The Ninth Treatment
At about 15 minutes prior to the end of the treatment, Matt and the nurses had noticed that all traces of the former rash on my upper chest had fully cleared. We were done, free to go home. I walked downstairs to my preferred bathroom (better ventilation) and saw that my face was red. We walked back up the stairs to get to the car and with each step, I slowed. Matt took a look at my face and upper chest and said we’re going back back into the infusion room.
It’s good he had the common sense to do that. I was going to check back in with the receptionist to make sure it was okay to go back there. Once the nurses saw me, they plopped me back into the same chair, had me pull down my mask and saw that my mouth was swollen and asked if I had tightness in my throat. I did, a little. That’s when it fully dawned on me that this was serious.
A doctor happened to be there, he took a look at me and confirmed that it was an allergic reaction to carboplatin, one of the chemotherapies. My nurse plugged me back in and administered steroids and Benadryl. More nurses and another doctor swarmed and asked me questions. It all calmed down almost as fast as it had flared. It had probably been about 30 minutes and my chest and face were clear, throat relaxed, and mouth swelling calmed. Yay fast-acting nurses, steroids, Benadryl, and doctors!
A Visit with the Oncologist
During the flurry of activity, one of the questions the nurses asked a number of times was if I was going to see my oncologist next Monday (today). Yes and she removed carboplatin from the rest of my treatments. The reaction could just get worse. 😱 The possible silver lining: per my oncologist, the counterintuitive findings show that the stronger reaction a patient has to the treatments, the more successful they are. I’ll take it!
Next, I must beg forgiveness for misleading myself and setting up false expectations. We learned that we had misunderstood the treatment plan. (Our brains may have been a bit overwhelmed when we first learned it.) Beginning May 15, for four cycles, every three weeks, I will continue with treatments. Keytruda, the immunotherapy, stays the same and two different chemos, doxorubicin (Rubex) and Cyclophoshamide (Cytoxan) will be new to my system. This actually makes sense because we want to shrink the tumors as much as possible prior to surgery.
Please know I am still doing well, still love and need a good nap, am taking good care of myself and appreciate all the love and support sent my way in all the kind and generous ways they have been. 🥰
Love,
D’Arcy
Well, that was scary! Thank goodness for Matt’s decisiveness! Thank goodness for such a good team! I imagine you had a super good nap after all of that! I’m so glad you are okay.
Thanks for the clarification around the treatment plan.
Wishing you all the very, very best, as always. Ed
Thank you, Ed! Agreed about Matt’s decisiveness. After that commotion, we both probably needed good naps. To be honest, I’ve forgotten if I did.
I just read your latest message. Thanks D’Arcy for the clarification on what happened. I loved reading about the silver lining, “…the stronger reaction a patient has to the treatments, the more successful they are.” OK that is counter intuitive, but good news. Sending you love and well wishes for recovery. ❣️ Mom
Hopefully that is the extent of the strong reactions I’ll have! Thanks, Mom ☺️
I’m glad that you got the allergy reaction treated fast. It’s going to be a journey, but you’re strong and knowing that there are many people thinking about you.
Thank you Minh, for your kind words and caring. ☺️
Allergic reactions are pretty scary! Good thing you were still on-site. We’re thinking of you…
Todd
True, right place and time. It’s probably good to hang around for a few extra minutes after these infusions, just in case. Thank you, Todd.
Whew! What a scare and what a relief to have it resolved so quickly and in time! Glad Matt was with you. Hugs to both of you!
Thank you, Nancy. I am grateful for Matt’s common sense while mine seems to be on the fritz. Hugs to you two, too.