LIFE AT 60 - 2ND ROUND

Just saw the Dr.  Answered a few questions I had, now Im all hooked up for the next couple of hours.  LOL  Very nice nurses and they dont seem to mind my kidding them.  Looks like I have one more chemo after this one, then 35 treatments of radiation.  THAT Im not looking forward to.  The radiation from everything Ive been told is the most "damaging" to my throat, voice, etc.  I know that God is protecting me and I know that no permanent harm will come to me.  THANKFULLY I still have my voice and am able to sing and will be doing that this weekend in choir for Easter.  Dr said I will probably temporarily lose my voice during radiation.  HOWEVER Im just believing that all will be good and that everything will go according to Gods plan.

The Dr also said to wait an extra day or 2 to get the Neulasta shot.  That apparently helps with the bone and joint pain.  SO I will come in on Thursday and see what happens!  AHHH the new journeys one travels when going thru treatments.  LOL

Took a Benedryl pill this time as they were out of IV for it.  Now I have a bag of nausea medicine going in, THEN I get the poison!  Actually it really is toxic, but the body is able to withstand it.  Our bodies are pretty amazing all things considered.  We can withstand pretty much anything and take a pretty good hit of chemicals to fight disease.  The radiation is toxic, the chemicals are toxic, pretty much everything done to treat the C word is toxic.  BUT they have over an 85% cure rate doing what they do.  That is way better than it used to be.

I had a friend on Sunday ask me if I "knew" how many people are praying for me.  In all honesty I had to say no.  I really dont.  I know it is a lot, but an actual number is beyond my comprehension.  I know there are total strangers praying, all because they were asked to.  A lady at church, who I dont know, heard my name and said she had been praying.  Gods Kingdom is pretty amazing.  It seems that we are all family, just because we serve a very big God.  One thing I do know for certain, is that life is different.  Basically a whole new outlook.  Ive noticed myself looking at things a lot different.  Noticing the trees, grass, flowers.  (EVEN if they do make me sneeze)  LOL  Ive also taken notice of people and their situations.  Ive noticed children that have cancer and see how they handle it, and it blows me away.  Pound for pound, they probably take a bigger hit of the drugs than I do, yet they handle their situation far better.

I have to admit, there were days over the last couple of weeks, I just wanted to quit.  I guess it was getting a virus on top of treatments, and on top of pain, etc.  HOWEVER I have several friends that either message me on face book or text me just to see how Im doing and to say "hang in there" or "Im praying"  Those little notes mean so very much.  I have a wife who has been there every step of the way and has encouraged me and pulled me thru some very dark hours.  Im believing that I will be virus free this time and things will be much better.  The chemo really was not that bad, so getting the shot a day later and "pre-treating" with Claritin, and Motrin, I should be good.  LOL

It looks like the weather is going to cool down a bit later this week, maybe I can get out and ride my bicycle a mile or 2.  (actually would like to get 10 miles in for a couple of days.)

Well they just started the Taxotere, the bad cells are running for their lives!!!  This stuff is like RAID is to ants.  The Carboplatin is next, I guess I get my fill of "carbs" today!  The drag is the Taxotere also affects my taste buds, so even water tastes funny!  OH WELL the price of being beautiful and healthy!  Beautiful because I figure in about a week or so, I should be totally bald, and you know they say bald is beautiful!!! LOL  If things go according to plan, I should be about done with this mess by my birthday in mid June.  Gonna P A R T Y!!!!  Actually I think Renita and I will take a vacation somewhere fun!

I really hope that my blogs are uplifting and helpful to those of you out there that read them and need a lift physically, mentally, spiritually.  I go thru the same ups and downs as others with this wretched disease, I just look to God for help when I need it, and believe me, that is a constant cry for help.  :)  HE is always faithful.