Round #3 Day #2 Cisplatin + Gemzar

Some of my garden. My friends Judy and Steven helped me get the flowers and get the beds ready. My mom planted, and I (Joanne) mostly bossed around the workers...... They look great and it is so great to have lovely flowers around.

Thanks to Judy, Steven and mom.... Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves - James M. Barrie

The first week of my chemo cycles are always the "big" ones.... not only does it take about 8 hours at the cancer clinic to get all the work done, bloodwork, infusions, etc... it is also the "big" one for side effects.

Cisplatin is an "oldie" heavy-hitter chemo drug. It is mostly used in bladder cancer, but can be approved for use in metastatic breast cancer. The cisplatin is very hard on the bladder and kidney, and so I have to drink tons of water constantly in order to prevent damage. It is a platinum based drug and so I think it interferes with DNA production of fast growing cells (cancer is particularly fast growing). It is also "high" on the nausea scale, but I do have numerous drugs on board to manage that. It also causes a fair amount of weakness and fatigue and is hard on the blood counts, esp. white blood cells. All this crap seems to last about about 6-7 days, then I feel pretty "OK" again. I get Cisplatin every 28 days.

Gemzar is a "newer" chemo drug, and also used mostly in bladder cancer, but found to have some use in metastatic breast cancer. By comparison it is a LOT easier. It causes nausea and general flu-like systems, but only for 24-48 hours, so it is much more managable.... also hard on blood counts, esp platelets.... I get Gemzar every week, with a one week break.....

So, in a nutshell, this first week is a challenge, then the rest of the month is much, much better.

It was great to have our family here - Gord's mom and dad were able to attend Craig's graduation dinner and dance, - my mom, dad, Darryl and his family, Kelly and her girls...... were here to visit and attended the convocation of Craig's grade 12 graduation.....Mom has generously stayed on to help our household (again), just before she leaves for China to accompany my niece (Heather's) choir on a tour. All of Kelly's family is going as well as my mom and dad and they should have many adventures to tell us about!!!! We're very excited for them.

Everything is falling into place with the house (officially sold)..... the kids are moving into their apartment (furniture is moved this Friday)... and we all keep moving forward........

Cheers to all..... joanne