An Update or On With the Fight!

 

I promised an update on what is next with my fight against this cancer. I do feel like I’m in a war against the cancer that is attacking my body and my plan is to put up quite the fight against it! After going through the first series of chemo treatments without much success, in fact the cancer actually grew a bit, I am now about to head into Round Two. I had an appointment with my oncologist last week and he has a new plan of attack. The first round I had chemo every third week. This one we are hitting it a bit harder with chemo once a week. The treatments will be a slightly lower dose each week but the overall amount of medication will be increased compared to the first series of treatments. He is also adding a new medication this time. So now my medications will be Carboplatin, Paclitaxel, and Avastin. Avastin is the new one and it is supposed to do a good job at attacking cancer. They did not give it before because it can have more potential side effects. I am armed with several medications to help with the side effects including pain pills and a steroid to fight inflammation. Previously I took the steroid the first three days after chemo, this time I will take it the first seven days after the first chemo treatment using all three medications. Some of my treatments will just be the Paclitaxel, alternating with all three medications in one treatment. My first, which should be this coming week, will be all three medications and is expected to take all day.

So, knowing I am about to start a new and possibly tougher round, I have been trying to get things done around here so I can take it easy when the chemo starts. I’ve not really felt like doing a lot around the house but I’ve done what I can. I even gave Tom a haircut today!

There has not exactly been a lot of activity going on here but we have continued to have special family visits which we love! I think I mentioned in my last post that we were planning to go out to eat with my son Chris and his wife Kristi. We did that last weekend after first visiting them at their house. We had a wonderful time with them and great food at one of the many special Kansas City bar-b-que restaurants! Last Wednesday my other son, Sean who lives out of town, came and spent the day with us. It was so nice to catch up with him. Then on Friday my grandson Gavin came out to visit us, and even brought us some delicious homemade Snickerdoodle muffins that his girlfriend Amalia made!  We had such a nice visit with Gavin. He is really a kind and caring person and a very special grandson! Plus, I always enjoy him telling us about the various experiences he’s had as a firefighter in Independence.

After loading up on lots of family visits and love, I am ready to start Round Two with my fight against this cancer. It may be challenging but I have no intention of backing down to it! I want to thank every one of my blog friends here. There is something very special about bloggers. Even though I did not post for a year due to a variety of reasons, you are all still here and supporting me. That means so much to me. I may not post for a while depending on how things go, but I will post again as soon as I am able. Thank you all for being here! I am blessed in so many ways!