Bye Bye to Chemo!!

I am officially done with all Chemo. I am sooo excited to be done with this phase. I can't believe this day is finally here. My sister Christy, who is visiting from California, came with me. She brought me balloons to congratulate me on being done. She has a daughter that just finished a 2 1/2 year treatment for Leukemia so you would think she would be the last one that wanted to step foot into another cancer clinic but she did, and she was actually excited about it.



There was a lady there whose husband was just starting chemo for the first time that day. I felt bad that he was just starting because I remember meeting someone my first day that was just finishing and I never thought I would never finish...but here I am, done!

The nurses there gave me a bottle of sparkling cider to congratulate me. I finally took some pictures at the clinic. I had never taken any pictures of me at the clinic so I finally brought my camera along to document it.



The other good news is, I get my port out tomorrow. So soon, but they wanted it to quickly so I would have 2 weeks of healing before they started my radiation. So tomorrow is the port removal. Hopefully it's not as painful as it was going in.

Then in 2 weeks, on Aug. 12, I meet with my radiation doctor to get all ready for that and then radiation should start just a few days after that. They are still estimating 3 weeks but I will know more when I meet with them.

I'll update in a few days and let everyone know how the port removal went. Until then, I am just enjoying the last of the chemo side effects. Ok, enjoying is a little strong but knowing once they go away they aren't coming back makes me feel soooo good.

So BYE BYE to Chemo!!!!!!!!!!!!

#11 feels one step away from Heaven (figuratively only of course!!)

It feels sooo great to know I only have to have one more chemo! #11 went fine. My sister, Michelle, came with me this time and was nice enough/brave enough to leave her one month old behind for the afternoon to come with me. Hopefully it was a nice break for her and got her out of the house while my parents watched all 3 of her kids. Thanks Michelle for coming and mom AND Dad for watching the kids. It was fun to sit and talk like always. One other thing I don't think I have ever mentioned is that I have a cousin my age that is the manager of the lab dept. at the clinic and every chemo I have had he comes in and sits down and talks to us for a while. It's always nice to see his familiar face at each of my appts. and has been helpful with some good information from time to time. Thanks Travis for all your support.

Some positive information from this last chemo:

• I get to have my port taken out as soon as my last chemo is done.
• I really don't have to have a neulasta shot next time
  (so today will be my last neulasta shot. I told my doctor that I was so happy to hear that news that I am almost happier about that then being done with chemo!)
• I will meet with the radiation doctor on Aug. 12 for my consultation and will start very soon after that. They are still saying about 3 weeks of radiation.
  
• After radiation finishes I will meet with my doctor every 3 months and get a PET/CT Scan every 6 months for at least a couple years to make sure this all stays away!

So while I have some insomnia (due to some steroids they give me), a little nausea, and a nasty taste in my mouth right now, all in all I don't really care because I only have to do this one more time!!!!

Double Digits, #10 is Done!

That's right, I am in double digits. I really never thought I would see the day I hit double digits in chemo's. After #3, I thought it might be an eternity before I got to the end, but here I am. I am still on cloud 9 with my cancer free news and the light at the end of the tunnel is helping me get through the rest of it.

Chemo went on right as scheduled. My sister Lori came with me this time. My mom volunteered to watch my sister's kids for her and for my other sisters so they can each take a turn coming with me. I think everyone is a little curious what this is all about. So we had a good time talking and telling stories.

The best news of the day is that most likely I will not have to get my nasty Neulasta shot on my last treatment. That will be the best present ever. Not only to be done with Chemo but not have to put up with the side effects of Neulasta will be a little (ok a lot) of an extra treat for me.

Thanks for everyone's comments, phone calls and emails of congratulations. It's been fun to read them all and celebrate the great news with you.