Wednesday - No Oxiplaitin!! Amazing...last session Dr. Baltz said he was discontinuing the heavy duty stuff. Guess I've had enough. Besides the neuropathy has progressively gotten worse and the Folfox6 protocol says to take the patient off. No complaints from me. Without the Oxi, no metallic taste, no cold sensitivity, and no Neulasta shot on Friday. Happy day!! I actually went out to dinner with Donna tonight and could taste most of my steak!!! Came home and had...wait for it....a small bowl of ice cream!!! Glorious!!!
Still have to carry my "buddy" with me for the last 4 sessions, but it's tolerable. I have to say it has been a long journey with a few more miles to go. I have learned a lot from this ordeal and will keep these lessons until the day I pass on. Life is short. Appreciate all that is important. My family and friends. I was in Puerto Rico last week for work and at dinner I was asked by one of my consultants "so what keeps you up at night about this project?" Well I gave her a business answer, you know, "what if this happens...or the client changes his mind...etc..." Afterwards in my hotel I thought to myself I don't or shouldn't lose sleep over this project! What keeps me awake at night is this cancer thing. How to beat it. How to stay close to my family. How to let my friends know I am okay and I'm going to win this battle!! Don't get me wrong, the project is my number one 'business' priority, but this battle is my number one LIFE priority.
I can't wait until Friday to take my buddy back and leave without the shot!! Maybe a good weekend ahead. I have to be careful now that I am nearing the completion. I have enjoyed the weight loss...I'm off my blood pressure meds...I want to keep in better shape now. I neglected my health and have paid a heavy price. Off to bed...I'll blog on after I drop off my "buddy".
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Saturday, June 18, 2011
June 18, 2011 - Saturday....Round 8 done
On the downhill side of treatments now. Eight down, four to go. The neuropathy (numbness in hands and feet)has become more noticeable over the past few weeks. Today I was in the front yard watering the plants and didn't notice (feel)my feet covered in ants. I guess the good thing was I didn't feel them biting as bad, but they still put a bunch of bites on me.
On Wednesday, Dr. Baltz told me that because of the increase in neuropathy symptoms, they will discontinue the Oxiplaitin chemo for the rest of my treatments. That means no 3 hour sessions in the clinic. I'll just pick up my 'buddy' and head home. It also means, HURRAH, that I won't have the neulasta shot after each treatment. My chemo friend Rudy got off Oxi this week (he has one session left)and on Friday I asked him how it was going. He said it was terrific without the Oxi and he was looking forward to not having the shot. The shot is what really knocks you on your butt. The other side effects are tough too, metallic tongue, cold sensitivity, numbness, but anyone who has experienced nausea knows that's the worst!!
As I look ahead to the last four treatments, I cannot believe I have made it this far. This has been, and I will continue to fight if need be, the biggest battle I have faced. I have missed seeing friends from church because I just don't feel well enough to go and the Dr said I should avoid crowds anyway. I missed special events because of this as well. My apologies to Isabel Jones, I missed Tom's memorial service today because I felt so lousy. I will miss Tom, he was a good man.
I slept most of this weekend. It has been so hot, I just can't take it. We did some errands today and it absolutely drained me. I have no energy. But, it is Saturday night and its tapering off and I am looking forward to a good Father's Day. I miss my dad and think of him often. He lost his battle with cancer 18 years ago. I call on his strength to help me through.
I am looking forward to completing these treatments with a resounding successful outcome. I have too many things to look forward to to let this keep me down. Thanks to all my friends for your love and support.
On Wednesday, Dr. Baltz told me that because of the increase in neuropathy symptoms, they will discontinue the Oxiplaitin chemo for the rest of my treatments. That means no 3 hour sessions in the clinic. I'll just pick up my 'buddy' and head home. It also means, HURRAH, that I won't have the neulasta shot after each treatment. My chemo friend Rudy got off Oxi this week (he has one session left)and on Friday I asked him how it was going. He said it was terrific without the Oxi and he was looking forward to not having the shot. The shot is what really knocks you on your butt. The other side effects are tough too, metallic tongue, cold sensitivity, numbness, but anyone who has experienced nausea knows that's the worst!!
As I look ahead to the last four treatments, I cannot believe I have made it this far. This has been, and I will continue to fight if need be, the biggest battle I have faced. I have missed seeing friends from church because I just don't feel well enough to go and the Dr said I should avoid crowds anyway. I missed special events because of this as well. My apologies to Isabel Jones, I missed Tom's memorial service today because I felt so lousy. I will miss Tom, he was a good man.
