"Fighting Cancer is a lifelong deal"

The title above is a quote from another cancer fighter whose blog I've been following. You can see a link on the right side (Rotorhead's Cancer Blog).

Charles is a military chopper pilot and keeps an interesting blog.

It's been 2 1/2 weeks since my chemo ended. I'm still having a lot of neuropathy and tingling/numbness in my fingers and feet along with gasto-related issues. I have my first follow-up visit on January 21st.

We've been getting snowfall just about every weekend since the new year started. I'm starting to envy the people who are in warmer climates.

Anyway, I'll update after my follow-up visit and we'll see what the next steps of the journey will be.

Off - Week

I'm watching the *time* a lot this week!

This is my final "off-week" and I have a LOT to get done before starting my final treatment week next Monday!

The tingling in my fingers (neuropathy) is pretty bad and even trying to button a shirt is harder than usual, but I was warned of this and will manage to get past it somehow. The nerve damage is giving me some gastro tract *issues* as well.


I participated in our worldwide virtual band's 3rd annual Christmas song collaboration. We dedicate this year's song to the troops overseas and others who haven't been home for a long, long time. "Please Come Home For Christmas"

http://soundclick.com/share?songid=7148733

One step at a time, that's the only way and it has worked so far. Happy Holidays!

Back on Track :)

I was able to resume my chemotherapy treatments today. My bloodwork was "in range" and I've started my 3rd cycle. I was extremely happy to hear the news from my oncologist.

I didn't even feel any pain when the oncology nurse put *the needle* in my port today either. Maybe I was so happy to be back on track that I put a mental block around it?

Anyway, right now my fingers are tingling pretty good and this is taking way more time to type than usual so I'm keeping it short.

No nausea, just neuropathy and fatigue.

I have my portable pump of 5-FU infusing me now until I go back tomorrow. I like when the first day of each cycle is done. This is the day I get the oxaliplatin along with others. The other chemo meds seem very tolerable so far. Won't need the Oxal again now for two weeks :)

First week of chemo is finished !

I had a later appointment today and noticed that my portable pump started occasionally beeping about three hours before my scheduled appointment. I called the clinic and was told that it was beeping because the dosage was getting low, but after being asked and reading what was left, the nurse told me that there would be enough to last until I got there.

In driving to the clinic, I noticed that it was down to only 002, then 001 when I walked into the building. I had just sat down when it started beeping and didn't stop and the nurse came over and took the battery out of it and said "you're done." She then "unhooked me" and flushed the port and said I was good to go.

Before leaving, I spoke with my oncologist and was given some samples of Senokot, to help things move, so to speak. Other than that, I've had no nausea or feeling sick at all, just some mild sensitivity to cold beverages and food and some minor tingling in my fingertips, but very tolerable at this point.

I can only hope that every week goes as well as this, but I'm a realist and trying not to get ahead of myself and will take things as they come. I've learned that life IS a gift and you must stop and smell the roses when you can.