "O" and if that does not work in between the 8 hours that it is allowed, she moves to the "P" medicine.  The doctor says, " "O" caused more constipation than "P" - I leave it at that!
• She will not be given Neulasta (bone stimulator) as this has a reaction that is much worse than the 4 others listed above "combined"
• Oh, and did I tell you that we had a victory dance!  The three sisters got up, started dancing and boxing in the air to the theme of "Rocky".  The whole room was smiling and definitely enjoying the entertainment. 

Things they told us may happen:

• She might not feel well.............hmmmmmmmmmm - she sounds good to me so far!  Thank you GOD!
• In two weeks, she could start seeing hair loss and possibly gone by week three (we're not buying that just yet!)

Her support system yesterday? 

• Mike took her there stayed by her side through this. 
• I was her note taker to be sure we understood what they were doing, her sign maker so she could tell the world the important stuff, and naturally slip in a note that she and I tease about often (sister age thing:-)
• Lynn brought her a bag to carry all the goodies she will probably bring with to each visit, and naturally, to support her as well.

A good day for a bad day - she will fight and she will win!  Funny how God works :-) 

I hope you are having as good of a day as she is.  Besides being tired, she is doing very well.