One down, seven to go.

So results of the last CT scan were done to check out the abnormality on my spine and/or lung. It is nothing, so onward and upward from here out.

Most everything I've done so far since the first day of dignosis has been for a clinical study I participated in. I have had a bunch of tests done, a needle biospy of the tumor and breast MRI. Then I start taking increased dosages of a drug called Valproic Acid (nice name isn't it?) over a regimin of ten days with blood work interspersed to see how the drug was affecting the cancer cells. After I finished with the drugs, I had another needle biospy and breast MRI and then was done with the study. Woohooo! Now I finally get to start my own treatment. (A different guy called me a couple of days ago to tell me that I was eligible to participate in another study. I told him I was all studied out. That last breast MRI tapped me of all altruistic juices for a while.)

So, that was the morning part of the day yesterday. In the afternoon I meet with my oncologist and little group of nurses to go over the chemo schedule, the types of chemo drugs, what to expect in the way of side affects, what to do to help alleviate certain side affects etc. They loaded me up with prescriptions and went over in great detail how and when I should take them.

Then Neil and I headed over to the infusion room. By that time I was exhausted. It was about 4 pm. They got my "suite" all ready and then brought me in to choose my easy chair, covered me up with warm blankets and got me something to drink. Neil went up to our new favorite bistro to bring us down a sandwich since we hadn't eaten since breakfast. About 5:45, my little buzzer started going off and they unhooked me and let me go home. I slept like the dead last night. Apparently they are pretty free with the sleepy drugs. I think I'm going to love my infusion team

We got home about 7 and found that my angel neice and her husband had picked up my kids and had them all fed (thanks to a wonderful neighbor who had brought over dinner). Thank you Meagan, Zeb and the Deckers.

Today I went back over for my Neulasta. The day after each chemo treatment I will go back for my injection of this drug. Since the chemo drugs are killing off a lot of white blood cells, and they are the cells that help keep you from getting sick, the purpose of the Neulasta is to stimulate the bone cells where the white bood cells are made to get them to produce more than the usual amount of white blood cells. Hopefully this will keep risk of infection in the midst of flu season to a minimum. But, I think I am becoming a bit of a germophobe regardless. Lily will probaby not be making her official entrance to the nursery until next spring, my church attendence will be sporadic at best, and at work, I may just become somewhat of an office hermit.... for the second time this year.

Well, that's it for today. I've been told that the worst of each chemo treatment comes within the first or second day after chemo so we'll just have to wait out tomorrow to get a good idea on how this particular drug cocktail is going to go over the next couple of months. I feel better though knowing that I'm on my way. The unknown and anticipation is always worse for me.  So one treatment down, seven more to go!!