phoned the oncology centre today

Was relieved today when The Lymph Lady said I should be able to manage my arm and the swelling (caused from radiotherapy) on my own but that I should use a compression sleeve if I travel longhaul (she has said that before. However, I commented on how she was doing massage on both sides of my neck and I do it only on one side and she said: "No, I must do it on both sides!" So next time she is going to re-show me the manual lymph massage which I do twice a day.

Then my taste is better if not better. That is, not back to normal but thank goodness, much better. Phoned the oncology centre and they said they had never heard of it as a side-effect of herceptin. Asked if I have thrush in my mouth. Didn't think so and checked, I don't. But that can cause a bad taste in the mouth, said the head nurse Erica.

Then asked about my hair. It has been very sore. I swear. My hair, not my head. Last night was the worst ever, as it hurt even as I changed positions in bed and when I washed my hair this morning. It hurts on the top of my head, the hair on the crown. I thought I had better phone rather than wait a week to go to the centre for my treatment. "Never heard of it," she said. But she did admit, when I pushed her, saying I had read it on the Internet, that Herceptin can make one's hair thin. Yes, it can thin but it won't fall out in clumps. Ok. Mine does not seem to be falling out. Four strands in the bath today. Mmm..

Then asked about my muscle pain. I have noticed, and have discussed it with my biokineticist, that my muscles are ridiculously sore. If I didn't exercise, I would understand but I am exercising regularly - 40 min of moderate to mild gym (that's all I am allowed) three time a week, and yoga once. (Given up on tai chi cos it hurt my knee.)

"Aah, that is from the Herceptin," said Erica. "Flu-like symptoms which include muscle pain".

So now I know.

The taste continues

Just said: "I don't know how much longer I can handle this taste in my mouth". Said The Yoga Man:"You sound like you have an option". Ja, it's true. I don't have an option. But how long is it going to last? It's bad today and yet it's almost two weeks since I had Herceptin. Is it gonna be forever? Meanwhile I am sucking a sweet, a sparkler, even as I am writing this.

The taste is back

Want to preface this posting by saying two things: 1) am writing this from my cellphone so excuse funny symbols and things which occur until I have time to go to my laptop and correct them; and 2) I think this blog must sound like a litany of woes and moans and groans but in fact I am generally quite cheerful and think most people would not realise I have been sick or am still undergoing treatment - it's just that I am using this blog to document my progress in the fight against cancer and so not focusing much, if at all, on the rest of my life which is busy, busy, busy going out having fun and working hard. Perhaps if u follow my twitter updates you will see that.

Anyway, what I want to say is that as I finished my treatment last week, I got those dreadful taste in my mouth, Mentioned it to the cancer support group lady whom I had last met on the day of my first chemotherapy treatment a year ago. Of course she did not remember me but I remembered her. She comes to the oncology centre only on Wednesdays and the last time I went on a Wednesday was for my first treatment. She was thrilled when I told her how she had helped me so much, about explaining how not to move after taking the two - or was it three - day obligatory anti-nausea pill after chemo - it was best to lie in bed for had an hour then get up and have breakfast, as well as explaining in detail exactly what the immune compromised time meant in the second week after chemo.

Well, to get to the taste. I was talking to her when my Herceptin treatment ended and it hit me: there was this shit taste in my mouth. Mentioned it to her and then to the nurse who kinda shrugged it off.

Got progressively worse and I stocked up on sweets. Now this week it came back. Dashed out of work at a busy time yesterday to buy sweets and today the taste is mostly gone but present sporadically. My one sister said it's the taste u get when u pregnant - metallic - and guess that's the hormones in Herceptin which are causing it. Not going to phone the centre about it but will ask them when I go on the 1st.