Chemo Cycle 2 of 16 + Chemo Induced Hair Loss (Alopecia) #breastcancer

Come along for a full day of breast cancer treatment at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Friday, October 23 was my second round of AC chemotherapy, treatment two of sixteen, and this longer video follows the whole day, from morning blood work to settling into the hotel that night. We started with labs, followed by a light breakfast at the Waterfall Cafe. French toast and a piece of sausage to get some protein in before a busy morning of appointments. I had an ultrasound to check on my port and look for blood clots, met with my hematologist about managing my bleeding disorder during chemo, and saw my oncologist to talk through how the first cycle went and get everything ready for round two. While we waited a few hours for my blood work results, we got to spend some time in the rooftop garden on the eighth floor of the Mays Clinic. It’s a Texas Gulf Coast-themed garden with beautiful native and adapted plants and great rooftop views. My only complaint is that the doors seem to be locked almost every time we try them! Getting outside this time, with the sun shining and beautiful weather, really made my day. A little time in nature before chemo meant a lot. Once my blood counts looked good and I got the okay, it was time for doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide, along with all the medications that come with them. This infusion was smooth sailing, which I was very thankful for. By mid-afternoon, we still hadn’t eaten lunch, so we got dumplings from the Waterfall Cafe again and some delicious plantain chips, then relaxed while everything finished up. Before leaving, I had my Neulasta Onpro placed to help my bone marrow produce white blood cells. Meanwhile, my hair was making its exit. Right on schedule at the fourteen-day mark, the shedding picked up fast. By the time we were back at the hotel that night, I’d lost more than 90% of my hair over the course of one day. Expected, but still pretty wild to see it happen that quickly. Overall, it was a good day. A long one, with a lot packed into it, but also sunshine, a beautiful garden, good food, and wonderful people helping me through treatment. Lots to be thankful for, including everyone here cheering me along. Thank you for being here. ❤️ #BreastCancer #ChemoDay #MDAnderson #ACChemotherapy #ChemoHairLoss #DayInTheLife #invasivelobularcarcinoma #mastectomy #breastcancer #chemo #chemotherapy