THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU

Going through surgery and treatments for cancer is not fun, but this journey is being made sweet by many, many people.  Thank you to everyone who has prayed for me and my family.  Thank you for fasting for me.  Thank you for your notes of faith and encouragement you have dropped off, mailed, emailed, and texted.  Thank you for the beautiful flowers, the tasty treats, and the wonderful dinners.  Thank you for the gifts from your heart.  Thank you for putting my name in the temple.  Thank you for driving Tanner to lessons, for tending Jackson, for getting my kids up and ready, for doing my laundry and cleaning my house, and for doing all the things I wish I could do myself.  I appreciate your kindness, generosity, love, hope, faith, and prayers.  You lift me up so I can make it through the hard days.  I feel so much love and gratitude for all you wonderful family members and friends!!!!  Thank you!!!!!

What is Chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy is a general term for different drugs used to treat cancer.  It is administered into the veins through an IV, or in my case, through my port.  When I go for a treatment, I first have an infusion of anti-nausea medications over about an hour, then I have the chemotherapy for about an hour and a half.  I feel fine during the treatment, but within a couple hours I start to feel sick.  Once I am home (usually early afternoon), I go to bed and don't get up until the next morning.

Right now I am having two kinds of chemotherapy - Adriamycin and Cytoxan.  They are pretty awful.  The nurse who administers the Adriamycin has to wear a plastic gown and gloves so she won't get burned if any should get on her.  There might be worse kinds of chemotherapy, but I don't want to find out.

Chemotherapy is designed to kill cancer cells.  Unfortunately, chemotherapy also kills good cells and has some pretty nasty side effects.  Below are some of the side effects I have experienced:

- severe nausea (After my first treatment, I couldn't eat anything for 4 days.  I sipped broth and soda in an attempt to stay hydrated and also to get my anti-nausea medications down.  We've been able to get the nausea more under control so that I am able to eat, but for about 8 days after chemotherapy, I am still pretty nauseated).

- headache and pain behind my eyes (This is so bad that for a whole week after chemotherapy, I don't do anything but sleep, eat, and sit on the couch.  My eyes bother me so much that I can't even read a book or watch a movie, which seem like they could help me get my mind off not feeling well).

- constipation (I'll spare you the details)

- extra sensitivity to light, sound, smell, taste, etc.  (For a few days after chemo, many foods taste bitter.  I can't stand loud noises or jerky movements.  Light bothers my eyes).

- extremely achey legs and feet

- bruised feeling on jaw, neck, shoulders, and back

- bone pain

- weakness (I can't open jars, water bottles, etc.  I don't have energy to do much of anything).

- body feels heavy

- mouth sores (Five years ago when I had chemotherapy, I counted over 50 canker-type sores, and I was miserable.  This time I've been lucky to only have one sore after each treatment).

- suppressed immune system, so I have to be really careful about germs

- hair loss

Hold On

I watched Music and the Spoken Word this morning and was touched by the message and the music.  They sang "Hold On" from The Secret Garden, and these words stood out to me:

It’s the storm, not you,
That’s bound to blow away. …
Hold on!

We will all face storms in life, but they are bound to pass.  The sun will shine again.  The trick is to 'hold on' through the wind and the rain.  Stormy times have the power to make us stronger if we will let them.  I am sick today, but I am holding on while this storm passes.  It's not going to blow me away.  I'll tough it out until it passes.

Neulasta #3

This time went a little faster.  I got my hydration over one hour, and then I got my Neulasta shot.

Chemotherapy #3



I went for my third treatment today.

Erin came with me, and we had a great time together.

 

 

This is what I came home to after chemotherapy.  Thank you to my sweet sister-in-law and cute nephews for putting a smile on my face.

 

Hair We Go Again...

I first noticed a few strands of my hair fall out on Thursday, September 5th, thirteen days after my first chemotherapy treatment.  By the next Tuesday, every time I ran my fingers through my hair, I'd get a handful.

 

Today, I brushed my hair before I washed it, and ran a pick through it afterwards, and this is what I came up with.

 

I decided it was time...  so I invited my family over for a party.

 

My brother started us out, and then others took turns.

 

Niece and Nephew watching from a distance

 

 

Keeping it fun

 

My only request was that I end up with a Mohawk.  Not too shabby.

 

We even added sparkles.

All my sisters.

 

All my siblings.

 

And my hubba hubby.

 

Jackson liked it.

Meet Chemo

We had a baby bird hatch on the same day as my first chemo treatment. Dan affectionately named her Chemo. This photo shows Chemo at two weeks old.

Neulasta #2

This took way too long today.  I just needed my hydration and shot, but it seemed like we were there for four hours!

Chemotherapy #2