I have only heard good things about the Cancer Clinic here in Kingston: the people are kind and caring; things run smoothly; the care is professional and excellent quality; the physical environment is bright and airy, with a good view over Lake Ontario. The Cancer Clinic is the best it can be.
And it was still really hard being there. I wasn't really prepared for the emotion of it. But maybe that's not possible.
The oncologist assigned to me, Dr. Nazik Hammad, is absolutely lovely. She spent about 40 minutes with me, asking me questions, explaining the chemotherapy protocol, doing an exam, and answering my questions. Her photo on the Queen's School of Medicine website features the most beautiful smile. As she was leaving the examining room, I said I was disappointed I didn't get to see her smile underneath her mask. In the hallway, she took down her mask and through the open door, I saw the same dazzling smile. I feel in very good hands.
The chemo regime is a standard one: AC-PACL(DD). Treatment will last 16 weeks, with an infusion every two weeks (8 in total). The first four treatments will be a combination of Adriamycin and Cyclophosphamide ("AC"). The next four treatments are Paclitaxel or Taxol ("PACL"). The "DD" stands for "dose dense," meaning the treatment is every 2 weeks.
The 21 page information booklet has side effects broken down into "very common" (affecting more than half of people), "common" (affecting 25-49% of people), and "less common" (affecting fewer than 1 in 4). Then there is a long list of "rare but serious" side effects.
Very common side effects include:
- hair loss; nausea and vomiting; low white blood cells and low platelets; mild joint and muscle pain or muscle cramps.
Common side effects include:
- reaction at the injection site; diarrhea; neuropathy
Less common side effects include:
- unremitting tiredness (okay, they didn't use the word "unremitting"); nail changes; adominal pain or cramps; low appetite; mild leg or arm swelling; liver problems; mouth sores; taste changes; dizziness; bladder problems
When I told Claire I would lose my hair, she promised she would knit me a hat.
The information booklet also includes cautions about vitamins, minerals, herbal teas, homeopathic medicines, natural health products such as St. John's Wort, vitamin C supplements, and grapefruit juice. When I told Dr. Hammad that I consistently get symptoms of riboflavin deficiency after about 2 weeks without supplementation, she agreed I could continue this. The little bit of late-night research I did about vitamins and minerals in chemotherapy suggests there is quite a lot that is unknown!
The first infusion is on 2 November. If all goes according to plan, the last will be on 8 February.
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