Treatment 4: thumbs up!

My good friend Andrew was kind enough to take me in to chemo today and actually he has been my "support worker" ;-) for the past two sessions....and he brought Cobb's bread, scones!!! What a great guy and they were sooooo yummy. Thanks, Andrew! Everything went smoothly for the most part today...bloodwork was done really quickly and it came back "good" so off to treatment I went. I took my new anti-emetic EMEND (thanks, Barb!) and some other meds, made myself comfortable and was infused for the next couple of hours. The clinic was full today and I don't know whether it was the sight of all those other fellow patients or the side effects of the drugs but I found myself getting a little emotional, overwhelmed a little bit by it all. But Andrew was great conversation today and man we talked about a whole lot of stuff that completely took my mind off the chemo.The team used the port for the first time today and what a difference this will be for me...other than a needle prick in my chest every two weeks which is completely endurable I will be able to shower without help, bathe, swim, get wet etc. and not rely on home nursing nearly as much to change dressings, flush lines etc. Not that I don't enjoy my nurse, Sandra's visits, but you should appreciate how this is a game-changer for me not just physically but also for my mental well being.

After the infusions finished and I was hooked up to my outpatient infuser bottle which will infuse at home until Saturday, Andrew and I headed to the Diagnostic Imaging team to have the PICC line removed and it was pulled out in seconds and all that remains is a small hole in my arm that was immediately bandaged. Bye bye picc!

Then home to rest and finish the chemo over the next two days...and the fatigue has already set in along with wicked sensory neuropathy. I cannot touch anything cold including anything to drink out of the fridge. I think in a previous post I talked about this side effect and all I can say is that it is getting more intense with further treatments and what lousy timing as we are now in summertime, patios are so inviting, and I LOVE ice cream. This isn't just a slight crush we are talking about here...I repeat I LOVE ICE CREAM. Damn FOLFOX. You better be working for making me give up cold drinks and ice cream.

Speaking of "you better be working" I also met with my surgeon this week for my three month follow-up. Dr. Hart and his admin Michelle are awesome btw. I am so blessed to have Dr. Hart and his team as my surgical team. The surgical site and scar seem good and my recovery from the surgery has been exceptional so that's great news...but we also booked the next appointment. First week of October I see Dr. hart again one week after my CAT scan ordered by my Oncologist for September 24 to assess whether the chemo has been doing its job and whether "we got it all" or whether further surgical intervention is required. Those words "we got it all" still are sinking in but I have decided to put it in my mindset that that appointment with Dr. Hart will be my last with him and I will shake his hand (who am I kidding I will give him a huge hug) and thank him for getting it all!