Changing sunrise every day…
Time flies by, even the chemo treatments. Yesterday was #5 of the planned 6. The results of my blood tests continue to be good. The cancer marker went from 301 to 187 this week. But not low enough to move on to the next stage. Dr. McCleave said they want to see it at around 30 which is quite a long way yet.
But the next step is to have a CAT scan 2 weeks after session 6 which puts it at the end of March. Then with those results, the team of multi-discipline doctors discuss the case and decisions can be made. The first is that if the marker numbers are not low enough, then there will be 2-3 more treatments and decisions made after that. Or they could recommend the surgery to remove everything! Which doesn’t bother me as I have no use for it any more. And being my age, there aren’t even any menopause issues! And the third possibility is that I go on a maintenance program with the Avastin. The only drawback on that is the side effect (yes, just one) of high blood pressure. I said, “I’d rather have high blood pressure than no blood pressure.”
So it’s still a wait and see but everything is so positive that even when I start to get down, I count my lucky stars that I am here and able to get the care I need. And for all my friends and family who have rallied around me.
From the start of this journey, I’ve avoided going down the internet rabbit holes and have stuck with legitimate medical sites to get my information and not joined any support groups which I assume, maybe wrongly, are pity parties. I’ve avoided reading horror stories about cancer and its treatment and all the awful things that happen. For me, it’s been the best way to go as I know how important it is to keep a positive outlook. I am able to compartmentalize my thoughts and keep the bad ones boxed away, avoiding the international news and unhappy people. Healthy mind, healthy body I hope.
And by not reading horror stories, some of the minor side effects I’m experiencing are surprises! For instance, I knew I would lose my hair. That’s pretty much a given. But I didn’t know I would lose ALL my hair. Not just from the top of my head, but everywhere else (blush). Some of it’s a plus as I don’t have to shave my legs or under arms or pluck my eyebrows as they are gone. Now I have to learn how to pencil them in – a new experience.
Years ago, I wrote an article about tropical travel and suggested women not shave their legs as they serve as early warning for incoming mosquitoes which I am experiencing first hand now. Without the hairs, the mozzies can feed undetected as I don’t feel them until they have actually bitten me. Thank goodness for Peaceful Sleep spray.
But others are a nuisance. All of a sudden my nose is running and I discovered that all the hairs in my nostrils are gone! And my eyes are weepy because most of my eyelashes are gone. And no, I don’t plan on getting falsies!
Rodney in the park
I am getting bored, though and it was good to do some work with Betsy today. Got my mind working. And we will kick up the underwear action too, which we slowed way down when I started treatment. But I do need to get my mind around something creative again; it’s too easy to just hang around reading, doing nothing, especially as I get extremely tired very quickly.
While I was house sitting in Durban, I did go for short walks at the park every day with Rodney and I need to do that here at home. Only it will be on my own except for the days I will go with my walking ladies, who kindly keep the pace down for me – at least for the half the walk as I turn back halfway and they can step it up!
I’m glad to be back in my own little funky place. It’s definitely a lot cooler than down in Durban. But I was happy to be there and help out Julie and Biff. And now there is an (almost) accepted offer on the house, they will be able to move ahead with all the paperwork etc to close out the estate. And they can get back to their lives in the Cape.