I think we may have have survived our first chemotherapy treatment.  I’m a little worse for the wear, but the medications that we were given to control nausea have seemed to have done the trick for now. This is very encouraging as we have been told that the first treatment gives a really good baseline for how the body will react to future infusions, at least in the short run.

In the long run of course the repeat treatments will certainly start to take their toll on the various systems in my body. But at least think the nausea from the initial poisonings chemo treatments might be bearable. (I hope!)

Starting on Saturday however I did start to experience one of the side effects of chemo. Mouth sores! If you remember from Friday, I talked about the fact that chemo works by attacking rapidly dividing cells (good and bad) and in that sense the mouth is one of the most active places in the body. The mouth is constantly changing and replenishing itself, and is often known as one of the fastest healing places in the the body. (Think about how comparatively fast it heals when you bite your tongue, or burn the roof of your mouth).  Hopefully that will keep these sores from staying around for very long, but it’s the same thing that makes it a susceptible area in the first place.

We’ve been reading about mouth sores AND MORE in our new favorite pamphlet “Chemotherapy and You.” We’ve read and been given tons of reading material, but I kept waiting for something with such an awesome title! I also would have accepted: “So, you have Cancer,” “My first cancer,” “Cancer and Me,” or “Why does Billy have Two Mommies.” I even love  tranquil, meadow/forest scene on the cover. It’s Perfect!

I even asked if the Sound of Music field on the cover was where I could expect to be receiving the chemo treatments. It is not. Just when I thought I couldn’t be more excited for the “Chemotherapy and You” book, I opened it up and saw that it was illustrated in the fashion of an airline safety manual. I could hardly contain myself with laughter and excitement and by this time I think the nurse thought that we were both our of minds. Sometimes I just don’t think that they are always prepared for cancer to be this much fun!

Talk to your doctor if you have concerns.

But yeah, these mouth sores suck and are the biggest side effect that I have right now. It’s like have a dozen or so canker sores on the sides and under the tongue as well as on the floor of the mouth.  As well as just the general weakness. I’ve been taking it easy though, trying to not to get up and move around much. But we’ll see how it goes. Apparently this is how I’m supposed to check:

Thanks “Chemotherapy and Me!” Now I know: open your mouth, and close your eyes.

Here is hoping that they go away as fast as they showed up!