cycle 2b, day8

cycle 2b, day 8

[28 Nov 2008, 04:07:55 PM]

It has been a week since I finished cycle 2b. My emotions went on a roller coaster, as did my state of well-being. After cycle 2b, I was so hyper-active, I had insomnia last Friday, my mind was in an overdrive mode and I talked practically non-stop during the weekends. Whilst I was lying on the bed, trying to bore myself to sleep, I thought of at least a week's blog-worthy entries, as though my life was "played" in my mind. I was in a happy mood that night. However, it didn't start as so.


My chemo appointment was at half past twelve. I needed to be in the clinic an hour early for the blood test. When I put in my blood test form in the tray, mine was the first. "Oh, good," I thought, "It shouldn't take long before my turn." I was wrong. One of the counter staff went for her lunch break, leaving this rather slow-moving lady manning the counter. Before she processed my form, there were several others in front of her computer (which I missed). While keying in the necessary information into the computer, she was interrupted several times. There was this man who kept insisting she didn't return some of his forms and kept asking her for them. She also insisted she didn't keep any of the forms and she did return everything to him. Then came the social officer, who asked her. Then the lab technician. Then the social worker again. I was quite disturbed by what I saw. After all the interruptions, the counter staff entertained this query from a patient's family member about a bill. She went on to proceed that request instead of processing the blood test forms. I thought I was going to lose my cool and storm towards her to tell her to hurry up with the blood test forms. I was getting impatient because I knew I was running late. Of course I was playing all these emotions in my head.


I started to think why she was working as a counter staff and about her attitude. Then I thought, since it was near year end, it would be nice to take the feedback form and give my comments and observations. How about someone reviewing the blood test form processing procedures? I was smiling to myself, dwelling on such matters. After some waiting, it was my turn. The lab technician looked like a mini-size Yati. I asked her to help me pass the VCD to Yati and Prue. She poked the wrong place and hurt my arm. I would want that sweet-looking lab technician anytime. Her needle-poking skill is superb, with pain factor almost close to zero.


Then it was another waiting game. Usually it takes half an hour before the blood test results are out. It took more than an hour that day. By the time I went to the 3rd floor, it was way past my appointment time. I heard the counter staff calling the nurse station about my case. I went forward to explain why I was late. The counter lady gave me another appointment time. Yes, I needed to wait another one and half hours. All the time she was smiling and explained the clinic has been rather crowded of late. She understood my situation.


I took a quick bite with "Shuai Ge" at the cafe downstairs and returned to wait for my turn. I began to look at my past marker readings (since I had nothing to do, except listening to my walkman handphone) and discovered to my horror, the recent reading was the highest since epotoside (2007 regime). All the waiting had made me tired and sleepy.


If not for Imelda, I think my day would have been worse. I was given a bed, instead of a recliner chair. Plus a remote control for the tv. Yay! Imelda's plugging skill rocks. I rate her skill with pain factor 2. She made sure I was comfortable, apologised when she had to attend to something else first and got me a hot pad nicely wrapped up. It was a comfortable infusion after that. The young Chinese nurse however paled in comparison, and hurt me when she removed the plug. Ouch! I wondered why she couldn't feel the weight of the whole plug. How could she remove it without supporting it first? *Shrugs*


I was reflecting on the side effects of this regime, and thinking to myself that I didn't get headaches. I thought too early. A headache started on the right side on Sunday. It then moved to the usual left side, tormenting me for a few days. It got very bad on Wednesday night that I had to wake "Shuai Ge" up to rub my temples with medicated oil. I lost my appetite to eat and that "conquer the world" feeling I had. I just wanted this phase to pass quickly.


My rest week starts today. I will be seeing my onco next week for my usual review and of course the result of this regime. Please keep me in your prayers.


