CHEMO 7 of 8 - Quick Update

I wanted so badly to play hooky from chemo this past Monday.  I thought of all kinds of diabolical lies I could tell my doctor to get out of it from being snowed in to being struck with the bubonic plague. I just wasn't feeling the whole process of sitting in that chair, being attached by all the tubes and having that poison dripping into my body and then starting all over again with the nasty side affects (wah!).  But, I did it -- got on that damn bus to Seattle like a good gal, made it to my appointment and sat in that damn chair for 6 damn hours.  

To my absolute joy, everything went according to plan. The nurse didn't have to pick and poke at me or have me reclined all the way back in the chair with one arm up and one down to get a good blood draw -- nope, my blood flowed like the Nile. My tongue didn't even swell this time from the side affect of one of the first drugs they usually put in the IV.  Yea!

By Tuesday, all side affects from chemo were at a low roar -- no bone crushing exhaustion and only mild nausea.  By Wednesday, my energy level was hanging in with me and after a quick drive to Virginia Mason in Federal Way to have my fanny pack detached from my body -- this is the bag I have to wear that contains the drug 5FU which is automatically administered every hour into my port for two days after my infusion -- I was ready to boogie.  This week I’ve been able to get up in the morning and hit the floor running – well, walking really fast.  I've been taking walks around the mall – stopping in at most of the jewelry stores along the way for a quick look-see.  Then I walk from one end of the mall to the other twice to get my heart pumping.  Today, on the way home from the mall, I stopped at Fred Meyer grocers for some vittles, took them home then headed out again for a little R&R at the Muckleshoot Casino – yeah you heard me right.  If you happen to have been there at the same time as I was, I was the woman with the funny hat on weeping into my empty wallet.  Oh well, it was fun to be out and about.

I received some very good news from my doctor on Monday.  I have one more Chemo infusion to go on February 17^th and then I get a month and ½ break so I can get my body in shape for my trip to Mexico. When I return from Mexico they will do a CT Scan to make sure the tumors aren't misbehaving and then I’ll resume infusions and take another break for my Hawaii trip.  All and all, I think I will be connected to Virginia Mason’s oncology department by an invisible umbilical cord for infusions for the duration of my life to keep the tumors from growing and multiplying.  But as long as I can get a break from the infusion lab from time to time this may be something I can learn to live with.  To be honest, there are not a whole heck of a lot of other choices I have in the matter.

Okay, so tomorrow and Sunday I plan to head to the gym to get some real exercise on the elliptical and by Monday any other side affects resulting from this last chemo treatment should have dissipated.  I hope. I just have to play this thing through from moment to moment, day by day.

Well, I promised to keep this update short and sweet because seriously, there's not a whole lot more that needs to be said.  For all of you out there going through your own trials and tribulations please accept from me this sincere faraway hug.  We're in this together.  Take good care of yourselves!!

“Let the darkness find you if it must. Throw off the quick and tempting escapes, and seek help only from those who would teach you to grow, feed your soul, embrace your heart, but would not steal away your journey.”
― Jennifer DeLucy