teacher2017 wrote:Aqx99 wrote:teacher2017 wrote:Ok here's the update from the oncologist- I liked her. She was pushing for a port and treatment very two weeks for six months. She wants it straight into my bloodstream and said pills may not be obsorbed enough since so many lymphs were involved. I think I may break down and get the port. She said that if I just did it every two weeks then I wouldn't need pills at all. So it's folfox. I don't have a choice. It needs to be done. She said without chemo there is a 30% chance of reoccurrence. With chemo it drops to 5% - 10%. I'm not playing games. I'm killing this shit. Period.
DH- my emotions are everywhere too. I am going to meet with a social worker soon. I need to get my head together. We will be chemo buddies. Text me anytime.
I absolutely recommend getting the port. I'm only going to do a maximum of 6 cycles and got the port. It is so much easier knowing that they will get it the first time, every time. No fishing around to find the vein. You won't even feel the needle going in because they give you lidocaine cream to put on at home before you come it. Also, it is placed where your jugular vein enters the heart, so your heart acts as the pump that sends the chemo out to your body faster than having to return to the heart from your arm first. I got the port on a Friday and they used it the following Monday. I wasn't able to use the lidocaine cream on it because it was still bandaged, but it still hurt less than a regular needle stick in the arm. Ever since I have used the cream and I don't feel anything when they stick the needle in.
I'd be happy to describe my experience getting the port, if you want. Just let me know.
Yes please tell us. With so many lymph nodes involved, the onc wants it to go into my bloodstream. She said that not absorbing
the chemo pills would not be a good thing.
teacher2017 wrote:I will get that port even though it's a constant reminder of cancer. I am not looking forward to it. I just want to go back to work and start. I really don't want to lose my hair. I'm scared again.
I have a terrible phlemy cough. Not sure if it's from surgery. My mind is going crazy. I will see a dr this afternoon but really don't want to tell my cancer story again. But I need something. I'm hoping it isn't a collapsed lung...or another X-ray. I need to be healthy going into chemo.
DonutHead wrote:i worry about my body lacking the ability to fight off cold and infections with a depressed immune system. in addition to all of the other things i worry about as well. there is a cold going around, both if my boys have it and are just about done. however, everytime i hear their little coughs, i get concerned they will be bringing home all the nice little germies for daddy during my chemo. with that and the insomnia that will surely come, considering sleeping in the guest bedroom so that my wife is not constantly traumatized by this chemo ordeal or my kids don’t crawl in to bed and dose me up with their germ of the day when i can least afford it. everytime you turn around there is something else! as much as everyone tells you to leverage your support network, this disease isolates you in so many ways!
get the cough checked! you are right to want to be at peak health going in to this, but regardless you can do this and will do fantastic.
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