FIRST CHEMO TREATMENT for PDA (Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma) Stage 4 on December 9th.

So it was on Weds December 9th at my Oncologist's office.  The office is called Florida Cancer Specialists and Research Institute.  My oncologists name is Dr. Jooma.  Cool younger dude.  Recommended using pot.  Okayed my personal use of large doses of Turmeric.  The only alternative with some scientific support.  Test done in "test tubes" or in vitro.  Anyway, when they mixed Curcumin, active ingredient of Turmeric it killed of the pancreas cancer cells.  So there is that for whatever it's worth.  But worth a try in my book. 

Anyway, I reported to my first day of chemo full of nerves, but with trusting openness at 8:30 am.  Treatments were non stop for 6.5 hours.  Bummed about the recliners, were hoping for something more comfortable.  Nurses were great, patients even better.  Room full of cancer patients gathered in the front, so I went to the back where I could sit with no one on the sides and view of the TV.  News not allowed because it is too controversial.  Shame.  I hate game shows, LOL  Like only 3 men and 20 older woman.  Overheard some great stories about some of the cancer patients and how they are giving back. Very supportive group.

So probably the worst immediate side effect was from Oxaliplatin. A Platinum compound, a valuable heavy metal for fighting cancer. But weird side effect is that you can not eat/drink cold things, a sensation likend to swallowing crushed glass.  The Iced tea I drank at arriving home at 4PM confirmed that. LOL  And you can not touch anything cold without gloves as it is like pins and needles in your hands x5.  Just weird and pretty drastic change to my diet.  No cold drinks, no beer, no ice cream.  And ice cream was going to be on my to do list.  Hopefully it goes away but not the worst thing,

When I got up after finishing the "cocktail", my legs felt like noodles and I was kinda in a fog, but no pain or discomfort worth mentioning.  Was so looking forward to going home.  I do not do waiting well.  I bought a new Kindle book to read, but have a new phone, one that is more reliable, but no Kindle access.  So I figured out how to reorder the book on my new phone.  The title is "I Catch Killers", by a storied Australian Homicide detective.  Sounds like an easy, entertaining  read.  I'll let you know lol

Earlier I had an endoscopic procedure  to biopsy the tumor.  At the same time he offered to attempt a nerve block which very well may have helped me to reduce the  abdominal pain.  It's short acting maybe a month.  But also have tramadol  for pain.  So far pretty good with minimal pain.  

So 11 more left of those oncology infusions spaced 2 weeks apart.  God I hope it does not get boring, because boring and waiting are my dual nemesis. But of course I will follow through to the best of my ability.  The remaining sessions I will not likely blog about unless something interesting happens.  Hope you found this of some interest.  The Blog is really for people like me facing stage IV cancer, now and those in the future.