NEW CHEMO COCKATAIL!!!!

I am very happy to report that I am seeing improvement each day with the redness and swelling in my leg....I think I really love my new chemo cocktail! I am still tired and weak feeling...still feeling a little out of body and a little achy...I am not complaining about this at all, because if I had no symptoms, then I would be asking myself if the chemo was working....that's just the way I think! I have been praying that I would soon get the swelling down and be able to walk without the cane or walker....once again, our awesome God is answering my prayers! I am not going to take a chance of falling again like I did at church, so I will not get over confident and push my limits...I will use assistance while needed...besides my sister would kill me, if I didn't! I know that I am going in the right direction! I feel so very blessed!

ROUND #8 FINALLY DOWN! YAY!!!

Since I will now have my chemo every two weeks, instead of every three weeks....I will be seeing Dr. Sneed every four weeks. On the chemo days that I don't see him, I will be able to take my chemo at the Arkansas Oncology office here in Hot Springs. It will save a trip to Little Rock. I went to the Hot Springs office on Monday for my treatment, but due to a miscommunication , my drugs weren't ready! I went back on Tuesday, without a problem. My fighting gloves are back out and I am still "Fighting Like a Girl"! One of the things that the new drug combination can do is cause sever anemia...will be anxious to have the lab work done on Tuesday...can't take the Neulasta shot because of now taking the chemo every two weeks. God is in control and I have faith in Him to handle this.

Hubby got unsettling news about his surgery needed for his shoulder. He can't be off his Plavix until he has had his stent in for one year...which will be December 15th....a long time to wait while in such pain. The doctors are supposed to be consulting to see if maybe he would be able to have a steroid injection or something else to get him through these next six months...he can hardly roll over in bed at night.....please send some prayers for him!

Flowers and garden are doing well...getting afternoon thunderstorms every afternoon!

God is awesome....He is good all the time....He is the "Great Physician"....I am soooo blessed!!!

Hope everyone has a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend!

ROUND #8 POSTPONED!

Went for chemo today. Leg is still red and swollen...can't walk without cane or walker...Yuck! Dr. Sneed said the swelling is from the current chemo I am taking. He is changing my chemo drugs starting next Monday. I will be taking two drugs this time every two weeks. I won't be able to take the Neulasta shots (I bet my insurance company will be happy with that) because they have to be given fourteen days apart. He said the new drugs could possibly make my white count drop and cause severe anemia..if that happens, would have to have a blood transfusion! They will monitor it closely with weekly lab. I know that God is the "Great Physician" and He is in control and He is on my side. I will keep "Fighting Like a Girl"! He says that I am NOT in remission yet, it is too early...He said the CT showed. what looked to be bone scar tissue, but there could be some cancer cells, therefore the necessity of more chemo before another PET scan. He has gotten me this far with such good results, I am not going to argue with him! Hopefully, I will soon be able to walk device free....what a wonderful day that will be!

Yesterday, Kimberly gave me a "Pink Party" celebrating the good results of my scans. It was a wonderful day with friends, good food and wonderful gifts! I am so very blessed to have so many precious and wonderful people in my life..."I get by with a little help from my friends".
Please keep the prayers coming....they are much appreciated!

BITTERSWEET FEELINGS!!!

Spring is one of my favorite times of the year...all the gorgeous colors of the flowers and trees in bloom, the return of my little hummingbirds, the cardinals, blue jays...all singing from early in the morning, the celebration of Easter! Seeing all the drab of winter turn into such a magical show of color and life assures us of hope of renewal in our lives!

Spring is also the birthday of my precious Dad and precious Jennifer! They both celebrated March birthdays! My Dad passed away April, 19, 2003 and Jennifer passed away April 21, 2006! The remembrance of all these Holidays and anniversaries sometimes gets to me, especially with Mother's Day this Sunday! I miss my precious Mother so very, very much...I talked to her every single day...I miss her humor, kindness, wit, advice and her love of life! I miss being a Mother to Jennifer.....that was my greatest joy in life!

My hope for everyone who is blessed enough to still have their Mother, is that you will tell them how much you love them and how much they mean to you! If you are blessed to have children, give them an extra hug and tell them how happy you are to be their Mother!

I try very hard not to dwell in my self pity! I do realize how fortunate I am that I had such a good realationship with my Mom and Jennifer! One thing I know for sure......My Mom and Jennifer both knew how very, very much I loved them and cherished them! That is something that I am very grateful for and also for the promise that I will see them again!

STILL ON CLOUD NINE!

I am so blessed...God is so good all the time! I still can hardly believe all the good news of last week...clear bone scan, clear CT scan and cancer markers normal! What a blessing and what a testimony to the power of prayer! I know that I have many prayer warriors out there and I am so grateful for all of them. Our church is doing a wonderful series on prayer...if you have a chance, you should listen to these messages by going to www.fellowshipnorth.net....well worth your time! Craig and Harold are doing an amazing job!

I know that my battle is not over yet...but I can see the end more clearly now. People ask why I am still going to have to have more chemo with such good results. Dr. Sneed explained that because the cancer came back..it is metastatic from the breast cancer ten years ago...we will have to treat it agressively, so that it won't come back again! I will have a few more chemo treatments, then we will repeat the PET scan and then determine the long term plan. My understanding is that this will be a maintenance chemo plan. I have talked to other patients receiving chemo when I do, and some of them are there for a once a month chemo! I know that God is in control and that He has the plan. I just have to keep my faith and have patience! I can't ask God, the Great Physician, to guide my doctors in my care, and then not follow their advice! I am truly pleased that I had such amazing results this soon! Like I said, God is good....all the time!

The past week was a rough one physcially....very tired and weak and having the "out of body" experience again! I am beginning to lose my fingernails, which I didn't do ten years ago...this is a strange thing to happen...but as I look at them...I just see in my mind all the cancer cells that left with them!

Today I am feeling much better...getting some strength back! The weather is going to be gorgeous...will try to get outside and soak up some Vitamin D....while giving thanks for all my blessings!