Details, details

Chemo cocktail:
1. MITOTANE: alters steroid peripheral metabolism, directly suppresses the adrenal cortex and alters cortisone metabolism.
2. AVASTIN: attaches to a protein (called VEGF = vascular endothelial growth factor), given off by the cancer cell to stimulate the growth of new blood vessels to support a tumor and then blocks the developent of these new blood vessels. Made from protein from human and mouse tissue. (This is the one that required she sign a release before they'd administer it.)
3. TAXOTERE: interferes with the cancer cell's ability to multiply and grow.

The Hulk Shot: NEULASTA: natural hormones that cause the body to make more of certain blood cells = speed the recovery of white blood cells. Gets to work on the bone marrow. People taking it claim they can actually feel the bone-marrow reasserting itself inside the casing of the bone; gotta be a weird, STRONG feeling, hence "the Hulk."

Next week they will implanted a subcutaneous port in her chest. This is connected by a soft, slim catheter tube that goes through my vein all the way to my heart. This catheter protects the vein during treatment. All they have to do is poke through the skin with some sort of special needle.

Nausea meds: Compazine, which, incidentally is also used to treat schizophrenia - I think it's one of the first anti-psychotic drugs. Apparentlhy it reduces dopamine in the brain. I can't find anything that says anything about the Vagus nerve (the one to which I referred, below)) in connection with this medication. Oh, it's not made anymore under the brandname, only the generic form. But I found this in some doctors teaching manual:
PRE-SYNCOPE AND SYNCOPE: Faintness, passing out, often associated with nausea, diaphoresis, tunnel vision, tinnitus, and palpitations. - so I guess fainting and nausea is related in some way. I need to get to the bottom of this!!!!!

Then there are steroids for use right before and after the chemo -

Then for pain:
1. Oxycontin - 20 mg, and I'm getty ready to take one.
and for breakthrough pain B-R/oxicodone - 5 gm

The disease is bad, and the drugs are hard, too. If anyone has information about the recovery regimen for this array of stuff, I'd be happy to know about it...