Round 3 begins

I have completed two cycles of treatment now, and I am happy to report that some of the side effects have become less debilitating. On Tuesday, I saw my doctor at Stanford and on Friday we received the report that there has been good progress in reducing my cancer load. In fact, the numbers were better than was achieved with the drug I was on last year! As of last Tuesday, I am to have 4 more cycles of treatment and then another bone marrow biopsy. So, if there are no interruptions, I will complete treatment by the middle of January; have my bone marrow biopsy and see my Stanford doctor by the middle of February for the results.

There has been great difficulty with accessing my veins for treatment. The worst day was 7 tries by 3 different nurses! It was grueling. So, on Monday I am having a port inserted which will make everything much easier. I’m still a little uneasy about having a tube constantly accessing a vein above my heart, but I have been assured there is a minimal risk of blood clots or infection. With the improvement of my health, I am now actually in better shape to have the port inserted than I was before I began this treatment. The nurses at the infusion center told me that ports have revolutionized cancer treatment. Not only are the chemo drugs very hard on the veins, they are also very damaging to the body if they get outside the veins. By having access to a much larger vein that the port will supply, the drugs are more diluted as they enter the body.

I’m just finishing up my week off treatment and will begin the next cycle on Tuesday. I’ve been feeling quite good this past week. It’s been a really long time, probably years, since I’ve felt this good. I’ve been able to get out and walk 1 – 1 ½ miles every day. I won’t be able to do that this next week due to treatment, but will be able to start in again during the second week of treatment and slowly work my way back up to that distance as I start recovering.

Thank you for your continued interest in my life and especially for your prayers.

First Cycle of Treatment Successfully Completed

My 10-days off of treatment have come to an end and today I began the second cycle of treatment. By the 4th day during the rest period, I was feeling pretty good and continued to gain strength and energy each day. However, my white blood count did drop very low on the 4th day during the rest cycle and I had to go into the hospital 3 days in a row for shots that would force my bone marrow to make more white blood cells and then another trip to the hospital for another blood test to know where the blood counts were following the shots. My platelets had also dropped below normal, but they have recovered quite well now on their own. As treatment continues, it will become more difficult to maintain adequate blood counts; however, my local doctor has assured me he will use every resource available to aid my body in producing or replacing what is needed to keep me going in treatment. This is very reassuring to me.

In addition to your faithful prayers for healing and restoration of my health, please pray for some specific needs while I’m in treatment: 1) that my veins will hold up through all the infusions; 2) that they can easily access my veins with a minimum of pain (they are using the veins on the backs of my hands, along my wrists and forearms); 3) that my body will adjust and the side effects will minimize.

I miss you all and do thank you for the emails this past week. Your kind words and encouragement are greatly appreciated!