Two weeks post final chemo...

Today is two weeks post my final chemo therapy. Yes!!! Feeling better help the mind and body in so many ways. I am still battling some side effects, but things are getting better. 

Eye sight is blurry, neuropathy in feet from ankles to toes is evident still and in my fingers. You know, the pins and needles prickly feeling. Very aggravating, but I can deal with this. I don't have nausea anymore and that has helped my taste buds come back too. 

As my energy comes back, I am going to enjoy our daughters Spring Break. 

I go back in on April 1st to meet with Radiological oncologist for a CT scan and for radiation tattoos. 

I find it enlightened to a new sense of doing fun things. Let the great Spring weather make a way of happy times.

Closer to the end of chemo

Today is day 5 of my second to last chemo. Side effects are going as usual, for the most part. 

Bad taste buds, tingling neuropathy toes, feet and fingers. Raw sinuses, which I need to go buy an OTC nasal spray gel to help with the bloody noses. I have headaches due to the sinuses. Then there is the worrysome pains I am having in my left abdominal area just under my ribs is what we are focusing on now. The oncologist scheduled me for a CT scan yesterday. 

So for the next fun journey, yesterday i got to the hospital after occupational therapy for the lymphodema to get set up for the CT scan yesterday morning. They wanted me to do a liquid prep, but I am allergic to all sulfate a and the liquid clearly states it was a sulfate based drink. Strike one. The next guy came in and said they would need me to drink that solution, but I would have to do a benedryl and prednisone 13 hour prep prior to the scan. I said no, I would not drink that solution and to please call my oncologist. I can't do the IV contrast either because it is an iodine based infusion. Umm, I am allergic to iodine and it is because I am allergic to shell fish.  So after waiting another 30 minutes or so a female tech came to get me and again tried to get me to drink the liquid prep. I got pissed. Nobody was listening. I know my allergies and I refuse to let people bully me and tell me I am a liar and would not react to the liquid. She took me to the room for the CT and talked to her boss, who in turn said to do the CT without any contrast then. Scan was done and I was out of there in about 15 minutes. I wonder if the CT was even helpful since I can't have the contrast. Oh well. I just want to get answers as to why and what this pain is from. 

Oh my nose knows

This is week 10 of 12 Taxol chemo treatments. This week has been very tiresome. I just want to sleep, but sleep avoids me. I have another side effect of nose bleeds and bloody sinuses. Ahhhchooo. 

I know the chemo is killing any cancer cells, but I keep thinking it isn't working because my hair is coming back. The oncologist assured me the chemo is still doing its job. 

My hair is growing long. I am actually using shampoo again. It is a salt and pepper mix with a little dark brown in the back. I have my male pattern baldness still so I am lacking new growth on top, but there is some peach fuzz. 

I can't wait to get to the last treatment. Julia wants to go with us that day so I can ring the bell to signify my last chemo. I asked her to make me a poster to show it will be my last chemo. 

Radiation will start about three weeks after Chemo. 

The oncologist is studying our family genetic history for her genetics class and even presented our family tree to her professors in California. We have an extensive history of cancer in my paternal side going back three generations and proven BRCA 2 + history too. 

My oncologist is also looking into a trial she wants me to consider for post chemo maintenance drug study. More on that soon.