Making some progress

It is Day 3 (of 4) of my last round for a while of chemo. Yesterday was ok, but I was really tired. I can tell I need the transfusion I will get on Friday. But I am making progress. On Wednesday, I see the surgeon. I thought I would get an MRI before that but that has not been scheduled yet. The Chemo Dr told me today that having radiation was not necessarily a done deal so I could not need that, but I do not want to get my hopes up. Last week he also told me, as I have heard before, that sarcoma does not react well to chemo, meaning it has effect but not as much as some other cancers. I started questioning that and told him while I would not make a stupid life threatening decision, I would want to know some numbers regarding reoccurrance whether I did or did not have 4 more chemos after sugery. He then told me it would probably just be 2 (a lot more palatable than 4), but the surgeon would look at the effect on the tissue thus far. I was really bummed when I thought I would need 4 more chemos. With a little break, I can handle 2 if I must. At any rate, next week we either move in to surgery or radiation so we are making progress! I am ready for my real life. I want to complain about too much to do and not enough time to do it, having to work every day and cook dinner, clean dishes, do laundry, grocery shop, pay bills, keep the house going, exercise and play tennis................I just can't wait! It can't come soon enough.

My port area is doing better. Every n0w and then there is a little pain but mainly it is from the torn skin from the paper tape. We are now taping up a smaller area so we can eliminate some of the skin tearing. Unfortunately that leaves the already torn area exposed so clothes rub against it and that hurts a bit. I guess I just need to wear more revealing outfits so the skin is more exposed.

Bob is hanging in ok having perfected his medical, cooking, shopping and laundrying skills. We've got incredible help with family and friends filling in when they can, but he has had so much on his shoulders! What a good guy! So even if just for him, I hope it all ends soon. While we still have a way to go, we are making progress!

It will be a long day

Usually Monday of Chemo week is a long day, but since I was just having labs and not seeing the Dr I thought we would get moving more quickly. We did not. I guess the lab was slow. They do not start your chemo till they get your labs back. I guess they are looking for certain criteria to make sure you are ok. I will not get out of here before 6:30pm tonight. My numbers were good today except I am really anemic and need some units of blood. I knew I was exceptionally tired over the weekend, so it is not unexpected. I can't get the transfusion until Friday because we cannot interrupt the chemo, so I started taking iron today and sent Bob out to get red meat for dinner. I got a shot that boosts your Red cells today (I get it at the start of every chemo session) and that will eventually help but not as quickly as a transfusion. And that shot really does hurt, stinging all the way down. It is probably a good thing Bob does not give me that one because I would probably hold it against him for a while.

I feel ok, it is just you get this kind of mediciney (pretty sure that is not word) taste in your mouth when the drugs are going through you, and it does mess with your appetite. I have been sucking on hard candy (lemon drops and lifesavers) so now my teeth will rot out. It is all the side effects that get you.

I think I told you the bandaging on the port had caused a problem so they switched it to a paper tape bandage. Well that was breaking me out too so they started "painting" me with this stuff that is really tacky first that should help the paper tape. There are few spots where is really tearing the skin away and it hurts, so I am not sure what the next solution is. I will see those guys tomorrow and maybe we can figure something else out. Funny thing is, my sister Lisa went through the exact same thing when she was in chemo. Since she is also a nurse she probably has a good solution. Yeah- I will ask her!

Nap time!

OK Day 3

Not too bad for Day 3. I think I am feeling better than I did at this point in Round 2. Back then I had all this sinus junk going on that was really bad. I am sore from my stupid, stupid fall on Monday. I do think it shifted the port as it does not hurt as bad. I had been taking about 4 or 5 pain pills a day because of it and now I am taking about 2. I can't wait to get it out! They have not told me when yet, but I cannot wait! My cell phone is not working well in the chemo room this week, so if you need me, email me. One more day to go!