My First Experience with Chemotheraphy Dacarbazine

I arrived in the National Cancer Centre, JPMC at 8 15 am and seeing the doctor before starting my chemotheraphy. I am the fourth patient on the list . The Nurses is aware that my weight had been dropping far and asked about my appetite, I am happy because they are alert of it. Not just taking Blood pressure and weight every of my visit to the Oncology Department. Then, while waiting, I was ask to select the menu that i can eat for thebreakfast and as a Chinese patient, off vourse i choose the chicken porridge with soya sauce and slice of onion leaf.

In the Daycare oncology unit, the Nurse there is very good and friendly, i can said .. they are brilliant and very careful. I was introduced to my personal nurse and  was given a good orientation of the place. And i was being told and explained about all the medications and course of the treatment. This is the real Nursing Care to the patient. I said that because I am also a Nurse and i had encountered many 'lazy' or 'working just to take salary' Nurses every where i go. This kind of care is really skillful and care for the patient. Thump UP the Daycare Nurse.

While I was on treatment, they do Cannulation and they managed to do only 1 (one) time. Before starting the treatment, even when do the flushing, i had already vomiting (2x) small amount. Then the nurse gave me the Pre-medication and after 30 minutes, they start the Dacarbazine IV. After that, I was less Nauseated but I asked the nurse to prepare the kidney dish ready just in case i re-vomiting again. But Well-done, i feels only on and off Nauseated but NO vomiting. What i experienced with Dacarbazine, is moderate to severe pain on the IV site. It make me weak and painful is the main complaint. Very-very lucky, the nurse offered and gave me hot compression which i found it is very helpful and did reduce my pain.

After 40 mins to 1 hour interval, I feels very unwell and I sweating and my vision went blurred and i feels very dizziness. Then i closed my eyes to rest and few minutes i regained my energy again. Then 1 nurse came to me and realised that my Blood pressure (BP) was dropping to : 70/38 .. and then they check manually which was around 86/48 and they informed the doctor. After few minutes, the doctor came to review me and observed my BP for a while and stay in the unit. He also asked me many questions and he ordered to do ECG on me. I can said... both the doctors and nurse is brilliant there.

Then, after my BP drop, they stopped it  for a while and put on normal saline only in faster rate to raise teh blood pressure but it it really unstable. Until 30 minutes later, my BP better and I restart the Dacarbazine back. That time, i was active talking to my Nurse in charge and the student nurse. My BP went up to around 130/80.. and then I finished my treatment. Well done..... to me.

Post Surgery

I had done my 4th surgery (Left  axillary lymph nodes dissection). I was admitted on the surgical ward on Thursday.. and went into the operating theater in the afternoon. It was not a long surgery only 2 to 3 hour. i could remember that, i was already vomiting the anesthetic out  when i was in the recovery room in the Theatre and I heard my collegue said.."Ping is vomiting.. suction please..." and i remembered that they changed my posiition to the right to do the suctioning but i was in the total drowsy state.


I wpke up at 4 30 pm and i vomited again. I heard my sister calling nurse and they gave me injection straight away. Next things i wake up.. around 7 20 pm, i was lying on the bed with my sister beside me and also my aunty Rose who came to visit me. i feel quite alright and i started to drink small plain water.. but i was thirsty... i asked my sister to make me a warm Milo. when she is not around going down stair, i drank much and no one is around me. Once again i vomited to the floor. Other patient family members was there and they had called nurse to help me.

The next morning.. i wake up at 2 am and also 4 am.. to see my colleague working and talked to them that early morning. They are busy. I just brushed my teeth and have my breakfast.when the doctor reviewed me.. at around 9 to 10 am.. my surgeon look at me eating.. talking and I was discharged.


One things surprised me... actually there are 2 surgery should be done..1. Left axillary 2. Left Neck... but the lymph node become disappeared during the operation. The surgeon asked me.. what happened? I said: Prayer and I took the Soursop daily. The swelling nodes as big as the Ping Pong ball size shrinking and become as big as 50 cent only. Overall.. the surgery is only small surgical procedures although it left scar...

Pre Surgery and Treatment

Hhhmm.. since I know my Melanoma metastasis and recurrent, I havent drop even 1 tear.. why? Am i weird? or what? Am i denial? Am i abnormal? I guess so.. I dont know. I just dont want to think about it. I know God had given me more strength to move on this life. The main reason why I dont cry is: I had mentally prepare and if i cry.. that is useless and cant change the situation. Eventhough if i dont get through... I will still be ready and I know... God is there for me... What i need now is .. to go through each treatment and Pray.. and mentally ready for the next fight.


Thank God.. my Bf had been so supportive in term of psychological and mentally although he is far now. It doesn;t really matter coz he had showed me His real person... which is not easy. I know that he is sad and he cried for me but I wil just always smile to him and never drop my tears again in front of him. I just pray that God will open and show him the right way and path..

Thank God too I havent got married till now or having any children. But I promised if I cure.. I will married in 2014... that is my promised to myself. In order to do that.. I need to fight till the end... and live my life with joy....." sadness.. hopeless and depressed is not a solution!!!!!!" and it only worsen situation.......

My Thought & Feelings and all Flashback Experiences

It had been long I havent put up my own ideas and thoughts and especially my own genuine feelings to this blog. I had my Surgery done twice in 2009 (No: 2 and 3). And it cure very well. I had regular appointment and never missed to see my Surgeon and the Oncologist since then. I had several CT scan done for survellaince for this 5 years before I can be categories as FREE from my Malignant Melanoma. I had my routine blood check up and everything was just fine. I am happy with my life.

Things had changed a bit since last Sunday [1st April 2012]; it's APRILFOOL day... my Left Lymph Node swell up... This is the first time in my life that my lymph node swell up very big and very painful. I took the Brufen  but with no effects at all. Monday Morning I went to see my nearby doctor, she had prescribed me with antibiotic and Brufen again. I took it with NO effect at all also. No reduced of swelling size in fact the swelling become bigger and pain me more. Tuesday.. also the same. Tuesday afternoon, my mom decided to use the SOURSOP and boiled it in 3 cup of water to make it into 1 cup MIX with chinese red sugar/ glucose. After 3 hour.. i can move my shoulder a bit and less pain. That day alone, i drank for 2 glass. The next day i wake up.. the lump had really reduced to half of its size.. WOW. it's so amazing although the pain and lump still there.

Today.. I go to see the surgeon after refix my appoinment. The surgeon said.. it is big and SCARRY! i told him.. it is even bigger than this on Monday. I showed him my last CT scan result which show 1.4 to 2.4 cm lymph node swelling in the left axillary.  He called up the Lab people and ordered FNAC biopsy to take up my cell in 2 parts... Left Neck and also Left axillary. Then the Female pathologist come.. and do the procedures and it re checked my breast [although already check by the surgeon].. she said something is lumpy at the Tail of the Left breast and dont know what is is. She asked for permission to take another sample of biopsy although not ordered by the surgeon. I agreed. Today.. I have 6 intrusive procedure of needle without Local aneatshesia apply to it. It was painful.. but I need to be strong for it.

Although the result is not yet confirmed... but I had prepared my mind for the worst case scenario of my diagnosis.. prognosis. And although I had to go through all the painful procedure again... i will have to be strong because I had my own reason and mission living in this world. I have my love one who are always there to support me and I know he loves me so much.. i need to be strong for him and my family too...

Just hope that, I will be strong and will write more...