I'm looking forward to getting my third chemo treatment under my belt on Friday after work. I've had people ask me what it's like. My type of chemo is actually pretty uneventful (except for my allergic reaction to the Taxotere during my first treatment, which they got under control very quickly.) You definitely want to have someone with you that loves you, just for the comfort factor. There's no one I'd rather have with me than my mom, and I'm grateful she can be there. The nurses have a hard time getting a good vein in my arm, so they put the i.v. in the top of my hand (doesn't even hurt -- my chemo nurse Terry is GOOD!) First I first get a combo bag of Benedryl, Decadron, Tagamet, and Kytril -- all to make me calm, to keep me from getting nauseus, and to keep me from having another reaction. I always feel pretty sleepy when I'm getting my treatment since it's around my usual nap time, and the Benedryl adds to that effect. The first bag takes about 20 minutes, then the chemo drugs start. I get the Taxotere first and, since I had an allergic reaction to it, they slowed that down so it takes 2 hours to get that bag in. Then I have an hour with the Cytoxan. All in all, with them taking my vitals when I first get there, it takes about 4 hours or so. I'm lucky with my cocktail. I was able to avoid some harsher chemo drugs. I've had very little nausea -- the thing that's really bothered me most for the first several days afterwards is heartburn, so I'll take something strong before my next treatment.

There are several private chemo rooms at my doctors office and one big communal room. For your first chemo, they put you in a private room. I caught a glimpse of folks in the communal room my first time and was impressed by the fact that most of the people in there were kicked back in their recliners reading. They looked like they were right at home! I got the private room again for my second treatment because there were so few people getting chemo that day.

Chemo's a pretty scary thing, but now that I'm going through it I am so thankful for it! Losing my hair, the heartburn, the fatigue, and God knows what may come next, I know that it's working and kicking the hell out of any bad cells. Most important, I keep in mind that all this is, God willing, temporary.

Of course, going through all of this, I'm always looking for a good laugh. Saw the movie "The Hagover" this past weekend and it's been a LONG time since I laughed so hard. Well worth going to see now, especially if you can handle some of the gross humor -- that's not too bad, though. Bradley Cooper's hotness makes up for anything offensive!