I Will Survive!

So ... last week on March 30 I had a visit with Dr. M, my oncologist, and my first FAC chemo treatment. The doc visit went swimmingly .. I found out that the spots on my lungs, the cysts in my liver, kidneys and thyroid were all the same. No response to chemo is good news because it confirms they were benign to begin with. My previously enlarged central lymph nodes are now normal. All very good news. The best news, in fact. I adore my oncology doc and her staff. I couldn't ask for better treatment.

But there was still the issue of FAC chemo to deal with. I've known from the beginning that I would have four of these combo cocktails spaced tri-weekly over twelve weeks. FAC is the "nasty" chemo. I wasn't looking forward to it but I had tolerated Taxol so well, I was hoping my superwoman constitution would continue to serve me well.

Now for a little video. Be sure to turn up your volume.

Yep. That's exactly what happened to me.

Three days after, when my anti-nausea steroids wore off .. I was hit by a large and heavy FAC disco ball. It sat there, getting heavier and heavier for a week. And then, as promised, I was able to roll it off, get up, shake myself off and make my own breakfast which, miraculously didn't taste like gasoline. I have survived!

Three doses of steriods for nausea
and three bags of chemo.

And here are a few things I have learned from taking FAC cancer chemo the last week and a half:

1) You should never take eyelashes or eyebrows for granted.
2) Ditto for taste buds.
3) Walking to the bathroom can be exhausting.
4) There are times in life when red jello is a high culinary experience.
5) Nausea is nausea whether your head is in the toilet or not.
6) Sleeping can be a form of exercise. Hot. Cold. Covers on, covers off.
7) Fried potatoes taste like gasoline.
8) So does most everything else.
9) They should put ALL red popsicles in the box. Nobody likes orange or lime.
10) Having really good toilet paper is not a luxury.
11) Chemo b.o. is way worse than regular b.o. (TMI I know but I had to share.)
12) Salty stuff doesn't taste that way. Non-salty stuff does. It's all very confusing.
13) Lots and lots of people love me.
14) People are unbelievable kind and thoughtful.
15) I have the best husband and family in the galaxy.

and lastly,

16) God is in control. Always.

Dave was making faces at me .. as usual.


And Dave's faces always make me laugh.


My new hat & my treasured Saul bear.
B E L I E V E

This weekend, on April 17th,is Ashley's Let's Save Mama D's Double D's 5K Fun Run/Walk. It's in Willis (just north of Conroe) and sounds like it will be a blast. I hope to see a lot of you out there. I'll be the bald girl with the big smile.

Next FAC is on April 20th. Please keep me in your prayers .. they keep me going! Much love ..