I will be so glad when these chemo treatments are over and I can get my sense of taste back (among other things). I did say after #9 that these Taxol treatments were easy, but the fatigue factor is cumulative and I have had two busy weeks, and I am exhausted usually by the end of the day. But the last two treatments will be over soon, too.
I am really going to miss those oh-so-sweet chemo nurses at the Hope Center. They are so pleasant and caring and have taken such good care of me! I think I'm going to make each of them a TU card and perhaps bake a sheet cake to take to them on my last treatment. I had planned to take in lunch for them, but my last appointment is too late for that, so maybe cake!
Frank and I met with Linda, the Nurse Practitioner, and she gave us lots of information about what to expect next and answers to my questions. I will start radiation by mid-April (or sooner, will report when I know for sure) and have an appointment for a consultation with the radiation doctor on March 13 (today) in Brevard. Radiation treatments will be daily (5 days a week) for 6 to 7 weeks but thankfully they will be in Brevard. They will take me until about the middle of June. Linda said it will take longer to park and get inside and undress than the radiation treatment itself will take. But I do have to watch my skin for burns from that and of course fatigue is about the only other side-effect.
I will have another CT scan on March 20 and let's hope it shows everything in good shape. After my last chemo treatment on March 23, we will meet with Dr. Harkness to see how things are going. I am not sure if we will really KNOW how all this is working but am hoping there are some indicators. At least I hope the scan does not show new tumors have formed elsewhere in my body!!
They are going to do gene testing on me in April. I'm not sure what I will have to do if I test gene positive; we'll decide all that later. Could mean more surgeries. But the information will be valuable for my sisters, nieces, and granddaughter, so they can make decisions and keep watch. Let's HOPE I am not gene positive, but since Mom died of breast cancer and she, Dad, and one sister have had melanomas, they think testing me is advisable.
I asked Linda how long they will see me, keep track of me, etc. and she said they will see me every 3 months for 2 years and every 6 months "forever". I hope at some point, they will decide yearly is enough, but for now, I'm so glad they are going to keep close watch on me. I do not want this cancer coming back!!
OK, enough of this unpleasant cancer discussion. I had a WONDERFUL lunch with my friend Ginny yesterday to belatedly celebrate my birthday. Ginny was sick in January and then we had all that awful ice and snow so we finally got around to celebrating yesterday. Her birthday was in February and we will celebrate that in April. We are REALLY stretching these celebrations out!! We had lunch and then shopped and at the end of the afternoon, we had one of the delicious Shamrock Shakes at McDonald's. It was sinfully good!! They only sell these in March and each year Ginny and I try to have one of them. If you like creme de mente, you should try one of these during March! What a fun day and how wonderful to have good friends to celebrate with!
Today I have lunch plans with my friend Mary. I got a new spring hat this week (it's about too warm for toboggans and my winter hats now) and wanted to show you. I added the scarf to coordinate with my top. I have a lot to tops that will go with this hat. My hair is starting to grow in, yes, still white, but is nowhere near long enough to go without a hat yet. Frank calls it my "peach fuzz". Me, I'm just glad it is starting to grow again.
Love to you all, Laura
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