These are white blood cells. These are things that Tam doesn't have in abundance these days.So, I went in for chemo this morning and was told that my white blood cell count is ridiculously low and I can't have chemo again until it goes up. We dejectedly went to the chemo lab where I was given a shot of the magic white-blood-cell-making drug Neupagin (same thing they gave me for three days after chemo), and I'll have to have it again tomorrow and the day after.
There is a chance we can do chemo on Thursday, but this is a long shot. My doctor didn't think I'd be ready until Monday and maybe even not then. The next time I have chemo he said I'll be getting the super-strength version of the drug to kick up the white blood cells, which is Neulasta.
It was Nurse Candy's birthday and the chemo room was all decked out for a tropical party and we just sat, sadly and had our shot. Don't worry, the nurses said, you'll have chemo again soon.
My friend Angie pointed out later that if those words are comforting, my life is really in the crapper.
I am a round one chemo flunkie, but hopefully I can catch up soon.
On the upside, I swallowed a $150 pill this morning in anticipation of chemo. (Good thing PacificCare paid for it and not me.) Lesson learned: Don't take the pill until the doctor has read your blood work.
Also on the upside, I don't have to be super sick today. The side effects of the Neupagin are bone and joint pain (it's making my bone marrow work overtime, I guess), and feeling a bit like I have the flu--which are not fun, but not nearly as bad as some other things.
Here's to getting the white blood cells to multiply by Thursday!
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2 comments:
tam, my name is karen and in a VERY round about way i stumbled upon your blog. (i was image searching for clocks for a blog post of my own... one about timing...)
almost exactly five years ago i was sitting in a small room, ready and geared to get one more chemo treatment over and done with, and the nurses had to break it to me
that i wasn't ready yet... my white blood cells were too low. i was surprised at how much of a blow that was. i had this mental "schedule" of when i thought i should be done with treatments and the setback of even a week or two was devastating... in the grand scheme, though, not too devastating at all.
i got those same shots, and the only thing i felt was aching hips... nothing really flu-like. and like you say, comparatively, what's a little flu-like anyways.
i'm glad you're publishing your experiences. i wish you well... and will continue to do so.
karen
(my left ovary was my defect... now i have a tattoo there.)
Tam, your mom told me about your blog. I resonate with your approach and will put a link on my blog to yours, www.mikehamel.wordpress.com.
Press on--as if we have a choice.
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