Climb Ev'ry Mountain

Oct 1

Happy Breast Cancer Awareness Month! If you are OVER-due for your mammogram or have never had a mammo, please schedule one asap.

Why is there an Administrative Professional Week but a month of being aware of Breast Cancer? Inquiring minds want to know.

If you haven't already, please sign up to receive email notices automatically when the blog is updated. It's over there ------->

This is so surreal. This being cancer and the treatment. I am pretty darn calm tonight about tomorrow's event. Tho my 11-year BC-survivor co-worker called me "ADHD person" today, that just might be more accurate (I'm glad I have good and fun co-workers!) I found that, just as it was before surgery, I felt the need or compulsion to get up and organize something or start 5 projects within 30 minutes and work on them a bit here, a bit there . But they all got done and within 8 hours!

We tried out the numbing creme tonight just to test-drive what will happen tomorrow. The more I can prepare and know what things feel like, the calmer I can make myself.

The numbing creme is rubbed onto the skin over the port about an hour before infusion starts. The idea is that when the nurses insert the port needle, I won't feel a thing. Ha! I put the cream on the opposite side of my chest, pretty thick per the instructions, and waited the required hour. Vic had earlier said he would use one of the cat's insulin needles to poke the numbed area. Ha! Big bugger comes walking towards me with the needle exactly an hour later and with gleam in his eye. I poked the area with my fingernail and pinched the skin . . . and could feel it. I will lay an extra thick layer on the port tomorrow and trust that it works. Other BC ladies said it did for them. If not, the Onc Nurse said she could use lidocaine injection. Injection? Needles? Oh, I'm so getting used to needles it's no big deal.

Someone suggested going to drugs.com and checking the drug interactions for the chemo drugs. Here's what is listed for the Cytoxan. I'll read it, print it out for a short discussion tomorrow, and see how receptive Dr. P is to having me take supplements and herbs to treat the side effects. I don't want to take anything that will lessen the effectiveness of the chemo. On the other hand, some Oncologists say "no supplements or herbs, period". Maybe they don't want to take time to look up interactions?

Major Interactions
adalimumab, Arava, Attenuvax, BCG, certolizumab, Cimzia, Clopine, clozapine, Clozapine Synthon, Clozaril, Denzapine, Dryvax, Enbrel, Enbrel Prefilled Syringe, Enbrel SureClick, etanercept, FazaClo, FluMist, Humira, Humira Pen, Humira Pen Crohn's Disease Starter Package, infliximab, influenza virus vaccine, live, trivalent, leflunomide, measles virus vaccine, Meruvax II, mumps virus vaccine, Mumpsvax, nalidixic acid, natalizumab, Neggram, OPV, Orimune, poliovirus vaccine, live, trivalent, Quadramet, Remicade, Rotarix, RotaShield, RotaTeq, rotavirus vaccine, rubella virus vaccine, Sabin, samarium sm 153 lexidronam, smallpox vaccine, thalidomide, Thalomid, TheraCys, Thioplex, thiotepa, Tice BCG Vaccine, TOPV, typhoid vaccine, live, Tysabri, varicella virus vaccine, Varivax, Vivotif Berna, yellow fever vaccine, YF-Vax, Zaponex, Zostavax, zoster vaccine live


