GOD IS FAITHFUL ALL THE TIME!
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Me and Catherine -- A blessing to share our baldness |
Here's a picture of me and my dear Catherine. As many of you know she has suffered with Alopecia since she was nine years old. It has taken many years for her to come to terms with it, but now at 18, she is quite confident in herself and her beauty. One of the blessings of this illness for me, is having the opportunity to share the "no hair" experience with her. (Gosh my nose is big)
On another note, I was fortunate to get an early morning appointment with my oncologist today. I actually wasn't scheduled to see him until next week sometime, but I have been so very sick with side effects -- I decided I couldn't wait any longer.
In his office, I described all that I had been going through. He agreed that it was so much suffering and that the treatment had to be changed. In fact, I learned that the treatment that I was given is the standard well researched successful treatment for women who have my type of breast cancer with tumors up to 3 centimeters (about 2 1/2 inches in size). Since mine was so very small .6 cm (1/2 inch) and because I am not tolerating the medications at all; we should change.
Blessing.. . . Starting next week, I will be using a chemo therapy that is way less toxic and eliminating all together the Neulasta (white blood cell shot) that is the biggest nemesis causing side effects. Now I will still suffer some side effects, but according to Dr. Maran all will be well managed. Of course, the overall goal is to ensure that the cancer doesn't have a chance to come back; but during treatment the goals are short down time, minimal pain and suffering, and more time to live a regular life. I am fortunate to be able to make this change because my cancer was caught so early, and because I am being so very closely monitored for the next five years.
The last two weeks have been hell on earth for me. I really knew that if the chemo course I was on was the one I had to use; I simply could not do it. I was prepared to take my chances with minimal help and just live as long as I could with quality of life and not all the pain and agony.
But once again, God meets me at my need. Taking the step of faith to talk with my doctor was all I needed to do. Incidentally, since I've been through this first toughest series of treatment does not go to waste --- it actually puts us ahead of the game on the new regimen. My optimism is back and am looking forward to moving on fighting this thing.
For this day however, I am at the lowest of my white blood count and seem to have caught a cold or something. So I'm keeping inside and hoping to gain my health soon. Nausea and pain are under control and meds are slowly becoming less.
Thank you all again for your prayers and your love. You make all the difference!
