This has been a marvelous week for both of us.  Jan felt great all week, and we were able to enjoy good time together with less interference from her illness.  The weather is finally beginning to show signs of springtime, and the anticipation of warmer weather and dirty hands from planting a few colorful flowers helped put us both in a good mood.

The trauma of the week was proactively addressing Jan’s hair.  We expect that it will begin to fall out mid to late next week after her fourth infusion session (one of the sessions in which all three chemicals will be infused), so Friday she had it cut to about 1/4″, had her wig styled, and selected a number of hats and scarves for daily wear.  Her wig style is very close to the hair style she wore a dozen + years ago — fuller than her recent style — and I think it looks really really great.  She is still adjusting to the cut’s fullness, and left the door open to go back & have it trimmed a bit, but I hope she leaves it like it is.  The hats and scarves are really cute too and nicely complement her wardrobe.

Anticipating the first showing of her new look was trying for Jan, but she could not have had a better audience.  Niece Christy, whom we have not seen in several years, laid over in Atlanta with James and Gretchen en route to spring break in Costa Rica.  The family congregated several times to visit with Christy … and preview Mom’s new look.  It was very well received.

We will spend tomorrow preparing for Tuesday’s infusion session.

Jan’s week since her second infusion has been the best since mid-December.  She has had no side effects from the dose of Herceptin infused last Tuesday and is beginning to regain her jovial spirit.

The week has been busy.  She ventured out alone for the first time in at least six weeks (I swear I heard bits of MLK’s “Free at Last” as she departed).  Carol Silva dropped by to visit and deliver armloads of healthy foods.  Gretchen’s Mom Lynne D’Huyvetter, a 15 year cancer survivor, carved a lengthy visit out of her busy schedule and shared her strength, experiences and wisdom on handling the disease with Jan.  We’ve selected a “cranial prosthesis” in anticipation of Jan’s hair loss.  We’ve taken a walk by the river, and we’ve ventured to the gym for a light workout.  Sunday we spent some time being entertained by Ian and his parents.

As we’ve gone through the week, we are learning that Jan’s energy levels drop late afternoon.  Consequently we’re scheduling social outings at mid-day instead of evenings.  We also tend to avoid large public gatherings given her reduced resistance caused by the infusions.

Tomorrow Jan and Gretchen are attending a presentation by Cookie Aftergut and her Chemoflage organization.  Cookie is a cancer survivor and puts on the sessions to teach others to deal with the disease.  After the session, Jan will head back to Dr. Austin’s office and receive her third infusion.  It will contain Herceptin only, so we are expecting next week to be another good week.

We appreciate all who have called and / or sent notes to Jan.  She checks email regularly and enjoys hearing from all of you.  Your contacts help maintain her spirits as she prepares for the March 9 session — the next session in which she will receive all three drugs.  You can reach her at janet1025 at gmail dot com.

Today’s session was a piece of cake.  We’re old hands at it now.

Jan’s pre-chemo bloodwork was good — white count down as expected from the effects of last week’s infusion and other measures within acceptable limits.

Jan received only Herceptin today and she “consumed” her portion in half an hour.  Herceptin has no ill side effects, so we’re looking forward to a good week.

Tomorrow we have an appointment to visit with the Women’s Center at Northside Hospital and learn more about hats, scarves, and wigs.

We’re hoping the weather will cooperate so we can enjoy a few short walks by the river.  Come join us if you have free time!!

Reality set in Friday and Saturday.  The steroids wore off, and Jan’s energy levels dropped significantly.  She coped with it reasonably well, but I was happy that Julie was scheduled to sit with Jan Saturday while I was off helping Atlanta Motorcycle Club run motorcycle races in Washington, Georgia.

It sounds like Jan,  Julie, and Indie had a great time.  Thanks Julie for helping and letting me get some fresh air on such a beautiful day.

Sunday and Monday Jan felt a lot better.  She spent the better part of both days napping and resting in front of the den TV.  I cannot read with a TV going in the same room, so we are sorting out a way to reduce TV sound levels so I can sit with her rather than work in my basement office.  We’ve tried ham radio headsets, but they are too heavy / confining for her.  Next try will be some lighter headphones.

btw, the racing on Saturday was excellent.  Click here to see a quick followup story on the home page of the Atlanta Motorcycle Club website, one of the sites I manage.

Steroide?  What steroids?  Jan has been a whirling dervish for the past three days, doing minor cleanup around the house and marveling at how good she felt.  We were wondering how this could be given the stories we’d heard from others undergoing chemotherapy.  When we returned to the Oncologist’s office for a follow-up shot Wednesday, we learned they’d given her a large steroid dose prior to chemotherapy #1.  I’ve been teasing her about looking rather “Arnold-like”.  Fortunately I can still run faster.

We are at our first chemo session, finished with Herceptin and half way through Taxotere.  Carboplatin will be last (this seems to be the drug that plays with your taste senses.)  Jan is handling the chemo well; she is experiencing minor lightheadedness, but no nausea.  Her spirits are good, as she is plugged into Fox News in addition to her IV unit.

The center where the drugs are being administered is like a big party room; I can count 21 patients in various stages of receiving their chemotherapy potions.  Most of the patient lounges are occupied, and quite a few other patients have dropped by to chat with her.  Patients are able to walk around while the drugs are being administered, dragging their stand / infusion device / IV bags behind them (the devices which administer the drugs can be battery powered.)   It’s a bit spooky, and reminds me of space movies (Avatar?).  For the most part the patients are a cheerful, friendly lot.  Thus far, she has stayed in her lounge given the lightheadedness.

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Update:

Toward the end of the session, Jan felt good enough that she walked around the room chatting with a few other patients.

Overall, I’ll rate the day a success!  It was a long day (almost 7 hours) and we don’t know what reactions she will have over the next few days, but for now are happy with how things went.