Cancer Update – Feeling Great to Feeling Bad
What it’s like to have chemo – Breast Cancer Blog Post
This was the first morning that I did not have help. It was just Noah (my 1 1/2-year-old) and me. I took Noah and Lizzy (the dog) for a walk. I wasn’t going to take Lizzy, but she gave me those puppy dog eyes and I couldn’t refuse. We had a talk before we left. I told her she had to be good or else I couldn’t take her for walks anymore. It was really nice outside. We all enjoyed the walk and Lizzy did fine.
Fever with Chemo – Neutropenic Fever
Around lunchtime, I started feeling a little achy and really tired. I decided to take my temperature. I didn’t think I had a fever, but I thought I would just check. Well, it was 99.3 degrees. Normally, I’m on the low side, so that was definitely a fever for me. The oncologist said to call if I have a fever over 100.5, but I went ahead and called anyway. I left messages for two nurses and waited to hear back.
Around 2:00 the nurse called. They wanted me to go ahead and come in so that they could give some antibiotics and check my blood.
I was supposed to tutor 2 students tonight, so I called and canceled. I was looking forward to tutoring.
Antibiotics During Chemotherapy
At the oncologist, they took my blood from both my arm and my port. I also had to give a urine sample. When they took my temperature there it was 99.7. My white blood cell count went up .1 from yesterday, but another type of white blood cell count that determines how you fight infection was still low. They gave me a prescription for antibiotics. I need to return tomorrow to get IV hydration. That will take 2 hours. Then, on Thursday I go back for another blood test. What a pain!
Decreased Appetite from Chemo
Right now, I’m not feeling great from the chemo. I wasn’t able to eat much. My throat is sore – it has been sore, but now seems a little worse. And, I have a sore on my tongue. This is starting to remind me of the poem “I cannot go to school today”.
I took my temperature just now and it’s at 100. I need to keep an eye on it overnight.
Read more about my breast cancer journey from 2009 to the present here.
If you know anyone having a mastectomy or other breast surgery, these breast cancer recovery shirts are a must-have.
Rachel K. Belkin, M.Ed, is a journalist and writer with over 15 years of expertise in travel, business and marketing education, health, and local Austin, Texas events.
With a Master's degree in education from Texas State University and a Business Foundations Certification from The University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business, Rachel's extensive background is highlighted by her published works and contributions to prestigious publications, including HuffPost, Hometalk, Matador Network, AP News, and MSN.com, as well as on her own platforms, Rachel K. Belkin, Elkin Bay, and Probe the Globe.
Beyond her accomplishments in writing, Rachel is a sought-after educator, teaching businesses effective marketing strategies and content creation techniques. Notably, she successfully built a blog from scratch in 2008, ultimately selling it for six figures in 2021.
Rachel's commitment to advocacy is exemplified by her role on the Breast Cancer Resource Center Advisory Council, particularly contributing to the success of the Young Survivor Project. Rachel is also an experienced public speaker with appearances on TV segments for Fox 7 Austin, KXAN, and CBS Austin and as a speaker at conferences and professional networking meetings for business owners and cancer survivors.
