November-13-2007

A few obstacles but I am still running!!!

"May those who fear you rejoice when they see me, for I have put my hope in your word" Psalms 110:74

Greetings everyone! This is a long one...!

As Thanksgiving draws closer, I pray that all of you have exciting plans and travel safely wherever you may be going. I am going to Thanksgiving with Ben's family this year down in southern North Carolina, hoping for some warmer weather than here! I cant believe fall is here and that winter is on its way. It was in the thirties and forties last weekend- burr! The Virginia leaves are gorgeous right now-yellows oranges and reds. Even though I hate the cold, I love this time of year!

Well I received round three of chemo last Monday (11-5-07) and had quite a different experience from the first two rounds. First of all, I was suffering from a cold for two weeks prior to round three that was unrelated to getting chemo. There is a nasty cold spreading around this area and almost everyone I know (except for Ben) has gotten a version of it. Unfortunately the Sunday before getting chemo, my cold got ugly and I went to after hours care. They think I had bronchitis and gave me strong antibiotics and muscle relaxers (for the rib muscle I pulled coughing). I was relieved to be given medications but was nervous if this cold would impact my chemo experience.

Secondly, this round was my first time receiving Taxotere, a new drug. I switched to this because the first two rounds didn't shrink my tumor at all, so my doctor grew concerned. I am hoping that this drug works it magic because boy it did a number on me! After three or four days, I developed peripheral neuropathy in my hands and feet to the point where I felt like I did not have skin on either. Thankfully I am not numb and do not have sensitivity to temperature changes, but walking and using my fingertips has been a challenge. I have worked it out though by soaking in a hot tub and staying active (moving around seems to help the blood flow).

In addition to the pain, I also developed thrush in my mouth. Thrush is a yeast infection of the mouth caused by the lack of normal bacteria that lives in our mouths, which chemo and the antibiotics killed. This causes a white tongue and mucous membranes and makes everything I eat taste extreme! One piece of candy tastes like a pound of sugar! Needless to say, a lot of what Ive been eating has been bland! My oncologist wrote me a presciption for both a mouthwash and a pill, which has been curing the thrush thankfully!

I also had a sonogram on 11/7 to see what the tumor is doing. The results are inconclusive as of now. The radiologist says there is a new tumor lateral to the old tumor. But the interesting and confusing thing is both old and new are half the size of the original. Therefore I think that perhaps the original tumor is in two pieces now, either from the biopsy or tumor, and that it has neither shrunk or grown. I am sending the results to my surgeon to see what she thinks.

So a lot has happened in the past week or so, but I am still doing great! I had the opportunity to go to Virginia Tech (my school's rival) for a football game with Ben, Katelin, and a bunch of our other friends for the weekend. We had a great time! Yes, my hands and feet hurt and my mouth was annoying me, but I think it is so important to keep busy and having fun with the people who love me! Nothing is worse than sitting at home and thinking about it! Thank God my cold is almost gone, my thrush is improving, and my neuropathy has been manageable.

I still don't think I have ANYTHING to complain about, especially compared to most cancer patients! I just pray that this chemo begins to work because I cant help but worry about if it doesn't. I have a second opinion at Georgetown University at the end of the month in case the chemo isn't effective. My oncologist thinks pushing surgery up is the best thing if this drug doesn't work, but asking someone else never hurts! Thank you for all your love, support, and prayers! I will be posting new pictures of my lovely wig and even bald head within the next few days, so stay posted on the website. You all make this possible for me- thank you!!!!

Love,
Jami

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6