P.S. I think littlegeo could smell my tiramisu when I made one. Hahahaha!

regime#7, cycle2a, day1

cycle 2a, day1

[14 Nov 2008, 08:17:17 PM]

I had an early appointment with Dr Chia today, leaving the house shortly after nine. When we entered the room, I saw the expression on Dr Chia's face and instinctively guessed it. My marker has risen from 106 to 187. However, I was thankful for the overall better blood counts. My liver function readings, without the MTX, are within the normal range.


We were abit shocked by the almost double in readings. Dr Chia suggested adding avastin in today's cycle as previously planned. I agreed. He was really understanding, as that would mean additional costs for us. He doesn't want us to exhaust ourselves and not being able to continue the marathon fight. He was hoping to see my condition stabilised first before going away. I was really touched by his concern and thoughts, and a kind gesture. We were still recovering from the shock when I went to get my queue number from the clinic. Since it was going to be more than two hours wait, we rang Dr See's clinic to see if it was possible to drop by. (Dr Chia also suggested that.)


On my way there, "Shuai Ge" and I discussed about the latest readings. It was unexpected as the last treatment with gemzar and carboplatin/cisplatin in 2005 brought my readings down to single digit. I don't know if my cancer cells have become more resistant. We discussed and decided there were some questions we wanted to ask: At what point would we consider the gemox regime as ineffective and to change cocktail? What are the options then? Do I need to do another CT scan (as Dr Chia suggested)? We are seeing a rising trend of CA125, how many more rises do we then change regime?


Dr See answered our questions and shed light on my options and action plan. We were alot calmer and settled after the consultation.


Back at the clinic, it was really packed. Waited almost two hours before my number flashed. There were three Filipina nurses and only one local nurse in the room I was in. Apparently they were short-handed and held back by a meeting. The Filipina nurse Cherise did the plug for me (pain factor 7). The plug looked like a centipede (I took a pciture of it) because of the three cocktail drugs plus two liquids sequentially entering my body. Learnt something new today. Oxaliplatin is not compatible with normal saline and must be flushed with G5. And for flushing avastin, normal saline is used. That explains the two bottles of liquids. Since no nurse was in the room when the machine beeped, I pressed the call bell twice, each time for the two drugs. By the time I finished the treatment, it was already six o'clock. Sleepy, tired and hungry. And moody.


Will be back at the clinic for cycle 2b in a week's time. Let's hope there will be more (gentle and alert) nurses on duty then.

regime#7, cycle1b

cycle 1b and rest week

[11 Nov 2008, 02:42:04 PM]

It was my first time having chemo on a Saturday. The clinic was on half staff strength and only Jasmine Suite was available. Went to the clinic before eight to get my blood tests done. Was attended to by a male nurse. They almost missed my number.


While Chan was preparing the plug, we had a brief chat. He asked if I have been having treatment for awhile, I replied, "Four years plus." He was surprised and told me he only joined this clinic for a year. I jokingly said I was more senior than him then. He didn't pre-warn me or ask me to take deep breaths before setting in the plug. He didn't inflict much pain (maybe I had no time to think about the pain or feel it). He injected the pre-med very slowly into the tube and the "needle-pricking" sensation was minimal, much to my delight and surprise.


I am blogging how I felt so that it could be used for future reference. I had fatigue during the first four-five days. The tiredness just hit me, especially in the afternoon, where I had to lie down and sleep it off. There was also loss of appetite or the lack of it. If I wanted anything to eat, it would be something salty or fried food. I had bouts of stomach cramp and intestinal discomfort. The cause could be drinking vitagen or cold food. I had to avoid cold drinks, cold food and even vegetables direct from the fridge. I need to keep warm too as coldness can cause much discomfort. I try not to wash my hair so often to minimise the hair loss. The constipation problem was no longer an issue after consuming the herbal medicine prescribed by Zhang yishi.


Other than extreme fatigue and poor appetite, I have no other complaints. I would be seeing Dr Chia this coming Friday to see if I respond to this chemo cocktail combination. Five more cycles to go!