Second Phase of Treatments

    Today I started the second phase of my treatments, which is getting the same medications as before just a higher dose of the Paclitaxel (Taxol) a three hour infusion vice the one hour. My blood work was very good and I had minimal reactions to the infusions, mainly unable to sleep and heartburn. I will get the Neulasta shot Tuesday afternoon, which stimulates white blood cell production and the most common reaction is joint and muscle pain for about 4 days. I'll get these treatments every three weeks, two or three more times.
     I'm scheduled for a CAT Scan Wednesday to see what kind of progress these treatments have done, I'll know the results next Monday. I also have a follow up appointment with the Radiation department Tuesday of next week. I'll update when I know more from these appointments.
     I still feel great and have gained 4 more pounds ;>)

Thursday 9 February, 2012 Update:
     After the first shot of Neulasta on Tuesday the 7th of February, 2012, I experienced an increase in shortness of breath and stomach cramps the first night and the next day very severe joint pain, mostly in the legs, neck and ribs and occasionally just all over in general, on the third day I still have pain in most of my joints and leg muscles but not as bad as yesterday. Hopefully this will pass on the forth day as I have read. Tylenol has helped make the pain tolerable! The positive aspect to this is that I won't miss my next scheduled chemotherapy infusions.
    
Wednesday 15 February, 2012
     The office visit to the cancer center went well Monday, Doctor Stone said my last CAT Scan showed "significant improvement" :>) also he was impressed with how good my blood work looked since I just had the Neulasta shot. After telling him how that shot effected me he said he will prescribe some pain medication that will work better than Tylenol when I get the next shot on the 28th of this month.
     Follow up appointment at the Radiation department was pretty much routine to see how I was feeling and to let me know they want me to get another PET Scan in six weeks. I'll post more after my next chemotherapy on the 27th of this month.