I have had a delightfully normal day. It's funny how quickly I go from feeling awful from the chemo to feeling back to my normal self. This round's recovery was one of the easier ones. I didn't get the emotional lows that I've had with earlier treatments. The horrible body aches I had after round 4 were much more subdued. I was able to take short walks most days. The fatigue even seems to be improving a bit.
When I woke up this morning, I was completely me again. I took the dog for a long walk before it got too hot. I did a load of laundry and ran the dish washer. I made myself an omelet for breakfast. I went to church. And I was SO HAPPY to do all of these normal things. I want to remember how grateful I feel on my good days to just be able to do what I previously did without thinking.
Somebody slap me if I ever again complain about exercising. To move and sweat and be able to breathe is so amazing! I can't believe I viewed it as a chore before cancer. I now look forward to my good weeks because I know I'll be able to exercise again.
And laundry! To be able to do my own laundry is the best. Ours is in the basement so it's a lot of trips up and down the stairs. I know it's going to be a good day if I wake up ready to tackle laundry.
I suppose my point is that all the "normal" every-day stuff I was doing without even thinking about before I got sick, in the right light, it sure looks like a huge blessing. I'm not saying I'll love doing laundry forever. But when the alternative is not being able to get out of my bed, being able to wash and fold clothes starts to look pretty good!
I hope I can hang on to that appreciation of the mundane parts of my life once I'm done with treatment. While I "know" that having a family to cook for and clean up after is a blessing, it's nice to really KNOW it. And appreciate it. And to appreciate my body and what it can do. I'm going to RUN ALL THE MILES as soon as I'm capable. Just because I can!
Sunday, July 8, 2018
Monday, July 2, 2018
"No Evidence of Lymphoma"
I just received my 5th treatment out of 12 today (only 7 left, almost halfway!). I have had the best chemo dates on this "adventure" and today was no exception. My two great friends from college accompanied me this morning. We laughed the entire 3 hours. It made the treatment go by quickly and kept my energy and spirits up well into the afternoon.
I was also able to read the full results of my PET scan from last week. My two very favorite phrases of all time: "Complete response to treatment" and "no evidence of lymphoma" were prominent. (!!!!)
What this means for my remaining treatments is:
1.) We know it's working. The cancer is responding to the chemo and dying off quickly. See ya, sucker. I never wanted you here in the first place! I should be done in October, which sounds closer and closer every day!
2.) I will still have 12 total treatments to ensure that we get any roaming cancer cells and keep them from taking up residence someplace else and regrowing.
3.) This is the doozy for me - Due to the great results, they are taking me off the bleomycin which is one of the chemo drugs I was on that is known to cause pulmonary toxicity (in English, it's bad for the lungs, which I need to live).
My 4th round of chemo was my hardest physically. I had horrible body aches and swollen lymph nodes all over my body for 48 hours. I could barely move or sleep, and pain meds weren't helping. While this is a normal side affect, it was extreme and I'm praying it's not a side affect I have to experience again. However, once that abated, my energy soared! I was able to rejoin my exercise group, attend yoga, visit with friends, and get back on the mat for my first jiujitsu class in months. It was a GREAT week.
I hope to never take my energy and health for granted again. I'm so grateful on the days that I have the stamina to do these normal things. I played with my kids, cleaned my house, walked my dog, went on a date with my husband, went to church with my family. A normal day in the life, usually, but not for me lately. And getting to be normal is my favorite thing right now! Here's hoping that recovery from this treatment goes a little more smoothly than last time and that I can get back to those good days really quickly!
I was also able to read the full results of my PET scan from last week. My two very favorite phrases of all time: "Complete response to treatment" and "no evidence of lymphoma" were prominent. (!!!!)
What this means for my remaining treatments is:
1.) We know it's working. The cancer is responding to the chemo and dying off quickly. See ya, sucker. I never wanted you here in the first place! I should be done in October, which sounds closer and closer every day!
2.) I will still have 12 total treatments to ensure that we get any roaming cancer cells and keep them from taking up residence someplace else and regrowing.
3.) This is the doozy for me - Due to the great results, they are taking me off the bleomycin which is one of the chemo drugs I was on that is known to cause pulmonary toxicity (in English, it's bad for the lungs, which I need to live).
My 4th round of chemo was my hardest physically. I had horrible body aches and swollen lymph nodes all over my body for 48 hours. I could barely move or sleep, and pain meds weren't helping. While this is a normal side affect, it was extreme and I'm praying it's not a side affect I have to experience again. However, once that abated, my energy soared! I was able to rejoin my exercise group, attend yoga, visit with friends, and get back on the mat for my first jiujitsu class in months. It was a GREAT week.
I hope to never take my energy and health for granted again. I'm so grateful on the days that I have the stamina to do these normal things. I played with my kids, cleaned my house, walked my dog, went on a date with my husband, went to church with my family. A normal day in the life, usually, but not for me lately. And getting to be normal is my favorite thing right now! Here's hoping that recovery from this treatment goes a little more smoothly than last time and that I can get back to those good days really quickly!
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