August 25th — Two weeks ago when I was receiving my infusion of Taxol and Herceptin, Greg was out of town. I was also still on my heavy doses of steroids so suffered from steroid-induced mania. All of this resulted in a ghoulishly funny conversation. While leaving the oncology office, I called Greg to let him know I was okay and the treatment was over. The following conversation took place:
A: “Greg, guess what happened at chemo today. Two seats over from mine, a woman had an allergic reaction to Herceptin.”
G: “What happened? That could happen to you still, right?”
A: “Well, there was a flurry of activity with nurses pushing drugs into the IV and the doctors came over from the other side of the oncology building.”
G: “What did the woman look like when it was happening?”
A: “I couldn’t see her very well. She just looked asleep to me. She was covered up with blankets.”
G: “They covered her up? Covered her all the up with the blanket?”
A: “Yes, covered her with the blanket.”
G: “OMG! That’s not a good sign when they pull the blanket over your head!”
A: Laughing hysterically due to the steroids “No, no, no. She was covered up to her neck in blankets as if she were cold, that’s all! She was still alive!”

The only way I knew it was a Herceptin allergic reaction was because my nurse kind of told me. I asked her what was happening and she said quietly, “Oh, I can’t talk about it. But, I’m glad you didn’t have an allergic reaction to the Herceptin.” Gotta love my nurse!