Julie can't eat cheese

Hi friends! It has been a few weeks since I last posted – I have just been dragging this cycle. Having chemo weekly doesn’t give me much time to recover, so I am much more fatigued this round. I am not bed ridden or napping every day, just waking up tired and going to bed early. It’s my only major side effect – so I am not really complaining, but only because I am too tired to. Hah!

Other random side effects are acid reflux/heart burn but controlled with a daily OTC pill. I also have random intense hand itching. This started last week, went away for a few days, and now happens every few days – my hands will itch for about 15-20 minutes. There is no rash or hives or anything that would be causing the itching. I worry this is a neurological thing and I may be getting neuropathy, but I have full feeling in my fingers so far (and in my toes too). So who knows what it is. My finger nails also hurt, especially my thumbs. I am keeping Biotin nail polish on them and hoping for the best!

I still haven’t had major food aversions with Taxol, but my mouth continues to be sensitive so food has been pretty bland. I dream of eating salsa and Sriracha again… Someone asked me if I have lost weight on chemo. Ummm, no. The opposite – it feels better to have food in my stomach, so I am eating often (still vegan!) and not moving as much due to the fatigue, plus steroids. I may also have developed a Frosted Mini Wheats problem! I get super hungry right before bed and cereal sounds the best. I got a few different kinds to try during AC and FMW has been the winner.

I last met with my oncologist on 5/10 and had labs the day before. My white blood count was normal (low end, but still!) and my red blood count remains low (but was slightly higher than my last labs). My liver panel is still high, but not enough to warrant concern. My oncologist believes it is just the chemo causing it and we will continue to monitor. I asked her what life will look like after chemo – like what happens moving forward? I will start radiation about a month after chemo ends and then will see my oncologist every 3-6 months for 5 years. I see my radiologist in early July to find out the plan – I saw her before my surgeries, so she hadn’t given a definitive number of sessions yet (but had said it would likely be anywhere from 20-33). I also asked about getting my port out – I have never gotten used to having it as it makes sleeping awkward. My oncologist said they like to leave it in through radiation if in case any IV infusions are needed. I was hoping right after chemo, but that’s not too much longer.

I lastly asked if my hair will fall out again with Taxol. I feel like my head hair has been growing back in (I ask Dan every few days if there is more). I call them my baby chicken hairs – they are super fair and super fine, but they are there! She thought maybe my hair will continue to grow through Taxol – so fingers and toes crossed it doesn’t all fall out again! I started using my hair growth serum on my scalp so hopefully that will speed things along.

5/24 is my 6th Taxol infusion – so will be halfway through! That means 10 total chemo cycles and 6 left to go (I am totally COUNTING DOWN to my last one on 7/5). I rescheduled my ob/gyn appointment for late June to talk about ovary removal and hope to have that done in the fall (gotta get everything in this year, as I hit my out of pocket max in April!). Labs and oncology appointment again next week – let’s keep it moving!