Chemotherapy education day..

17th April, 2012
 
Today was the chemotherapy education day. Chris, Magda, Susie & myself all bundled into the car & made our way to the Crown Princess Mary Cancer clinic.

Once we got there we were ushered into a room where they played a 25 minute video about chemotherapy. The video showed the personal experience of other patients...what to expect, side effects, costs etc.

It was quite emotional, the room was filled with recently diagnosed patients & their families. Yes, we all got a bit teary, I mean, this was not a feel good movie but we all know that this treatment is necessary & yes, this treatment is what will kill the cancer, yaye!

After the video, the pharmacist chatted further about chemo i.e. what to do when your side effects get dangerous, one in particular that he was referring to was as soon as your temperature reaches 38 degrees = get your ass straight back to hospital as you could be neutropenic, see little explanation below "Neutropenia"

Neutropenia is a condition in which the number of neutrophils in the bloodstream is decreased. Neutrophils are a type of white blood cells, so neutropenia affects the body's ability to fight off infections.

He also talked about the process of mixing up the different types of chemo treatments & how some particular treatments can take a while to prepare (included one of Chris's), therefore, there can be a long ass wait time. Chris’s first treatment tomorrow is estimated to take 6 hours.

It amazes me that these drugs were originally used as weapons of mass destruction (i.e. nitrogen mustard gas) yet now they can be used to somehow cure this debilitating disease, scary & incredible.

See picture below mixing chemo "Oh really" lol.

Me & my baby, Ah I love that smile....

My adorable Chris & the beautiful Magda!