Treatment Day #1

So, today was Kristen's first Chemotherapy appointment. Overall I think it went as okay as something like that can go. Granted I'm not the patient but here's how the day went. The appointment was at 10:30. First, she met with the doctor who seems like a really nice guy, maybe a bit quirky, but really nice. He basically just asked if she had any questions and gave her some Tylenol saying it would help with the flu-like symptoms that can be around the first day or so. He did say that her bone marrow test came back normal and there is no cancer there. Whew!! Her heart function test was also normal. The lung test was "decreased" he said. Which he didn't really give a reason for, but said they would just keep an eye on it over the next while.
Then into the room where the chemo was done. She had a nice comfy recliner to sit in and there was a tv/dvd/vcr in there to help pass the time. It was about 11:30 when they finally got her all ready to start the IV and the drugs. So, once they started it took almost two hours which was a lot shorter than we thought. Kristen said it burned a little and that it felt cold but other than that, it was ok. She'll go in to do this every other week. It will be the same treatment with the same drugs so they say whatever side effects she gets this time, she'll likely get every time. So lets all pray they are very minimal. So far she has been nauseous but luckily they gave her some anti-nausea medicine that has helped. I wrote down a few facts people might be wondering.
-Her itching should go away in less than a week!! Yeah!!
-The doctor said to not try and tough it out, if she feels even the least bit nauseous, he said take the medicine.
-I have a very weak stomach.
-Her hair is likely to fall out in about 2 1/2 weeks from now. Her hair will hurt and her scalp will tingle first.
-She will be cold a lot.
-She is tough, and hardly batted an eye when she got the IV.
-She will have radiation after Chemo. 5 days a week for 6 weeks.
-Her cancer is likely to have been around a while. Longer than the four months since she started itching for sure.
-Fever is the biggest worry, she is suppposed to call if she gets one.
-Her nurse is Kathy.

Thats pretty much it. I probably left out some stuff, so if there's any ?'s, just make a post. Someone will update about how she does the next couple of days. Adios!