A plan

Paul and I went to see the gynecological oncologist this morning, the doctor that will oversee my chemotherapy.  A few things have to fall in place, not the least of which is a strong starting white blood cell count, but I am tentatively scheduled to have my first treatment next Tuesday, May 7th.  It will take the better part of the working day.

Also, I haven’t used my port (the semi-permanent sub-dermal access point for the chemo drugs) since I finished chemo the first time, so it may need to be replaced.  We’re going to wait to the first treatment to find out if it’s still unclogged and usable.  If not, I’ll have my first treatment through IV and work out the port issues before the second treatment.

I will, at least, start with the same drugs and protocol as six years ago:  a drug combo abbreviated carbo/taxol, administered once every three weeks for six treatments.  It worked well for me last time, and I tolerated it well.  There’s no reason not to think it won’t do the same this time.

However, my doctor did warn me that sometimes in subsequent chemo treatments, bone marrow support becomes necessary, and if my white blood cell count drops too low, I’ll have to take something like Neupogen or Neulasta to stimulate my bone marrow to make white blood cells.  I understand these drugs can cause excess fatigue and perhaps bone pain, but I’ll just cross that bridge if I come to it.

I’m feeling very positive about this plan.  Yes, I’d rather be doing any number of other things for 18 weeks of my life, but there are certainly worse issues to face.

I’ll post more as the immediate decisions are made about the beginning treatment...but right now, I need to go buy some hats.

A little retail therapy

Waiting is the worst.

I’m sure any of you who have faced the diagnosis and treatment of a disease know what I’m talking about.  Monday morning, when I have my oncology consultation will not come soon enough to get my chemotherapy plan made.  I’m ready.  Bring it on.

It’s so hard not to wish the hours away.  But, I as I learned the last time I went through this, each hour is precious.  So, I’m trying to live in the moment as much as I can.

There’s lots to do in the next month, aside from my illness.  One of my sons will have his Eagle Scout Court of Honor.  To celebrate this highest of Boy Scout achievements, there are invitations to design and mail.  A program and reception to plan.  A slide show to put together.  Food, drink, decorations, paper plates...the list goes on.  Luckily, there are three other boys celebrating with my son and three wonderful moms to share in the planning and execution.  My posse.

Then there’s a graduation dinner, graduation itself, a graduation party.  All events I’m grateful that demand my attention.  My boys only graduate from high school once, and I want their experience to be one they carry with them the rest of their lives...or at least until college starts in August.

In the background of all this planning and preparation, though, is the wonder of how I’ll be feeling while I go to these events.  And, maybe it is trivial in the grand scheme of things, but I wonder if I’ll still have hair and if I have the proper hats for my clothing ensembles.  Luckily, I love hats (and conversely hate wigs), and I still have the hats from my last round of chemotherapy.  So, even though I’ve been a little preoccupied with my hair — or potential lack there of — I’ve distracted myself with a little retail therapy.  I have found the *perfect* hat to go with my graduation outfit.  I might just order it if I haven’t lost my hair.  To be totally frivolous, I’ll share a link to it.  Very chic, don’t you think?

So, even though cancer is looming over my head (no pun intended), life does go on.  Perfect hat or not, I’m ready for this battle, and I can’t begin to tell you how uplifting it is to know that I’ve got an army of family and friends ready to back me up.  Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers and encouragement and wishes of good outcomes.

Hair or hat, I’m prepared for the fight that awaits me.

Here I go down this wretched path again

”We acquire the strength we have overcome.”  — Ralph Waldo Emerson

Once again, I am facing the challenge of metastasized uterine cancer in my lungs.  However, this time, it’s multiple nodules in multiple lobes.  I’ll begin chemotherapy again soon to get rid of those wretched little pulmonary dance partners.

I had a PET scan earlier this month that indicated the nodules, one of which was biopsied and declared cancerous.  I am waiting for an appointment with my gynecological oncologist on Monday to make a plan to get underway with the chemo.

There’s a huge part of me that can’t believe I’m going through this again.  Damned cancer.  But, there’s also a huge part of me that knows I beat this once before, over six years ago, and I can beat it again.

I don’t yet know what my protocol will be...last time is was one treatment every three weeks for a total of six treatments.  However, what I do know is that I have excellent doctors and nurses, and I’m in an excellent facility, Northside Hospital.

Send good thoughts my way, especially to my twin boys who are in the final weeks of their senior year and don’t deserve to have to deal with this...again.

I’ll keep you posted as I know more.