Hi Everyone!

I've made it to my last treatment round, Cycle 6! Just three more days of chemo and I'll have completed the preventative treatment regimens. Praise God! 😀 

Every cycle has been pretty similar, though the fatigue now rushes back quicker and hangs on longer after my last day of infusions. It now takes until about Day 8 of the cycle for me to feel my energy return. The only other side effects I've experienced are a persistent sore throat and dry skin and eyes. I feel very blessed that my side effects have been minimal. (Some patients that receive the AIM chemotherapy regimen struggle with "chemo brain" and chronic fatigue and other side effects for months after the treatments.)

My immune system blood counts were a little lower than what the doctors like to see before a treatment, but they were not low enough to delay this final round. My oncologist said it would take 4-6 weeks for my immune system to "reconstitute itself" after completing chemo. Given that I've made it through all 6 rounds of AIM and my numbers were low at the start of this final cycle, my care team thinks it will take closer to 6 weeks in my case. I will need to self-administer one more shot of Fulphila to stimulate white blood cell production, and hopefully after that my immune system will be able to recover on its own. 

I am anxious to return to teaching full-time after my last treatment, but my oncologist recommends that I wait those 6 weeks for the sake of my immune system. I am very thankful that Our Redeemer has a long-term sub in place for me to start the school year!

In the coming weeks the port in my chest will be removed and I will have follow-up labs and scans. After that I will have a scan once every three months to monitor for any recurrence. As both the radiation and chemotherapy have been preventative measures, we are cautiously optimistic that this cancer is gone for good!

Thank you always for your prayers! ❤️️

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." (Romans 12:12)