Chemo 1

Monday was my birthday. I celebrated by unpacking from vacation and thinking about chemo.

Tuesday was chemo 1. Al brought me to the Oncologis's office at 9:00. Naturally, the first person we were scheduled to see was the financial manager. Speaking of which we are very lucky that we have good insurance. That really hit home once we picked up the latest prescription. I need to give my self a shot of Neuprogn once a day for 5 days after each chemo. The medicine costs over $3,000 for probably 2 sessions. Over $3,000. Luckily we have reached the cap for our out of pocket expenses so we got it for free.

Anyway Al and I got there at 9:00, saw the finance manager and trundled upstairs to see the Physician Assistant. When he finished explaining everything and writing even more prescriptions, (an antibiotic in case I get a fever over 100.4 and and antinaseau medication). Finally we went to see the nurse. She is young and sweet and explained everything in great detail. Too much detail considering I've talked to the oncologist, the physician assistant and read books and web sites for detailed information. But she was doing her job and did it well. And she was sweet.

Al left about 10:30. Then nurse drew blood (to make sure the blood levels were appropriate) and set up the IV. She puts lots of stuff in me, the chemo meds, the Herceptin meds, meds to minimise side effects and only the good lord knows what else. It took until 3:30 until they were done. I listened to Alan Alda's biography which I had on my Ipod. I knit, I wandered to the bathroom, training a pole with chemo was very bored. Al came back around 2:30 and entertained me. It was a long day. But worth it.