Monday, November 9, 2009

Chemo update: 6 down, 2 to go!

I can hardly believe that I've already had 6 chemo treatments and have just 2 more to go before this part of my journey is completed. Wow! I've been so fortunate and blessed to have had such a positive experience with chemotherapy. I thank God every day for many things, including giving me the strength and courage to see every treatment as a happy blessing which fills my body with loving "God-given liquid gold cure juice" as I like to call it. I have had many side effects but all of them have been manageable and none of them could ever stop me from wanting more treatment. I know this is not the case for many people, including several people that I know who have been through this, so I know how lucky I am and I am extremely grateful. Cycle 6 has been smoother than cycle 5, due to the changes that Dr.B implemented - a lower dose for starters, and a switch from neulasta to neupogen to keep my white blood cell count up. There isn't anything they could give me to keep my platelets up so we'll just have to see where they are when I arrive next Tuesday (17th) for cycle 7 part a. However, Dr.H, the holistic MD from UCLA has recommended a supplement for me to try for keeping my platelets up - it's called Astragalus - so I'm going to start taking that today. This will bring me to 16 pills a day just in supplements (and it will go up by a few when chemo and radiation are behind me)! This is from someone that wouldn't even take Tylenol for a headache til it was so bad that I was seeing spots. That's OK though - my life has changed in many ways since being diagnosed with cancer and although I would have preferred a different catalyst, I know these changes I'm making are positive and healthy and will make me stronger.

4 comments:

JEN said...

Yay! So glad you are doing well and I send positive thoughts your way often. :) How is Neupogen and bone pain? Sounds like you are managing well.

Anonymous said...

You go girl! You keep going girl! You're nearing the finish line. I have no doubt you can do it. You've been doing it, so what's a couple more? I hear you about the pills. I'll be rooting for those platelets, and praying as well. "C'mon platelets!"
- Gail

Happy Family said...

ONLY 2 more to go!!!!!! We are doin' some platelet praying :)

Gina said...

You are doing great! 2 more to go is nothing for a champ like you! Go Julie Go!