I had a lot of phone calls last week with nurse navigators and the pharmacist about my maintenance chemo Zejula, that I start taking Feb. 22.. We talked about the dose, the precautions I need to take handling the pills, the cost- that is another blog and side effects.
With all the chemo I have taken, there have been side effects...weakened immune system, fatigue, neuropathy, muscle and joint pain, hair loss to name a few. With this new oral chemotherapy drug the list is longer. Nausea, vomiting, constipation, weakness, headache, fatigue, hypertension, dizziness, skin rash, cough, decreased hemoglobin, platelet count and white blood cell count to name a few. I don't expect to have all of those possible side effects. I know I will have some, I am mentally preparing for some.
I wish I would get prescribed a medicine and be told this for side effects.
Side Effects include: loss of wrinkles, weight loss, improved muscle tone, increases skin elasticity, improved mental clarity, increases energy, improves the look of nails, adds shine to hair, lowers cholesterol, improves blood flow, lowers blood pressure, improves sleep, improves memory, gives skin a healthy glow, may cause laughter, and decreases cravings for sweets.
Now wouldn't that be a good list of side effects? Even to have a few of those would be great. But no, I am stuck with uncomfortable side effects. I am already dealing with something that wants to kill me and now I have to deal with more ugly side effects, which in turn will require more meds to combat those side effects.
So, I will deal with whatever comes my way...I have to, the alternative is death. So bring on that new chemo pill...I have a stockpile ( thanks to a cousin) of Miralax to battle constipation, I have nausea meds, I have ibuprophen and I will buy some cough drops. Skin rash? I have a dermatologist in the family. The rest will be watched by my medical team.
Side effects....to be continued...starting February 22.
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