The Last Chemotherapy Session!
My husband has finished up his last chemotherapy session for his male breast cancer. Sessions three and four were more difficult for him than one and two. His chemotherapy sessions were spaced three weeks apart and at first after about three days he started feeling better. But the last two sessions took him almost a week before he started feeling good.
He was tired and had body aches which are typical from the Neulasta shots he was receiving. But this was a good sign that his body was working on producing white blood cells that he needed to help fight off infections. His hair loss was minimal; his buzz cut was even thinner and shorter than before. He bruised easily on his arms but that is another side effect of chemotherapy. He was also taking steroids before and a day after each session and amazingly he gained some weight. With the last two sessions his appetite waned because he couldn’t taste the food. But I was there prodding him along to eat.
When the fourth and final session was over, we were ecstatic! It felt like leaving behind a bad job and moving on to a better job, I’m sure you have experienced this before. But I must say that during the chemotherapy sessions the nurses and doctors were excellent. They were always upbeat and supportive. Never did we see any of these professionals with a bad attitude or a non-caring attitude. We could tell that they really did care about my husband during his fight to survive breast cancer.
The chemo nurse said that from day one when a patient is diagnosed with cancer, they are survivors. Every day you survive cancer and every day you experience joy and happiness. I agree with her and now I know what it really means to be a survivor. Sometimes life throws you a curve but when you know that there are treatments and wonderful medical staff as well as excellent medicines out there, a curve ball can be an easy swing.
Just a couple of days ago, the surgeon removed the chemo port from my husband’s chest. This was the easiest outpatient surgery we have had so far! In ten minutes he was in and out of the operating room with only a thin scar remaining.
Now it’s onto the Tamoxifen regiment. Tamoxifen is used as a treatment for breast cancer. This drug slows or stops the growth of cancer cells that are present in the body. As adjuvant therapy Tamoxifen helps prevent the original breast cancer from returning and also helps prevent the development of new cancers in the other breast. This drug is generally prescribed for five years. However, the ideal length of treatment is not really known. Some of the side effects listed for this drug in men include headaches, nausea and/or vomiting, skin rash, impotence, or a decrease in sexual interest.
Once again we are delving into unknown territory for my husband. Will he gain weight with this drug? Will he get more headaches or feel sick? Only time will tell but at least one thing we know for sure – he’s a Survivor!
Until later,
Linda
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