Ringing of the Bell

Tuesday, September 10 - This past week has been especially brutal for me as far as chemo goes.  The bone, muscle & joint pain as well as numbness in hands and feet have taken their toll on me.  Also contracted a UTI infection which led to two rounds of antibiotics that gave me thrush.  I have also been nauseated and extremely fatigued.

I called my doctor yesterday after the 2nd shot was administered in Washington and they asked me to come in for bloodwork and to get the third shot if needed.  My oncologist would come to the chemo room and talk to me about pain management and to check on my thrush.

So Dane took me in this afternoon.  My white blood counts were up so I did not need the shot.  The doctor came and I asked her since I had had 3 weekly Taxol treatments and 3 biweekly ones if I could reduce next weeks chemo amount.  She looked up the numbers and did some math.  She told me NO MORE CHEMO!  Yes I said NO MORE CHEMO!  Since I have a more aggressive cancer she had scheduled me for a little more, but that I have received what was recommended in the guidelines.  Since I was not tolerating it very well - we are stopping.  God is good!  I got to ring the bell meaning Chemo is done!!!!!

I stayed and received fluids to flush my system and re-hydrate.  They told me if I continued to feel this poorly I could get fluids at any time.

My next step is to call the Radiation Oncologist and get my simulation set up.  They will make a mold for me and tattoo pin size marks to show where the radiation will hit.  More on that as I learn more.

I am super exhausted but yet super stoked at this news.  Continued prayers and good thoughts would be still be appreciated.