Chemotherapy diary

yak!
They, the survivors (not me yet ;-)), are saying it's getting better. The first cycle is the worse one. I don't know!
What do I know? For sure I won't be cycle-path. I can't wait to live without the treatment! How tempting is the thought of quitting... But the truth: the second run is feeling easier. It's not what nurse suggested; that you know what to expect. I didn't expect any of that and I'm really happy the side effects are not so severe with just second run. Only... I don't know about tomorrow... scheduled pain day :-(

Dear diary,

• Day 1: Flu with muscle pain, chills and severe fatigue. Overnight (what night? 3 hours of sleep is not a night!) sweating that wakes you up and forces to change the pajamas.
• Day 2: Not bad, you can even eat with your family. Just remember about pills for pills or your stomach will kill you.
• Day 3: Disaster. Eat and drink all the time or your stomach will kill you, as you can not take more pills for pills :-( And if the stomach is forgivable then there is the nausea, and this lump in your throat that you can't swallow pill for nausea with. What a nonsense. Did I mention severe fatigue? No, it wasn't the first day. Walking down the stairs, upstairs, opening one closet, two drawers, and you'll fill like you've just run the marathon. That's the fatigue. And that's the 3rd day.
• Day 4: Hopefully will be better. Or I refuse to write about it! ;-)

As everything is getting much worse after neulasta injection I became suspicious. Am I in some clinical trial or something?
On day 4 the nurse is coming. Again. My skin forced them to come to change the dressing every second day now. It's not only me, who loves the PICC line. Now it's my skin too :-) and I believe still my medical oncologist favourite!

Turkey rice soup rocks! LOL

When life gives you lemons

Well, the lemon tree I'm growing is actually good, not so sour kind: Meyer lemons.
Except the fact, that both plants I brought home from Richmond Nursery, I also bought kumquat, were sick, and I'm practically fighting all summer with spider mites. Interesting how aunts took care of other pests on kumquat.
Anyway, in real life the lemons you get can be really sour.
Why is the neulasta so horribly expensive?!
Thanks God we have the coverage if we fulfill insurance company conditions, but my friend, working in the same office, not big one, we are going through this together. She still doesn't know. They are saying maybe 80% and even 20% is a lot!
Yesterday she asked me if we could go to try wigs together. I don't know. I'll have my first chemo next week. I'd like to book something the same day, as this is the same hospital and she still doesn't know her schedule.
Instead I proposed we should have a coffee. I had my PICC done yesterday, she has an appointment to install her port, few more days we will be both completely bold, then big decolletage, minimum clothes, as it's still summer et voila!
At least there is someone to laugh with. We have enough everyday fear and pity.

Yes, cancer is not something to jump about, but we still have the chance. It's not the plane crush. And even then there could be Hudson River ;-)

Very easy recipe for papaya smoothie
I overheard Dr. Oz that papaya is #1 in cancer diet, and I strongly believe it's tastier than any green juice.

3 cups cubed papaya
1 cup orange juice (yes, the best if home made)
2-3 large ice cubes

Bzzzzzzzzzz (that was the blender)
If you need use some honey to taste.

I'm not sure you can't find recipe like this on internet. Like I had no idea beef and kale soup exists and you don't have to invent it again. Let's say those recipes here are for me. I invented them, tested and now I want them not to be lost with my not functioning memory help.