Aug 22 - Chemo Treatment

I was wondering how we were gonna organise this blog since I want to recount gradually the last 6 years as detailed as possible and yet include our current events...so it may be a little messy but that'll make for an interesting reading eh? Stick with us!

Aug 22, Tuesday
I was gonna be late picking her up for her 4:00pm blood test and so met her at NCC directly.
NCC organises a twice-yearly 3D2N retreat called "EnReach" for cancer patients. We've never had time to attend this over the years and now have decided that we will:

Venue: Grand Plaza Park Royal
Date: 1-3 Sept 2006

Anyway, after waiting at level 3 for some 30mins our number flashed "1700". We walked pass the automatic glass doors towards cubicle 9...no windows arrgh but its ok. The whole treatment should last no longer than 15mins. The usual formalities, "Jo, IC number" shouted the nurse at the counter. This was required to double check that the label on the drug was for Jo specifically, very important that this was correct. Don't wanna take someone else's drug. After she sat down in the seat, she'd prepare her hand for the infusion. 500ml of Saline was always prepared as the medium for the drug. For the last 6 weeks, she's been on Doxorubucin. 20ml every week of this red dyed looking susbtance.

"Ouuuuccchhh!" screamed Jo.

I got a shock. The nurse had somehow pierced through her vein and now there was internal bleeding. He was trying to stop the bruise from forming any larger...sheesh! Thankfully all was fine after this and infusion could proceeed. Poor girl. Poked nearly every week over the last 2 years. Her veins are fading, frail and thin making each subsequent treatment a challenge for the nurses. In my heart, God was telling me "forgive, forgive" and I did. Nurses are human too although Julia always did an exceptional job. Julia used to attend to Jo till she was transferred to the neighboring Jasmine Suite. She was a 60+ grandma nurse who was so experienced that she could always find Jo's tiniest of veins.

Dexamethasone (steroid) is given along with Kytril (anti-vomiting) each treatment. Dexa helps prevent the side effects from setting in too early. That's why she usually feels worse only on Thurs to Fri. Doxorubucin is administered via a syringe. After this is injected we wait for the rest of the saline solution to finish and then we're ready to go home.

For Jo, each venture into NCC is like a nightmare. She can even start feeling nauseous when she begins thinking of the place...