Cycle two, infusion one update: 1. The new medication added to the pre-chemo infusion seems to be doing great on the vomiting and nausea side of things. It has increased gas issues and my children told me if I was a horse I would colic. Guess I am glad God did not make me a horse. 2. My doctor expects my chemo to be at least six moths or six 28 week cycles, 12 infusions total of which I am on the third. Every two cycles I should get a ct scan which makes my next one due around Thanksgiving, probably meaning it will be after the holiday. 3. A successful ct scan will show either no change or diminishing cancer areas. The doctor said the problem with my situation is that the greatest concern are very small parts of tumors that could not be removed in surgery. He said that it is difficult to tell shrinkage on a piece of tumor that is only 3mm. Additionally, such a small piece could actually be scar tissue from the dead cancer and it is not always possible to distinguish between the two. A bad ct scan will show growth of the tumor parts left behind or fresh tumors in new places. 4. Jocelyn has become my primary medical chauffeur. Tim Gerrells has some medical issues he has delayed getting checked during the time he has been making all my appts. So, now he has no excuse not to be seen. If you see him, nag him, some of his symptoms are very worrisome. 5. I am down to only one narcotic drug taken before bedtime on a regular basis. All the rest of my pain medication is prn. My doctor is quite surprised at how little I take each day in meds compared to just a month ago. 6. The hole in my belly button is not healing at all. We found a cheaper place to get the special band-aides at $6 each instead of $15 since our insurance does not seem to cover wound care. We have not been able to find the ag infused stuff cheaper. So far we are trying to be very frugal in its use. I think Tim is hoping I can finagle some more at my next appointment by begging them for another sample strip. Well, that is about all for this time. I feel like I live in the circle of chemo-rotten days to better days to good days then back to rotten ones as far as physical pain/issues go. But each day is a gracious and undeserved gift from God so I will take the pain with the joy. On the funny side, my children have noticed that before I go out from the chronic fatigue when it hits me, my words begin to slur. So they carefully watch, making sure not to say anything that might catch my attention and bring me back to full awake, so that I will fall asleep and they can get out of doing school work or chores. The doctor told me that some patients get prescribed ADHD medication to help with the fatigue but he does not like using it. I started laughing, after almost 20 years of fighting to keep my kids off such meds how silly would it be for me to start taking them. I would rather nod off expectantly and face-plant into my keyboard.
Posted on: Thu, 31 Oct 2013 10:06:20 +0000
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