I slept most of this weekend. It has been so hot, I just can't take it. We did some errands today and it absolutely drained me. I have no energy. But, it is Saturday night and its tapering off and I am looking forward to a good Father's Day. I miss my dad and think of him often. He lost his battle with cancer 18 years ago. I call on his strength to help me through.
I am looking forward to completing these treatments with a resounding successful outcome. I have too many things to look forward to to let this keep me down. Thanks to all my friends for your love and support.
Monday, June 6, 2011
June 6, 2011 - Monday....finally
Well, they say the effects of chemo are cumulative as you keep going. It is true I guess for some of the side effects. Feet (toes) are numb to the touch. Circulation is fine so no problems there, just tactile sensation is impaired. Trimmed my nails the other day, could not feel the clippers on the nail. Weird, huh? Hands are affected too. Frustrating. Taste buds are going fast. I have had to get used to eating "virtual" food. It looks like a hamburger, even smells like a hamburger, but when I bite into it, it doesn't taste like a hamburger. I hope things get back to normal after I am finished.
So, seven down, five to go. I think I might actually make it! Work has been keeping me busy in between treatments so the weeks go by quickly. I still hate the treatments, but pretty soon 5 will be 4 and eventually 1 and then done!! So far this trek has made me really appreciate my family and friends more than ever. I have tried to tell everyone that the surgery took care of the cancer and the treatments are preventive. Well, that's most of the truth. I guess once its been found you are always waging war. Great news today on the progress made in breast and skin cancer!! Hopefully they will have answers for all the 'Cs' that ail us!!
So its Monday and I finally feel 75% again. It only gets better as the week progresses. Back to San Juan for a couple days to keep me busy and hoping for a great rest of the week. Hopefully the summer will pass quickly and I'll finish up in August.
So, seven down, five to go. I think I might actually make it! Work has been keeping me busy in between treatments so the weeks go by quickly. I still hate the treatments, but pretty soon 5 will be 4 and eventually 1 and then done!! So far this trek has made me really appreciate my family and friends more than ever. I have tried to tell everyone that the surgery took care of the cancer and the treatments are preventive. Well, that's most of the truth. I guess once its been found you are always waging war. Great news today on the progress made in breast and skin cancer!! Hopefully they will have answers for all the 'Cs' that ail us!!
So its Monday and I finally feel 75% again. It only gets better as the week progresses. Back to San Juan for a couple days to keep me busy and hoping for a great rest of the week. Hopefully the summer will pass quickly and I'll finish up in August.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
June 1, 2011 Wednesday....Round 7....Downhill from Here
7:30 pm - Wednesday -- Beginning Round 7 of 12. That means 6 down, 6 to go! Milestone day...had a sit down with the Dr. about the mental and emotional toll chemotherapy has on a person. Once you hear the word 'cancer' nothing is ever the same. Its on your mind, 24/7. I told him how the anxiety builds every day that I come to his office. Today we talked about the depression-inducing strain. He said it was totally understandable; he said it was great that I try to continue with as much normalcy in my daily life. He said that will go a long way to making the treatments successful. BUT....he said you need to realize that I (Dr. Balz) am poisoning you each time you come in. That is not normal and you (and your family)need to accept that. BUT...you are going to do fine. And you know what? I will do fine. I have a lot to look forward to in the very new future, new grandbaby in August (due 2 days after my last treatment, therefore I will be in the uber nausea state and NOT interested in baby 'excretions', so I will see him the next weekend!! ;-)
Dr. Baltz is an amazing guy. He is super friendly, down to earth guy from Louisiana. When we meet and he goes through his physical check on me, he and I chat about our travels, our hobbies (he likes to cook as do I), just relaxing. He really calmed me down and wanted make sure I continued with the progress I have been showing him.
So anyway...7 down, 6 to go. One guy in my session time, Rudy, today was number 10, two to go! I gave him 'the eye' :-) jokingly. I am so happy for him. He is on the same program as me and he is doing great at 10 so I am looking at being as good at the end as he is!!! Then, let the celebrations begin!! I'll be back tomorrow with an update on day 2!!
Dr. Baltz is an amazing guy. He is super friendly, down to earth guy from Louisiana. When we meet and he goes through his physical check on me, he and I chat about our travels, our hobbies (he likes to cook as do I), just relaxing. He really calmed me down and wanted make sure I continued with the progress I have been showing him.
So anyway...7 down, 6 to go. One guy in my session time, Rudy, today was number 10, two to go! I gave him 'the eye' :-) jokingly. I am so happy for him. He is on the same program as me and he is doing great at 10 so I am looking at being as good at the end as he is!!! Then, let the celebrations begin!! I'll be back tomorrow with an update on day 2!!
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