The 24-hour chemo flu

That expensive Neulasta really did the trick, and my white blood cell count was up to 10,000 (it was 2,000 last week), just as I had hoped for! So, chemotherapy #2 is under my belt -- but not without the requisite suffering. This one was just as rough as the first treatment. First, during the adriamycin infusion, I had what is known as an "adria flare-up," which is when your veins become irritated and itchy. There was a red, itchy streak up my forearm, easily cured with a saline flush and hydrocortisone, but uncomfortable (and a little scary) nonetheless. It also just made it take longer to adminster.

I was feeling pretty woozy as soon as we left the hospital, and got home and crawled into bed and took a nap, during which a small frontal headache developed. Not nearly as bad as the first headache, but not very fun. The nausea progressed during the day. I kept things under control, but I wonder now if it would have been better NOT to have - at least there's temporary relief (and, as Jason pointed out, a phenomenal ab workout to boot).

Anyway, it was a rough 24 hours, but I kept reminding myself that that was all it would be. I think what made the last episode scarier was that we didn't know when it would end. Now, at least, I know it will be over in a day. We tried different anti-nausea meds this time, too, but I didn't seem to get much relief from them. Dr. Glick assures me that this is the more toxic of the two courses, and I'm already halfway through this course, one quarter through the whole thing. I can do it. And just think what it's doing to those cancer cells!