A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Chemo
Every three weeks, Linda meets with her oncologist before having chemo. Today was one of those weeks. As she was sitting on the examining table, he came in asked if she had any news. She asked a question, but nothing big. He said, 'Well, I have some news for you.' Now normally, when you are going through treatment for cancer, this isn't what you want to hear from your doctor. But as it turned out, he didn't have news ABOUT Linda, he had news FOR her. A new study that was released just a week ago shows that while taking Taxotere on a weekly basis is effective, it is slightly more effective to take it in three week blasts. So, because she had five more weekly treatments to go, he wanted to switch her to the big blasts spaced three weeks apart--the first blast being today. Which means...LINDA ONLY HAS ONE MORE TREATMENT TO GO!!
Her treatment went fine today--white blood count was good, very little pain associated with the medication and it didn't take a whole lot longer than when she had the smaller dose. Next Monday she has to go in a get a shot to stimulate her bone marrow to produce white blood cells (like she did in the first round of chemo). She will then go back for her final big dose of chemo on May 30--to be followed by one more shot for white blood cells. We think that she will be able to start radiation two weeks later on June 16. The end in sight!
We do anticipate that Linda will be more tired this coming week, but that is balanced by the knowledge that we are very near the end of this long drawn out process. A couple of other gals getting chemo at the office today were getting their last dose, so there was a feeling a celebration and gratitude in the air.
We continue to feel concern for my Dad who is recovering extremely well from his brain surgery in Madison--he expects to leave the hospital next week. We talk with him frequently, and even though his prognosis is poor, his spirit is strong and he is approaching this time with an openness and a lack of fear that is remarkable--I might even say that for him there is a feeling of celebration and gratitude in the air.
This has been an incredibly difficult year--and yet we have learned so much and gained so much--we know ourselves to be rich beyond measure--rich in friends, rich in hope, rich in love.
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