Last Dose - Hooray!

Dad sitting next to me as I finish my last dose of Daunorubicin.

Overall, today's session went better. On the way home, I didn't need the bucket that Dad had stored in the back seat of the car, just in case... Both my arms are really sore from the strong chemical being pushed through them--the left from the IV on Monday and the right from yesterday and today. The chemo didn't leak into my flesh, but it seemed that my veins were too small to flush it throughout my circular system quickly, so they spasmed. When I received the Idarubicin in the hospital in the spring, it was injected through a PICC, so I didn't have this issue. Over the next few days, applying hot compresses to my arms should help.

Second Dose

Today I will receive my second dose of the Idarubicin-- the heavy chemotherapy.

Yesterday a doctor inserted a PICC, which is a catheter starting in a vein in my shoulder and ending near my heart. Through it the nurses can administer all my drugs and take all my blood samples. Although the process wasn't my favorite experience, it will save me from being jabbed in the arms with needles multiple times each day.

The nurse will use the PICC today for the Idarubicin. The liquid in the syringe will be a flourescent orange, and she will wear an outfit resembling a purple hazmat suit while she's administering it. Naturally I will tease her about her fashion sense, which will be hypocritical considering I am wearing blue pajamas with a stethescope, gauze, and pill bottle print.

The side effects of the drug occur over time and are cumulative. Just this morning I am feeling Wednesday's dose. The doctor described it as sliding down a curve. A week or two from now, once I've received all the doses, I will feel the weakest. Then things will start to get sunnier.