Rants and Rambles

Wow, I’ve been neglecting this blog. Sorry. I wish I had good reasons, even one good reason would be nice. It’s almost the end of my sixth cycle and my last entry was shortly after my fourth! Not much difference, cycle to cycle except the side effects seem to continue getting more intense. Nothing unpredicted, not sooner or longer, just “more”. I wonder sometimes whether it’s really getting worse or am I just more sensitive to it? Is it my anticipation that’s amplifying it? Does it matter?

The scan

I’d been wondering how they’d decide when I’d had enough. They scheduled a new CAT scan just before my sixth infusion. The test results would be back along with my periodic blood tests in time for my doctor’s appointment that I have the day before each chemo session. The idea with each blood test is to confirm that I’ve recovered well from the previous dose of the chemicals and that I’m ready for the next. If not, the dose can be adjusted.

At that time, the sixth treatment was supposed to be my “last” one. The CAT scan results changed that. There was good progress made, but not enough. I’m now scheduled for two more, with number 7 happening in a few days.

Christmas?

Since there hasn’t been any significant change in the way or timing of my body’s reaction to each treatment, I’m not very happy about this next cycle. Plans have been to spend the holidays with my extended “family” up here. I hope I’m up to it; December 25 will be right at the peak (or really depth) of the discomfort from the chemo. I expect that I won’t be very good company.