Day 79
I anxiously anticipated the
beginning of Cycle 4, the midpoint point of my treatment plan. With half of the initial treatment
behind, April, and the beginning of this adventure, seemed another lifetime
away. Already, nervousness was beginning to set in, as I wondered what would
come next. I do not enjoy loose ends, and having a plan has been comforting to
me. After a rocky start, where it
seemed almost impossible to remain hydrated, Cycle 3 had ended on a high note,
and I was feeling good, really good, and ready for the second half to begin; on
to the downward slide.
Starting off early with labs and breakfast, I had finally
achieved a comfort level with the process, weight, blood pressure, temperature,
oxygen saturation, blood work, visit with the study nurse, and doctor, and I
would be ready to settle in for my long day. Preliminaries completed, I looked
forward to taking my favorite comfy chair, when out of the blue, I was stopped
dead in my tracks. Denied.
Not appreciating some lingering
symptoms that I just couldn’t seem to shake, my doctor was cancelling my chemo.
What????? His arms, crossed at his chest, spoke volumes. I had seen them
before, last week to be exact, and I knew that it was his serious stance. There
would be no treatment this week while I indulged him by submitting to
additional testing. Overkill, I knew it, and I told him so. The next day found
me waking from an anesthesia fog and eating crow. Thanks Dr. B., glad you were
insistent.
My unexpected free week gave me a
chance to make a quick get-away for a few days of past due girl time. It had
been a long time since we had made a road-trip, no matter that this one was
short, it felt good to spend two days telling stories and laughing. The only
thing that could have made the trip better, would have been if we could have
held our getaway at the beach, and included a few more of my sister friends. One
day soon I am hopeful that we will all be able to take a much deserved beach
fix.
Cycle four finally began after a
one-week postponement, and did not disappoint. Five days of rehydration were
nearly adequate, but avoiding fluids on the sixth day proved to be a misstep
that I will not repeat on cycle five. I am fairly certain that by the time I
have finished the course of treatment, I will have it figured out; until then,
it is a constant learning process. One week into round four, and I feel like perhaps,
I am finally beginning to turn the corner.
This week will see my trial
treatment, and a repeat of blood work to measure cancer markers. Thankfully, my
labs have looked good so far, and I haven’t needed to venture into the world of
transfusions. I am praying that these new results will continue to show that we
are making progress beating back this dreadful thing. God has been so good to
us through this adventure. I truly feel His grace and know that He hears the
prayers offered in my name. I can never repay the indebtedness I feel for the
faithful, and their intercession on my behalf. For this, there are no words.
