IV Chemo #2 Down!

All was well with my bloodwork on Thursday, May 15th, so I was able to proceed with my next IV chemo treatment.  In preparation, I drank extra fluids the day before and kept my forearm warm with a heating pad until right before the "stick".  The IV went in much easier and I feel better about not getting a port - especially now that I only have 4 more to go.   The 3 hours went fast and uneventfully until it was time for me to leave. Then, my legs just wouldn't work again and I felt tipsy.  The nurses and doc were trying to laugh with me, not at me, but I thought it was all very funny!   The gave me benedryl and had me wait until the reaction was over and I felt like I could go home.  I still had to be wheeled out to the car, due to overall weakness.

I'm having all the same weird nerve-ending side effects, but at least this time, I know roughly what to expect and how long the worst will last.  Today is Sunday and the leg cramps are already going away, thank goodness.   I think it helps me to keep moving around, even if it's at a slower pace.

Look What My Crazy, Generous Daughter Did ...

Erin cut off her beautiful long hair to send to Locks of Love so that hopefully someone else can benefit from her thick, healthy tresses.  Of course, she is still beautiful with her new short bob haircut! 

I am feeling like my usual self now and seem to have gradually gotten past all the chemo side effects. I took my last dose of pills for round #1 last night!!  I plan to enjoy this week of normalcy until the next IV chemo (May 15th).  

Thank you to Tina and Amie for taking care of multiple dinners for us this week!  Thanks also to Jesus for the beautiful yellow miniature rose plant. 

One IV treatment down & 5 to go.

So my first IV treatment day was pretty smooth. My bloodwork looked great (all normal), doctor visit was quick but informative, and we only had about a 40 minute wait to get a cubicle for the IV treatment. Unfortunately I had to get stuck twice - once for blood and a different spot for the chemo.  I might rethink getting a port.  The IV site was not feeling good after close to 3 hours of drips.  I thought I had great veins...

First I receive saline and anti-nausea drug(s).  Then the chemo runs for about 2 hours.   I got up once to walk around after about an hour and all was well.  Soon after I had to stop drinking my cold drink because my throat felt like it was closing up (but it isn't really) - first side effect I noticed.  Other than that, I was surprised by how fine I felt - until it was time to get up and leave.  My legs were not cooperating - they felt like they were asleep and very weak.  I had to wheelchair out of the clinic to the car.   Heaven forbid if I fall - then I have to wear big yellow booties for all to see every time I'm in the clinic - no way?!  Thank goodness Dave was with me all day to hear the information, see the process, get me out of there quickly, and drive us home.

By the time I got home, my fingers were like ice and everything I touched that was cold felt like it was covered with tiny needles.  It doesn't hurt, but the instinct is to pullback right away because it doesn't feel great either.   My eyelids were twitchy and my calves crampy.   I just have to wear gloves and think before I eat, drink, or touch anything hot or cold.   The interesting thing about the fatigue is that it actually helps to combat it by getting up and moving around - at whatever pace I can manage.  I may walk a bit funny due to my cramped calves, but I have the energy to do some slow walks around the house and even ride the exercise bike for a bit.  I was able to drive this morning, too, which was a concern.

Now I just take chemo pills for 2 weeks straight and I get to look forward to a week off of all drugs before my next IV treatment day at Duke on May 15th.

Thanks to Mollie H for a delicious beef stew and spinach salad.  It was great - even at room temperature for me.   Thanks also to Bill S for the surprise delivery of another great meal.  We are all set for a while!

Great News at post-op appointments!

Today I had 2 return appointments at Duke: one with the oncologist and one with the surgeon.  All agreed that I am recovering from surgery very well and that I will be able to start situps (yes, I asked) and the second round of chemo 2 weeks from today (April 24th).   I'm off all medications, exercising daily without any problems, and eating my normal diet.   They also said that the 3 lymph nodes that tested cancerous were not unexpected.

The Plan (repeats for a total of 6 cycles):

Day 1:   bloodwork, oncologist appt, IV anti-nausea, IV chemo PLUS chemo pills in morning and at night
Days 2-14:  chemo pills in morning and at night
Days 15-21:   Nothing!  I get a break to recover before next round.

There are many possible side effects, but that doesn't mean I will experience them all.  Since I tolerated the first round of pills so well, hopefully I will fare OK during the next stage.    

Here's a picture of me at the UNC/Maryland lacrosse game last weekend.  Erin and her middle school team played a mini-game during the halftime.   I felt like I should get to know the mascot since Daniel (son #2)
will attend UNC-Chapel Hill in the Fall...

Surprise From Erin's LAX Team!

Look what a nice surprise I got from Erin's lax team:

All the girls on the lacrosse team surprised me with a big bouquet of good wishes after a lacrosse game this week.  It was a very cold afternoon so I watched them win the game from a nice warm spot in a friend's car.  Erin scored!

Many thanks for all the emails, cards, books, meals, rides and both floral and edible arrangements!! I feel surrounded by love and prayers.     

A bit of new news ...

I am getting stronger every day and relying on pain medicine less and less so that is good news.  I have been able to go on walks every day since I got home from the hospital and several were over an hour long.   Last weekend was busy with a lacrosse tournament and a track meet on Saturday for my daughters.  I went to both events, but only got a picture at the track meet.  My Mom and my runner girl, Katie, are in the picture with me.  I have NOT shrunk - we are standing on stadium steps and I am still taller than both of them!

I did get some bad news today, though, that the cancer has spread outside of the colon.  Of the 25 lymph nodes that the surgeon removed to test for cancer cells, 3 tested positive.  I don't know much more than that except that I will have to have another round of chemotherapy after I heal from the surgery.   I don't return to Duke for a followup appointment with the surgeon and my oncologist until April 10th, so I probably won't know anything more until then.

Chris Is Home.

Chris was discharged at 2:30 today, and is recovering at home.  She is doing very well.

Sorry for the delay in posting news!  Duke Hospital is extremely busy for the patient, and caregivers.  There was rarely been any down.