Fourth Chemo Complete - A note from Carla

Here is an exert from Carla: I had chemo#4 (of 6) a week ago Wednesday and I'm through the worst of my post chemo yuk time. This one was a bit worse than the others, which is to be expected, but still nothing to whine about. The neulasta shot, which I'm sure I've mentioned before, makes the bone marrow crank out more white blood cells which is beneficial for the immune system which is compromised by chemo. And there's great feedback that it's working because the bones ache a bit and there is a bruised, tender feeling in the shoulders and hips. It's not at all painful, just achy. My stomach issues are almost completely controlled with Prilosec, plus I eat Activia often in the hopes of replacing good critters in the gut that are getting nuked with everything else. I have no idea if it really works, but I'm saying it does because it helps to think so. The fatigue is ever-present, but worse for a few days 3 - 5 days after chemo, but I have lots of people to pamper me, so no problem there. The salty/metallic taste in my mouth took a quantum leap this time and it is MOST ANNOYING. It makes me want to try eating something to get rid of it, so I'm probably eating too much and I'm certainly not eating as I should because the thought of vegetables is not appealing. And now the the taste in my mouth interferes with the taste of food, so something I normally enjoy (most things) is disappointing.

Still, I remind myself how much worse it could be. I'm still able to eat and I have no nausea. I can handle this.

And there are only 2 more treatments. This is almost over.