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

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Another Test, Another Good Result!

This is cancer's legacy after it's gone: checkups, procedures and tests.
A good thing, yes. We do want to find any unwelcome evidence as soon as medically possible.

This time it was a scan. No problem, except for the *%! dye I had to drink.
My poor gut did not like that dye. After the scan was over I got to endure half a day of excessively frequent trips to the bathroom, which wrung me out in a way that reminded me of last August when I ran out of electrolytes. Spent two unexpected days on the couch, which pleased the cat, anyway.

I was surprised by the reaction - I had the same dye and the same scan before I started treatments, and it did not affect me that way. Leads me to greater feelings of gratitude for feeling 100% again. Feeling 100% even though some areas are still a little whacked out and hypersensitive.

Feeling 100% and showing "perfect." (Dr H's word) on all of the recent round of scopes, scans and exams:
BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOME for all this.
Did I do anything special to deserve this outcome?
Nope.
God let the cancer in.
God let the treatments eradicate it (yippee!), while giving me strength (at one point, barely!) to endure them.
God, who gave me great health to begin with, has now restored it.
For a season. A long season, or a short one, I am no more or less grateful.

Let them praise your great and awesome name - he is holy.
Psalm 99:3

There are no more tests scheduled for awhile. Until June, anyway. Colonoscopy then. Will plan for some extra couch time, just in case.

For my praying friends: Thank you so very much for your faithful prayers! Continue, please, to thank God for such an awesome healing (from the cancer and the treatments!), and for revealing His power and love through me. Please pray with me that He will continue to use me each day for His glory, and that I will get out of His way and let Him execute His agenda, rather than me executing mine. You can pray that the cancer stays away if you want, but that is not a priority to me. It is big on my agenda for sure, but if God's agenda is different, that is OK. I know His agenda is the one I want governing my life.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear (reverentially submit to) the Lord and shun evil.
Proverbs 3:5-7

For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.
1 John 3:20
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