Next to last cycle

Today's chemo treatments went well. I'm at the point where even if they didn't go well that I don't think it would bother me because I'm being optimistic and focused on finishing this in TWO weeks from today. :-)

I didn't sleep well last night, which is usually the case after getting the eloxatin, but I snoozed for about two hours during today's treatments (and didn't snore, or so they told me?).

My doctor said that I was doing excellent with my white bloodcell counts and platelets counts and that leads to me to think (and hope and pray) that my treatments will end on Christmas eve.

I'll be starting follow-up in January, but the worst of it will be over very soon!

Round 11 (of 12)

Well, I'm into my ELEVENTH Round of chemotherapy now. My oncologist told me today that the neuropathy will probably still be evident for another several months. For that reason, they will be doing follow-up bloodwork, CEA blood tests, PET/CT scans and mediport maintenance.

It went okay today and some of the nurses came by to "remind" me that the end is near. It's nice of them, but I don't need to be reminded. I'm kinda/sorta at the point where I've had enough. It will be great to be disconnected for the LAST time and to eventually have the mediport taken out of my chest.

That said, I still don't want to get ahead of myself because any little thing can change the schedule and/or progress, which has been very good so far with only one setback that delayed treatment back around cycle 5 I think?

Stand Up To Cancer

If you turned on the national news September 5th, you might have been surprised to see all 3 major network anchors broadcasting from the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles. Putting their usually intense competition for ratings aside for the night, Katie Couric, Brian Williams and Charlie Gibson joined forces in support of a higher priority...putting an end to cancer!

Together the anchors hosted a historic hour-long telecast, shown commercial free on the 3 major networks and in more than 170 countries. The telecast raised more than $100 million to support a new initiative called "Stand Up To Cancer" founded this past May.

To learn more about it, you can click on the title of this post or go to www.standup2cancer.org

You can buy a "star" for one dollar in honor of loved ones or friends (I've done this and it is a gratifying experience).

Stand Up To Cancer is bring people together to give researchers the resources that they need to launch an all-out assault on cancer.

Christmas Time

"Tis the season...I'm trying to keep a positive outlook, but I haven't done much shopping for Christmas gifts yet and next week is my 11th cycle of chemo. Stress and anxiety are kicking in.

Many have told me that the last two cycles can be the toughest with the cumulative side effects of the oxaliplatin mostly. It's also getting a lot colder and I'm already wearing layers to keep warm.

The neuropathy, fatigue and digestive tract "issues" seem to be the worst, as they have been since starting chemo. I can't feel the little "bumps" on the "f" and "j" keys, so typing is slow and I have to keep going back to correct things.

I'm also trying to add my guitar parts to an annual Christmas collaboration project that I've been doing for the past three years now. This year's song is "Please Come Home For Christmas" and is dedicated to the military troops overseas and to others who haven't been able to get home for a long time. I'll post a link to the song when it's finished.

One Step At A Time

A little while back, I had mentioned that a girl from South Dakota had heard a song that I wrote when I started chemotherapy. It was an instrumental piece with no lyrics or vocals.

Well, long story short, she wrote some lyrics which I'd posted awhile back, but they are also in the song info at this link, and she has just finished recording the song and I'd like to share it with you...

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=706035&songID=7108988

You can hear more of Melissa Renee's songs at :

www.soundclick.com/melissarenee