Over

Well, chemo is over. I don't think my body could have handled anymore. I constantly feel like I've just been swiped by a mac-truck. My body should start feeling better as the days away from chemo continue.
I had my consultation with the radiation doctor. She says I will be on radiation for 5 weeks, with a possible 8 day boost after that. A couple of people from my support group are in radiation right now. They say the worse of radiation is the burning/blistering/peeling of the skin at the sight of the radiation. I will start that on July 13th. We are going to Port Austin the weekend before I start. I'm hoping to be feeling good by then and enjoy the weekend away with my family.
Life just continues on. Tomorrow will be the first Thursday in 3 months that I don't go for chemo. What a strange feeling. My nurses gave me a very nice "You Did It" card and I gave the nurse I had for 15 of the 16 rounds a little gift from me. She was fabulous; very caring and knowledgeable.
Yeah! No more chemo!

One More To Go

Well, I have one more chemo treatment to go.
It's been crazy-busy at our household since the last I wrote. We have been to Ohio for Katie's soccer tournament on Memorial weekend; we did Race for the Cure the next weekend (Katie and I in the picture above); we had dance recital for all 3 girls this last weekend; and this coming weekend Kate has 3v3 soccer tournament on Saturday.
Tomorrow, Thursday, is my last chemo treatment - Round 16. I can't believe it is here. I have felt so tired and exhausted these last couple weeks wondering how I was going to make it to the end. But now it is here. It's been an emotional week. We had Kindergarten graduation today for Jenny and 6th Grade graduation last night for Jessica. Lots of pride and happiness for them. Even for the dance recital this past weekend. The girls dance so beautifully. I have been filled with pride as they all have accomplished a lot this last month. Katie ran and was elected for Vice President of Student Council. Jessica received a lot of awards at her graduation, one of them being the President's Award which is given for a combination of grades and MEAP scores. Jessica was all A honor-roll throughout elementary (4th-6th).
Chemo has taken it's toll on me. My face and hands have received the worse of it. I've got blisters on my hands and feet and now in the last few weeks my face has had a rash and is red and swollen a little. My fingernails are so sensitive and bruised.
I hope tomorrow goes smoothly; right after chemo I have a consultation with the Radiation Oncologist to discuss my Radiation treatment. That will start a few weeks after chemo ends.
Two weeks ago I received info on the clinical trial that I am in for chemo. There were 3 Arms that I could have been placed in. The first received normal chemo drugs with no additional drug (placebo), the second received normal chemo drugs with an additional drug called Avastin, the third received normal chemo drugs with the additional drug Avastin and then a request to go another 10 rounds of chemo with the Avastin only. I fell into Arm 2, I received regular chemo drugs with the Avastin drug. I was very happy that I was able to get the extra drug. It gives me a chance to fight it just a little extra.
Cheers for tomorrow! Last round :-)