On Friday, I'm scheduled to get my first treatment with the new regimen, which will include gemcitabine (brand name: Gemzar). That is, if I decide to do this new plan, which will be my old friends Herceptin, zometa, and Tykerb, plus the gemcitabine in place of cytoxan. (It's a wonder I don't glow in the dark, the number of drugs I have on board!)
The tumor in my right lung continued to grow during the three months I was on the old regimen, so Dr. Lee suggested a switch.
Anyway, despite having to tell the boys about the tumor in my lung, I've managed to NOT think about any of this for about three weeks, including the nine days I spent in Hawaii. Denial? Maybe.
I've been busy making jewelry, reading some good books, playing with my dog. I planted some potatoes in the garden this morning--a baking potato that sprouted before I had a chance to eat it, so I cut it up and planted the pieces, each with several sprouted eyes.
In any case, I've been refusing to see the tumor in my lung as a big deal, and refusing to really sort out the information I have about the new drug (thanks, Teri), but now it's time. I can't put off thinking about this any longer.
Gemcitabine is a conventional chemo drug, so it will probably hit me harder than the drugs I've been on recently. Also, it has a weird side effect that is like pneumonia and can be dangerous.
Dr. Lee told me about that one, but I need to get the details, like when might this happen (right after the first treatment? Later?), and what I'm supposed to do if I spike a fever and have trouble breathing--I know, go to the emergency room, but I need to have the whole plan written out, just in case: Where to go, what to say, who to call ...
So tomorrow I'm going to read all the info I have on gemcitabine. Then Wednesday I have an appointment with my therapist, so we can talk about it. And I see Dr. Lee on Friday, and I'll get any remaining questions answered. If I'm still not sure, I won't get the treatment, I'll put it off.
The worst thing about the gemcitabine--in addition to the possibility of pneumonia--is that I have to get it every week, by IV. So I'll be tied to my cancer center by a one-week leash. I'm not happy about that.
I've done weekly chemo several times in the past, and in addition to cramping my travel plans, it also makes it hard to get away from my cancer, because I'm at the cancer center every week.
Does that make sense? The cancer is more in my face when I have treatment every week. When it's every three weeks, I have a bit of time to breathe in between treatments.
Argh. The stress starts now. I'll post updates as I work my way through this.
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@ Jeanne Sather 2009.
Makes sense to me. There's no end to all of the stuff that has to be gotten through, is there? :(
Posted by: Amorette | February 24, 2009 at 06:06 PM
It's so strange. When we were at the cancer center all the time, it was like a little hangout place. We knew the other patients and nurses and didn't mind going there. Since he's been out of treatment, it's horrible. How long will the ivs take? Hope they are quick infusions at least.
Posted by: amy | February 25, 2009 at 08:57 AM
Hi Amy--I'm not sure how long, but I imagine two to three hours total, because sometimes I'll be getting two or three drugs. On the days I just get the gemcitabine, it will probably take 90 minutes.
Posted by: Jeanne Sather | February 25, 2009 at 09:00 AM