Dear Body,
Today is probably a little confusing. For the first time in three months, you aren’t being injected with poisonous chemicals. This is not a fluke! Chemo is done with you. It’s an official break up. Why are there still repercussions? Why are you acting like you’re still in this relationship? It is time to let go and move on!
Sick and tired of waiting,
Lisa
*Not for the reasons you think
Well, this last chemo has been kicking my ass! Apparently the last one is often the hardest. No shit. I haven’t felt such bone-crushing fatigue, where every movement is a struggle. Some old side effects got jealous and wanted in on the action, so it’s been a reunion of sorts.
But there’s some good news!
I was cleared to resume flossing and using my electric toothbrush. What? Did you think I’d have more exciting news to share? Well, you’re right!
I had a mammogram and breast ultrasound today; my last scans were in December. The tech said the size of the cancer has decreased significantly since the first scans, and even from the last ones. When I asked if they could see the tumor, she indicated they couldn’t find it, but it could still be there on a microscopic level.
I’ll find out more when I meet with the surgeon. Even if it’s there at a level that we can’t see, that’s what surgery and radiation are for. As the tech said, I’m trending in the right direction.
So let’s get the party police in here and break up the action, already, so we can party for the right reasons!
As promised, here is the aforementioned video!
I remember circling this date in the calendar when I started Taxol. Late February felt like an eternity – especially when I started chemo in September. It’s hard to believe that six long months are finally over!
I had the same nurse and spot as the past two smooth weeks, and today went just as smoothly. In fact, we left earlier than we ever have – which is perfect because Aaron is driving to Ann Arbor to get Samara for her spring break!
Laura notified the other nurses that I was going to ring the bell, and then joked that my fan club was coming out. My three main nurses – Laura, Kayla, and of course, Roseann, were all present. I pulled the yarn down at first, until Kayla gestured that I was supposed to move it side to side. Aaron said it was loud, but it wasn’t to me!
So you don’t have to enlarge the picture, the sign says:
“Ring this bell
Three times well
Its toll to clearly say
My treatment’s done,
This course is run,
And I am on my way.”
I think I rang it more than three times since I couldn’t really hear it, haha.
I didn’t think I’d get emotional, but my eyes welled up after.
The fate of my Keytruda infusions is still up in the air. They’ve stopped for now; we will revisit after my surgery.
Laura said it takes a few weeks to start feeling normal again. I’m hoping it’s somehow faster for me! The fatigue and mouth side effects have been rough. It’ll be another long week of feeling those. At least Samara will be here to keep me company!
Next week: one last acupuncture to cleanse my system, and a mammogram and breast ultrasound for the surgeon.
Ding ding ding!
P.S. I have a video but it’s too large to upload and I can’t seem to compress it. I’ll enlist Aaron’s help tomorrow and post then.
It was a long week. My main enemies seem to be fatigue and the taste bud changes/dry mouth/yucky mouth taste.
My parents came in yesterday to take me to chemo today. I got the same spot and nurse as last week, so it went just as smoothly. I told Laura the nurse that she has the magic touch!
She took more blood from me than usual for the heptatologist. Those results haven’t come in yet.
Soon after I got home, I got a call from St. Clair Hospital Radiation & Oncology to schedule my consult. She asked if I wanted it before or after my surgery. I’d rather do it before, because I’ll be feeling better and would like to also start the process. So my appointment is March 14.
After lunch, I took a four hour nap! But it wasn’t a good nap, and no naps make me feel rested because I’m always fatigued to my bones.
This will be a slow week, with a huge reward at the end of it! Then I figure it’ll take my body at least two weeks to detox/notice any changes.
Still! These long six months are coming to an end!