Moderate Interactions
Abelcet, acetoHEXAMIDE, ActHIB, Acthib (obsolete), Afluria, Agenerase, alatrofloxacin, alefacept, alemtuzumab, allopurinol, Aloprim, Amaryl, AmBisome, Amevive, amiodarone, Amphocin, Amphotec, amphotericin B, amphotericin B cholesteryl sulfate, amphotericin B lipid complex, amphotericin B liposomal, amprenavir, anakinra, Anectine, Anectine Flo-Pack, anisindione, anthrax vaccine adsorbed, Aplisol, Aplitest, aprepitant, Aquacot, Aquatensen, Aquazide H, Arcalyst, ARI Gallium (Ga-67) Citrate, Avelox, Avelox I.V., Azasan, azathioprine, bendroflumethiazide, benzthiazide, BiCNU, Biothrax, Bristol-Myers Squibb Gallium (67Ga) Citrate, Budeprion SR, Budeprion XL, buPROPion, buPROPion 24 hour extended release, buPROPion extended release, Campath, candida albicans extract, Candida Skin Test, Candin, Cardizem, Cardizem CD, Cardizem LA, Cardizem Monovial, Cardizem SR, Cardoxin, carmustine, Carozide, Cartia XT, chlorothiazide, chlorproPAMIDE, chlorthalidone, cholera vaccine, Cinobac, cinoxacin, Cipro, Cipro Cystitis Pack, Cipro I.V., Cipro XR, ciprofloxacin, ciprofloxacin extended release, coccidioidin skin test, Cordarone, Cordarone I.V., Coumadin, Cytovene, dalfopristin, dasatinib, Di-Phen, DiaBeta, Diabinese, Diaqua, dicumarol, Digitek, digoxin, digoxin capsule, Dilacor XR, Dilantin, Dilantin Infatabs, Dilantin Kapseals, Dilantin-125, Diltia XT, diltiazem, diltiazem 24 hour extended release, diltiazem extended release, Diltiazem Hydrochloride CD, Diltiazem Hydrochloride SR, Diltiazem Hydrochloride XR, Diltiazem Hydrochloride XT, Diucardin, Diurese, Diuril, Diuril Sodium, Dymelor, efalizumab, efavirenz, Emend, Emend 3-Day, Emend for Injection, Enduron, Engerix-B, Engerix-B Pediatric, enoxacin, Esidrix, Exna, Ezide, Factive, filgrastim, FK506, Flagyl, Flagyl 375, Flagyl ER, Flagyl I.V., Flagyl I.V. RTU, Floxin, Floxin I.V., Fluarix, FluLaval, Fluogen, Flushield, FluShield (obsolete), Fluvirin, Fluvirin Preservative-Free, fluvoxamine, fluvoxamine extended release, Fluzone, Fluzone PFS, Fluzone Preservative-Free, Fluzone Preservative-Free Pediatric, Fluzone SV, Fluzone WV, Fortovase, fosamprenavir, fosaprepitant, Fungizone, Fungizone For Tissue Culture, G-CSF, gallium citrate Ga-67, ganciclovir, Gardasil, gatifloxacin, gemifloxacin, Gleevec, Gliadel, glimepiride, glipiZIDE, glipiZIDE extended release, GlipiZIDE XL, Glucotrol, Glucotrol XL, glyBURIDE, glyBURIDE micronized, Glynase PresTab, GM-CSF, grepafloxacin, haemophilus b conjugate (HbOC) vaccine, haemophilus b conjugate (PRP-OMP) vaccine, haemophilus b conjugate (PRP-T) vaccine, haemophilus b conjugate vaccine (obsolete), haemophilus b diphtheria conjugate vaccine, haemophilus b Neisseria conjugate vaccine, haemophilus b tetanus conjugate vaccine, Havrix, Havrix (obsolete), Havrix Pediatric, Havrix Pediatric (obsolete), HCTZ, hepatitis A adult vaccine, hepatitis A pediatric vaccine, hepatitis A vaccine (obsolete), hepatitis B vaccine, HibTITER, Hibtiter (obsolete), Histolyn-Cyl, histoplasmin, Histoplasmin Diluted, HPV, human papillomavirus vaccine, Hycamtin, Hydro Par, hydrochlorothiazide, HydroDIURIL, hydroflumethiazide, Hygroton, hypericum perforatum, imatinib, Imovax Rabies, Imovax Rabies (obsolete), Imovax Rabies I.D. (obsolete), Imuran, indapamide, influenza virus vaccine, inactivated, Invirase, Ipol, IPV, Jantoven, Japanese encephalitis virus vaccine, Je-Vax, Kepivance, Kineret, Lanoxicaps, Lanoxin, Leukine, Levaquin, Levaquin Leva-Pak, levofloxacin, Lexiva, Liquid PedvaxHIB, lomefloxacin, Lopurin, Loqua, Lozol, Luvox, Luvox CR, Lyme disease vaccine, LYMErix, Mallinckrodt Gallium (67Ga) Citrate, Maxaquin, Menactra, meningococcal conjugate vaccine, meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine, Menomune A/C/Y/W-135, Metahydrin, Metastron, methyclothiazide, metolazone, Metro I.V., metronidazole, metronidazole extended release, Metryl, mibefradil, Micronase, Microzide, Mifeprex, mifepristone, Miradon, mixed respiratory vaccine, Mono-Vacc Test (O.T.), moxifloxacin, MSTA Mumps Skin Test Antigen, Multitest CMI, mumps skin test antigen, Mykrox, Naqua, nateglinide, Naturetin-10, Naturetin-5, nefazodone, nelfinavir, Neulasta, Neupogen, norfloxacin, Noroxin, ofloxacin, Omnihib, Oretic, Orinase, oxcarbazepine, Pacerone, palifermin, Pedvax HIB, pegfilgrastim, Penetrex, Phenytek, phenytoin, phenytoin extended release, Phenytoin Sodium, Prompt, plague vaccine, pneumococcal 23-valent vaccine, pneumococcal 23-valent vaccine (obsolete), pneumococcal 7-valent vaccine, Pneumovax 23, Pneumovax 23 (obsolete), Pnu-Imune 23 (obsolete), poliovirus vaccine, inactivated, polythiazide, Posicor, Prandin, Prevnar, Prograf, Prohibit, Proquin XR, Protostat, Quelicin Chloride, RabAvert, RabAvert (obsolete), Rabies Vaccine (obsolete), rabies vaccine, human diploid cell, rabies vaccine, purified chick embryo cell, Rapamune, Raptiva, Raxar, Recombivax HB, Recombivax HB Adult, Recombivax HB Dialysis Formulation, Recombivax HB Pediatric/Adolescent, Renese, repaglinide, Rezulin, rilonacept, RU-486, Saluron, saquinavir, saquinavir mesylate, sargramostim, Sclavo Test-PPD, Serzone, sirolimus, skin test antigens, multiple, sodium phosphate p32, sparfloxacin, Spherulin, SPL, Sprycel, St. John's wort, Staphage Lysate (SPL), Starlix, strontium-89 chloride, succinylcholine, Succinylcholine Chloride, Sustiva, tacrolimus, Taztia XT, Telzir, Tequin, Tequin Teqpaq, Tetanus Toxoid, Tetanus Toxoid Adsorbed, Tetanus Toxoid For Booster Use Only, Thalitone, Tiazac, Tol-Tab, TOLAZamide, TOLBUTamide, Tolinase, topotecan, trichlormethiazide, Trichophyton Allergenic Extracts, trichophyton skin test, Trileptal, troglitazone, trovafloxacin, Trovan, tuberculin purified protein derivative, Tuberculin Tine Test, Tubersol, Typhim VI, typhoid vaccine, inactivated, Valcyte, valganciclovir, Vaqta, Vaqta (obsolete), Vaqta Pediatric, Vaqta Pediatric (obsolete), Viracept, warfarin, Wellbutrin, Wellbutrin SR, Wellbutrin XL, Zagam, Zagam Respipac, Zaroxolyn, Zyban, Zyban Advantage Pack, Zyloprim

