Induction: Cast of Characters

As I move on to phase 2 of my treatment (or as the doctors call it "consolidation" or "intensification" or something... you know, they don't really tell me much...), let's take a look back at the chemo of phase 1 (or "induction"). For those of you who are curious about my treatment, or if you have ALL and are going to be going through induction soon, I've offered my experiences with each drug. This is purely my own experience, everyone is affected differently by the chemo drugs. Some affects were mild, some horrible, some short lived, and some drugs - ahem, prednisone - I'm still dealing with even after I've been off it for a while.

Here's the cast:

DAUNORUBICIN

This chemo is red and creepy looking. The thing that made me nervous about this one was that the abbreviation for its name was "DNR", which is the same abbreviation for "Do not resuscitate". DNR made my pee reddish-orange for a few hours to a day after receiving this. If you remember my post about chemo being hard on the heart; this is the chemo drug that set my heart on fire - and not in the romantic way. It's also responsible for my hair falling out.

VINCRISTINE

This one is clear and looks harmless, but according to my docs it's the one that causes the most unsavory side affects. This one made my teeth hurt and also made my hair fall out.

METHOTREXATE

This is the chemo they injected into my spine during the lumbar punctures. I didn't really notice any affects of it, but it looked like Mountain Dew.

PEG-asparaginase

This one was yellowish, like pee, and I only got it once. Side affects are allergic reaction and swelling, but I didn't get any of that... Until my doctor told me that this drug increases the chance of blood clots, which I got, twice, in BOTH PICC lines. So, PEG was probably the reason that both my PICC lines had to be removed. It also has a weird name that makes me giggle. 

PREDNISONE

Oh, prednisone. How I hate you. Prednisone is a pill, unlike all the other chemo drugs I got. Yes, it is very important in the process of killing cancer and blah blah blah, but I seriously hated this drug. First, it tastes like crap. I had to hide it in pudding or yogurt just to gag it down. Second, two weeks into taking it something started happening to my face. It was swelling and turning into, well, a moon. Apparently this is one of the many side affects of prednisone: moon face. The doctors don't tell you about prednisone only that it's one of the drugs you have to take. I've been off prednisone for a week and I still have moon face. From what I've heard, it'll probably wear off in a few months, so I guess I shouldn't complain. Some people have to deal with prednisone for years. But if you have to take prednisone, make sure your doctor tells you all about the side affects so you are fully prepared.

And that is the cast of characters for my induction treatment! 

Next installment: "Consolidation: Cast of Characters".