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Charlene's Story

Age when diagnosed: 41 - 45
New York, United States of America
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Mediport, Pin Cushion & OMG my hair is falling out!!!

Fri, Aug 06 2010 by Charlene

I had my surgery on Monday to install my Power Port to receive my chemo treatments, instead of having them stick me intraveneously every single time. When the doctor installs the port they usually leave the needle and cateter in for you first treatment, but because mine was not until Wednesday he opted to not leave it in (if it was the next day he probably would have). Word to the wise HAVE THEM LEAVE IT IN!!!!!!!!!!!!

I went for my treatment on Wedneday and the area where the port was installed was bruised and swollen, not to mention the stitches and the incison were fresh and not healed. SOOOO when they started PRESSING on it to try and access it I was in so much PAIN.... seriously they almost had to peel me off the ceiling, I'm pretty sure after the FOURTH stick with a LONGER needle and I burst into tears the nurses were feeling pretty bad. The decided to give my my treatment via I.V. and stuck my left arm... from which they did a blood draw to test my white blood cell count which was acceptable to receive treatment that day. HOWEVER, when I went in for treatment they attempted to use the I.V. and were UNSUCCESSFUL so they had to stick me AGAIN in the right arm to give me the chemo meds.... SERIOUSLY this port was supposed to make my live easier, but that certainly was NOT the case this first go around, I can only hope that once I'm healed my next treatment will go a lot smoother.

Well, true to form as the couselors at Chemo Camp said my hair would start falling out around the time of my second treatment, well Wednesday morning I woke up to the back of my head hurting and my pillow full of hair... OMG.... shower... MORE HAIR down the drain.... this is crazy, I guess I should be grateful that my hair is thick otherwise I'd already be bald.... Thursday I didn't wash it to help preserve it... today Friday the loss is ridiculous, I cannot run my fingers through my hair without them being FILLED with hair.... I am planning on shaving my head on Monday, I hope I make it that long!!!

Also the doctor wrote me out on short term disability for the next 4-6 months while I go through my treatment, she felt that as I progress it will be too exhausting for me to be there and that the germy environment of the office would not be good for me as my white blood cell count drops.

To be continued.....