Minor Interactions
Adriamycin, Adriamycin RDF, Alferon N, atracurium, Chloracol, chloramphenicol, Chloromycetin, Chloromycetin Sodium Succinate, cisatracurium, Doxil, DOXOrubicin, DOXOrubicin liposomal, Indocin, Indocin SR, indomethacin, indomethacin extended release, Infergen, interferon alfa-2a, interferon alfa-2b, interferon alfa-n1, interferon alfa-n3, interferon alfacon-1, Intron A, Luminal, Mivacron, mivacurium, modafinil, Nimbex, Norcuron, ondansetron, pancuronium, Pavulon, Pegasys, peginterferon alfa-2a, peginterferon alfa-2b, PegIntron, PegIntron Redipen, phenobarbital, Provigil, rocuronium, Roferon-A, Solfoton, Tracrium, vecuronium, Vecuronium Bromide, Zemuron, Zofran, Zofran ODT

Quite lengthy eh?

I will ask Vic to take the laptop with him tomorrow to update this blog as the infusion is happening. Can't guarantee if he will do it or if there is a wi-fi section in this satellite clinic of Virginia Mason.

Thank you for reading my blog. I don't know who you all are (little butts who haven't identified yourself or made a comment :-). But for those who have stumbled across my site from seaching the Internet for "Triple Negative Breast Cancer", there is hope for us to be as successful as those who have hormone-driven tumors.

God bless you all!!