Do Your Mouth Care!
I was nervous at my before-chemo visit with Dr. Cristofanilli. After my second round of FEC, I was hit with a bad cold. Then after that, I found myself faced with fatigue that I hadn’t experienced thus far into chemo.
Because I have had a history of low white-blood counts during my chemo treatments (3.5, 3.9, 4.1, etc. on a scale of 4 – 11), I was concerned that the cold I had might bring my counts down lower than usual, thereby potentially postponing chemo until my white-blood count recovered a bit. Added to the concern about the cold, I wondered if my increased fatigue might also be indicative of low counts. Needless to say, I went into my appointment anxious.
As I waited for Dr. Cristofanilli, Shirley, his nurse, came in and checked in with me. It was pretty funny because when she asked if I was doing my mouth care (4 times daily baking soda/water rinse), and I said no; her eyes got really big, and she gasped. She persisted by asking me why I wasn’t doing my mouth care; the best answer I could give her was, “I didn’t know I was supposed to be doing it, and I haven’t had any mouth sores.” As Shirley was leaving the examination room, she told me that I was really, really lucky to not have had any mouth sores, so as she left the room, her parting words were, “DO YOUR MOUTH CARE.” Message received loudly and clearly.
A while later Dr. Cristofanilli came into my room. He sat down and with a smile on his face said, “This is number three!” Relief! My counts must be good.
“So, this means I’m getting chemo tomorrow night?”
“Yes, your white blood count is at 6, which is good.” Dr. Cristofanilli went on to say that he was happy to see these results, and more so given that I had been sick with a virus last week.
After talking blood, I asked him about the mouth care scolding I got from Shirley. I wanted to know what the “big deal” was. He explained that the chemotherapy drugs hit reproducing cells – those that make the hair and fingernails grow and those in the mucosa – the moist tissue that lines some organs and body cavities throughout the body, including your nose, mouth, lungs, and digestive tract. Because the ph balance in the mouth is disturbed by the chemo drugs, it’s important to swish with the baking soda rinse to bring the ph level in the mouth back to balance. If this isn’t done, the potential for mouth sores is greater.
So I’m convinced. I will swish and rinse four times a day.
Well, it’s going on 6:10 p.m., and my 3rd FEC treatment is coming to a close. So far so good. Tomorrow I’ll add a steroid pill to my medications. This, hopefully, will help me get through Sunday with not so horrible side effects that I’ve gone through the last two cycles.
Given that I’ve felt really normal on Saturdays, I’ll be up with the rest of Team Millenbah Saturday morning to do the Race for the Cure (Although Dr. C wants me to walk slowly). Friends and family are descending upon Houston as I type, so by the time I get home tonight, the house should be filled with laughter from people I love. This is going to be a great weekend no matter how I feel!
I should probably go do my mouth care now. Love, Lisa
-MESSAGES-
The Race Hi Lee: Wishing you a great day Saturday. Hope the race goes well for all. Take care. My best to you all. Love, A. J.
What an Exhilarating Day You Will Have Really exciting prospect to be racing for the cure with friends and family and knowing that there are so many more people from afar who are racing for you from where they are. Enjoy the wonderful spirit of it all.
Congratulations and Love So glad to read you are handling this round of chemo so well. Thanks for the lesson on mouth care, too. Am really impressed with team Millenbah's fundraising ability. Have a wonderful weekend with your family and friends.Love, the H’s