The Treatment Plan

For the cancer I've got there is a specific treatment plan. I do this and the odds are 90% I will never see this cancer again. Here's what will take place:
Radiation: There will be approximately 33 radiation treatments aimed at my pelvic area. They began July 5 and will conclude at approximately August 18th.
Reaction: First third: No issues. Second third: Discomfort. Final third: Increasing discomfort, culminating in 'brutal'.
Chemotherapy: There will be two courses of treatment. The first was started on July 5. The second will begin August 1st.
Reaction: First course produced nasty mouth sores, an overall sludgey feeling and 'chemo brain'. At least I know what to expect for the second course, and can make some plans.

I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:13

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Encouragement

It started out discouraging enough.
Hair is still coming out in tufts, although it is amazing that there is at least enough to look nice poking out from under a hat. I am rather vain about my hair and have started wearing a hat 24/7. Yeah, last night I slept with my hat on. I don't like the look of me with increasingly wispy hair, or the feel of it either.
Um, and then there's been the runs that have refused to respond to the 'brat' (banana, rice, applesauce & toast) diet.

Dr. H, Radiologist, is the encouragement star of today.
He said, just take an Imodium (anti diarrhea) pill for your runs. Bought the stuff, took a pill immediately, and have not had an episode yet. Man, having the runs was debilitating - I amazed and grateful for the simple fix. Hooray for drugs.
Then, he said I am doing extremely well tolerating the radiation treatments. As in my skin is in good shape. It's nothing I have any control over, except maybe for faithfully applying aloe gel to the affected area, so, really, I have God to thank for giving me a body that is tolerating radiation unusually well.
Tomorrow officially begins the second half (more or less) of radiation treatments. Of course, this means the more difficult half. But I'm doing well! Praise God and focus on one day at a time.
Four more days before chemo starts again. Praise God and focus on one day at a time.

Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."
James 4:13-15

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