CHEMO IS FINISHED!!!
My last treatment was December 31, 2012. It was so nice to finish, but I was really tired this time. For my fifth and sixth rounds, Dr. Melnyk had thought about lowering my dosage, but then decided I could handle the full amount. That was great, until January 7. My white blood cell counts got so low and I got dehydrated again, so I ended up in the hospital for the night. They pumped me full of fluids and antibiotics, along with something to get those white blood cells back up. I feel lucky that was the only time I ended up in the hospital during chemo. I have talked to a lot of people that ended up there several times.
Since it's been three months since my last update and not a lot of new things. So I just want to list a few things I learned that might help someone else going through this same thing.
Don't forget the lemon drops
One of my friends at church had a friend that sucked on lemon drops during chemo to help cut the taste, so she sent me some. How right she was! I wish I would have known this from the beginning. It seems like as soon as they start the Adriamycin, I could taste it, but the lemon drops made it not so bad.
Keep that positive attitude
I have always considered myself to be an optimistic person, but cancer? How can I be optimistic through that? Well it is possible. Surround yourself with positive people. Smile as much as you can. Laugh, and laugh a lot. Laugh about everything. My grandmother taught me there is humor in everything and she was right. This sounds really strange I know, but there is a lot of humor in cancer and the treatment that comes with it.
Have faith
God put me on this journey for some reason. I may never figure out what that reason is, but I am going to do my best to do what I think he is telling me to do. And that takes faith. I have never been good at talking to people about the faith I have in God, but I have made myself tell others about Him through the cancer.
Now just a quick update of what I have to look forward to.
I had a colonoscopy and EDG last Friday. These were done because of the bleeding issues I talked about before and my gastroenterologist said that breast cancer likes to move to the colon and the stomach so he would check that too. He said everything looked great, but there was a portion of the intestine that he couldn't get to, but we will talk about what to do about that at my follow up appointment in April.
Next week I have a nuclear bone scan and will be radioactive for a few hours. This is one test that I am really looking forward too. My bones have been aching for awhile and I am ready to see what the problem is. Then a week later I have a CT on my chest and some lab work. After that, I don't know. But I will get to see Dr. Melnyk. I haven't seen him since January and we have some catching up to do. I have some questions all ready for him.
And one more thing to remember
Everything is going to be OK.
Until next time, God Bless.
Keep that positive attitude
I have always considered myself to be an optimistic person, but cancer? How can I be optimistic through that? Well it is possible. Surround yourself with positive people. Smile as much as you can. Laugh, and laugh a lot. Laugh about everything. My grandmother taught me there is humor in everything and she was right. This sounds really strange I know, but there is a lot of humor in cancer and the treatment that comes with it.
Have faith
God put me on this journey for some reason. I may never figure out what that reason is, but I am going to do my best to do what I think he is telling me to do. And that takes faith. I have never been good at talking to people about the faith I have in God, but I have made myself tell others about Him through the cancer.
Now just a quick update of what I have to look forward to.
I had a colonoscopy and EDG last Friday. These were done because of the bleeding issues I talked about before and my gastroenterologist said that breast cancer likes to move to the colon and the stomach so he would check that too. He said everything looked great, but there was a portion of the intestine that he couldn't get to, but we will talk about what to do about that at my follow up appointment in April.
Next week I have a nuclear bone scan and will be radioactive for a few hours. This is one test that I am really looking forward too. My bones have been aching for awhile and I am ready to see what the problem is. Then a week later I have a CT on my chest and some lab work. After that, I don't know. But I will get to see Dr. Melnyk. I haven't seen him since January and we have some catching up to do. I have some questions all ready for him.
And one more thing to remember
Everything is going to be OK.
Until next time, God Bless.