These past couple of months I have been resting and healing my body for Phase #2. All the different tests and tasks have been performed: MugaScan (to check the performance of my heart!), PET Scan (to check if the cancer had not metastasied to any other organs of my body), blood work (necessary to check all white and red blood cells,platelets...) and countless other tests... all OK. I even had a Port put in my chest, this is where the infusions will take place. My blood pressure has been running very high lately (190/110!) so I've been visiting my Dr. frequently! As of Monday it was 160/90, she gave her OK to begin (darn it!)
Today is C-day... CHEMO to CURE the CANCER !! Today at noon I will be sitting in a recliner (relaxing!!) with an IV dripping this RED poison (Adriamycin) into my body! Cyclophosphamide will also accompany it with Benadryl and a variety of other "wonderful" drugs to combat nausea and vomiting.The side effects must be SO BAD when your oncologist hands you three different RX scripts to fill just for nausea! One of them costs $410.00!! (for just 3 pills!) Merck is making a fortune with us cancer patients...is there a generic for EMEND!!
A couple of weeks ago I went to my first meeting at GILDA's CLUB... they were so welcoming and supportive. It is filled with a loving community of people who have been touched by cancer who understand what you are going through! When you enter their red doors it feels like home and they already feel like an extended family! They even have a teen group which Madison is enjoying. I left Gilda's with a generous and loving feeling... the gift of HOPE!!
My bag is packed (my Chemo bag that is!) and I'm ready to go (ha,ha!!) I packed everything I thought would come in handy to distract me from the inevitable: cell phone, book, journal, lunch, water, hard candy, gum, apple, banana, granola bar, sweater, extra shirt, Billy Graham's "Hope for each day", more anti-nausea meds, my prayer blanket (from Joanne), fingerless mitts and of course my knitting! Not bad for someone who doesn't want to go! Maybe I'll sleep through it all (don't I wish!) Please say a prayer and remember me today as you go about your busy day. While in the Infusion/Chemo room, I will be praying for all the little children who are going through Chemo today also ... now that is courage!!
God has a plan for all of us... His perfect plan...
"Whenever you face a trial of any kind, consider it nothing but joy".
James 1:2
