One Year Ago Today........

It was one year ago today that I started my first chemo treatment. I remember sitting in church before going to the clinic to be disconnected from the pump I had to wear for two days after the initial treatment and feeling so nauseated! They administered some anti-nausea medication to help me but it just took the edge off. It's so wonderful to feel good again!!
This past week I had taken time to reflect on last year. The first six months were pretty rough physically. Here are the blessings I have counted this week:
1. I have an incredible husband who was my "rock" and helped me get through some very rough and discouraging days. I would have been hesitant to have shared those days with my kids. I wouldn't have wanted to "scare" them. I am so blessed to have my Duane. He truly is one of my greatest blessings.
2. It was the only time in my life that I didn't have any time demands. The only thing I had to worry about was getting to the clinic for treatments and fluids. Some days I read alot and other days I slept. Now it's back to normal and life is busy. I should have appreciate that time more I suppose but I'll take today!
3. I definitely felt my Savior's love during that time. In the dark hours of the night when I couldn't sleep and I would cry out to Him in frustration for my situation, I know He heard me and comforted me. He would help me remember all my blessings and kept me pressing forward.
4. My testimony of the blessings that come from paying tithing were reinforced time and time again. We always had enough for our needs.
5. I was in awe of the many friends and family who kept sending letters, cards and would visit. I thought that after a month or two they would forget but I had "cheerleaders" all the way to the end.
6. I KNOW that prayers are answered. Maybe not in the way I would want them but they're answered in a way that is best for us.
7. The Lord won't take our afflictions away but he will "support us in our afflictions." I'm so grateful for that.
8. The Lord can take the adversity we suffer and turn it to our good. I feel more compassion for others going through similiar trials.
I'm grateful for good health. I just had a CAT scan and visit with my oncologist a couple of weeks and so far everything looks good. I pray that I won't have to go through this again but if I do I thank my Heavenly Father for never deserting us. All things are possible with Him!

Reaching The Sixth Month Post Mark

It's been 6 months since my last chemo treatment. Wow!!! I can't believe it's gone that fast.
I finally feel like my old self again. I have my energy level back. Since I changed my shift to a later one I can work out in the morning on my treadmill ,before going to work, for an hour at a time.I love it!! I feel energized for the day. My curly hair has not returned and I don't know if it will. I really miss it but oh well. I'm not having many intestinal issues. Thank goodness for Metamucil!
I've almost forgotten many of the symptoms I battled during chemo. One day while rushing through Costco I suddenly remembered that it wasn't that long ago when I didn't think I could make it through that store because I was so weak. I am so grateful for my health and I pray I will be able to keep it. We have a friend that just found out a week ago that he has lung cancer. I feel for him as he faces this difficult challenge. I'm glad that we can be there for him and his wife. I have a lot to be thankful for this holiday season. 2008 has been full of challenges and incredible blessings!! I'm will be eternally grateful that I didn't have to face this alone but I have been blessed with a wonderful husband who walked beside me through this journey through chemo.

Four Months Post Chemotherapy

Can't believe it's been four months since I finished chemo. This past month has been interesting. I started experiencing a lot of pain and constipation. One night Duane had to rush me into ER because of the pain and the fact that none of the laxatives I had consumed in one evening was working. I felt the same sensation that women feel when they start to push a baby out during delivery. My gastroenterologist ordered another colonoscopy and barium procedure to rule out a blockage. Happy to learn that they didn't find anything. My doctor says that stress can trigger these symptoms. Can't deny that there's been extended family issues that have maxed out my stress level. Oh well............such is life.
I realized another side effect that chemo left. I lost my curly hair. Now, I've always wanted straight hair and now that I have it, I miss my curly hair. Maybe it will change back in time.
I started taking Vitamin B Complex because I was dragging in the evening and that seems to help my energy level out.
Other than this, I continue to do well and express my gratitude daily for all my blessings especially for my husband and family. What's that saying, "we might not have it all together, but together we have it all." Isn't that the truth!

