update on chemo

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone:

I don't do well to get out individual messages, so I send out a

monthly update to as many people as I can remember to do so. I hope

that in a few months I am stronger and have less fatigue and can do

more individual messages.

Chemo went well. I did react again at the end, mildly, and had to do

the reaction med, but all in all, it went well. I hope the next two

do as well and that I don't have to do 9 and 10, but I am not holding

my breath that it won't happen. He initially told me 8-10 and so far

he has been right on target.

I have a follow up on the 29th. My red blood count is still ok, so

still don't have to do aranesp. It has to go below 10.0 in order to

do it again. It is 11.4 and it slowly is going down, but that does

not mean it will ever get to below 10 again. It might, and if it gets

in the lower 10's, I will have them check it more often.

Now I just have to get through the symptoms and get to the 5th of

Aug. for the PET scan. I made an appt. with the doc for 3 days after

the scan so we could discuss it. Next chemo scheduled for Aug.

15th. I am having them closer together, less than 5 weeks but

slightly more than 4 weeks. That means more effort on my part to

keep the hand/foot syndrome under control. It is a lot harder than

many would think, as you basically can do little or nothing with your

hands for about 10-14 days, no gardening, no cutting of anything

hard, no dishes, very little cooking, driving makes it worse. It is

very frustrating to not be able to do the things you want to

do. Icing them 5-7 times a day is boring, but necessary. Keeping

cream and healing salves on them and wearing white gloves all month

is a pain and makes people look at you strangely. But I do it anyway.

I was covered in ice while I did the chemo, my head, my wrists and

hands, my ankles and feet, and drinking ice water the entire time.

This is supposed to keep the circulation from being as active in the

areas that are iced. I still have all my hair. Tomorrow I start

taking decadron ( a steroid) to help keep the hand/foot syndrome

away. I take 16 mg. for 5 days (take ativan to keep the

hyper-reaction down), 8 mg. for 2 days and 4 mg. for 2 days. Then I

have to be VERY careful about week 3 and 4 as the hand/foot thing

tries very hard to develop about that time. It was giving me trouble

up to 2 days before chemo this time.

All in all, I have to say I am doing well. I will know more when I do

the PET scan and compare it with the last one. After 2 more

treatments I will do another PET scan, and hope it is the last one

for tumors in my lung and liver. Please, everyone, send positive

vibes, prayers and good thoughts. I could do without 4 more chemo

treatments. Two more is enough.

I continue to do EMDR and have an appt. to do guided imagery and

visualization work toward the end of Aug. This is for the

anti-hormone that I will have to take when I am done with chemo and

possible radiation. I will be taking this for as many years as it

works, so I have to get it to work with both my mind and body to help

keep the cancer under control for as long as possible. That is why I

am doing the EMDR for the fear. I actually was fearing this drug

more than the chemo, but not any more. I am still working on this

issue and will be for another month or so. That along with other

issues that cancer brings up.

I have redone my will and taken care of some other stuff that was

necessary for me to deal with.

Collie has to delay her knee surgery because of a sinus infection,

and not they cannot reschedule it for 3 weeks. This messes up her

other medical care, so she may not be able to get it done. She is

working on her back surgery and her dental implants for her bottom dentures.

Love you all,

Lynda