Three Months Post Chemotherapy

I just passed the three month mark since my last chemo treatment. I can't believe how fast it has gone by!! I saw my oncologist this past week. My blood tests all came back normal. I get a CAT scan, more blood tests and a colonoscopy in December before I see Dr. Kornfeld again.
My hair is growing back and for the most part I feel healthy. My only real complaint is fatigue. But it's NOTHING like it was while on chemo. It's funny as time passes I start to forget all the symptoms I experience until I talk to a patient who is going through it. My experience has been so helpful when I come across patients going through cancer treatment. I've been able to be a "cheerleader" as many were for me. There's always that fear in the back of my mind that the cancer will return. I suppose that's normal but I try not to dwell on it.
I continue to find joy each day in spite of family challenges. I feel truly blessed to have such a wonderful husband who is so supportive and loving. Life continues to be good!!

Two Months Post Chemotherapy

It's two months today since my last chemo treatment. I went back to work part time three weeks ago. Next week I start full-time. The feeling in my fingers has returned. It still isn't all back in my feet but it's getting better. I'm able to walk on the treadmill at a 4 mile/hour pace. I can taste food now. Everyday I feel myself getting stronger.
My granddaughter Rylee's birthday was on Saturday. We ended up playing baseball. I surprised myself when I ran around the bases. Just a couple of weeks ago when I tried running I just couldn't. It's funny how with each passing week I start to forget the symptoms I experienced with chemo. I can't believe at times that that's behind me. I'm so happy!!!!! I hope to never have to go through that again.

Sign Of The End Of Chemo

Last Tuesday, I had my port-a-cath removed. I didn't expect to be emotional but I was. It was the physical sign that chemotherapy was over. I have quite a huge bruise from the procedure. I was so apprehensive. They put me under when they inserted it and now I was having it removed in the doctor's office under local anesthetic. I tried to find information on the Internet about the removal procedure but wasn't successful. One of the infusion nurses said it was a
"piece of cake" and I hoped that was true. Well, it was tougher than I thought. The nurse who assisted my surgeon kept saying, " it doesn't want to come out". I could feel the tugging and cutting to the point that the surgeon have to numb it some more. I know if I weren't lying down I would have passed out. I'm so glad my husband was there because he kept trying to distract me but squeezing my foot which he said kept coming up off the table. In short I definitely don't want to do that again unless I'm out completely. I'm so glad it's over!!!!
So far I'm doing well. Regaining some of my energy. Not so short of breath. I'm still losing hair and hopefully that will stop soon. I have a lot of bruises on my feet and legs. It looks like someone beat me up. I'm starting to taste food and that's exciting! I'm just so grateful that I don't have to do chemo anymore. I had to call my husband the other day when I was at Costco. I was so excited that I actually had the energy to grocery shop and not feel that I was going to pass out by the time I got to the checkout. I notice many more things now for which I'm grateful that I would not have noticed before. I'm so excited to see my daughter and grand kids next Tuesday. They'll be visiting for a little over a month from Alaska and I hope to keep up with the grand babies!! There's going to be some celebrating going on!!

Post 10th Chemo Treatment

Well, it's been a week since they unhooked me from the pump. I pray to God that I will never have to go through this again!! It's weird.....when I walked out I felt like I had just finished a very difficult college course and that I got an A. It felt wonderful but I still experienced a lot of mixed emotions. The last 8 months have been by far the most difficult time of my life. It's amazing how limited you can be when you don't have your health. My post chemo symptoms were a little rougher this time but I'm amazed at how much I've been able to accomplish this past week. Yes, by the time I get to bed I totally exhausted but feel so good at what I was able to do each day. Sure there were a few days I relied on Emergen-C to help me out but for the most part I did pretty good. I'm so glad chemo is over. I don't think I can afford to lose anymore eyelashes. My eyebrows thinned out. I look forward to growing some hair back and losing the discoloring in my hands and feet. . It looks like I did a poor job of cleaning them. I look forward to losing the weight I gained from the steroids. All and all I feel so blessed and happy. I'm grateful for my saint of a husband and my loving family. All of us who travel down this road of chemo need cheerleaders to get us to the finish line. I can't believe at times how many people were there encouraging me. They truly blessed me during this trial. May they be blessed for their kindness. Life is good!!