Powerful Medicine

I've always been a fan of cocktail hour but now my cocktails are called chemo and it happens every three weeks. It isn't an hour but more like 5-6 hours. Here's the way it goes. Everything happens through a port in my chest. They take blood first to make sure my counts are good enough to accept the chemo. Then they start hanging bags of drugs. I once asked for a bag of margaritas but my doctor discouraged it. I get two anti-nausea drugs and one steroid as part of my pre-meds. Next are two drugs that are actually called immunotherapy drugs - Perjeta and Herceptin. These two drugs I will receive every 3 weeks for 1 full year due to my type of HER2+ breast cancer. Next come the nasty drugs - Taxotere and Carboplatin. They are the drugs that made my hair fall out and makes me loose my appetite and taste buds. They each take 30 minutes to administer except one which takes an hour. It goes by pretty quickly because I always have Dan and friends with me.

Most of the time between therapies I feel pretty good. There is a period when I'm not so good - this week was one of those times. It usually starts day 5 after chemo and lasts until day 9. They call it Nadir which basically means low point. It is in reference to the blood counts, particularly low white blood cell count and platelet count. I feel like I gave two pints of blood not just one and have zero appetite and nothing tastes good. But I'm feeling much better now.

In addition to all the medicine I described above I receive a more powerful medicine and that is from my family and friends. Not one day has gone by this week where I didn't receive a card or flowers. Your words truly lift me up. I have received so many cards I need to get a second storage bin! The one I have is 6" tall and it is overflowing. I could open my own Get Well section at the Hallmark store.

My friend Terri went with me to #4 chemo last week and she got me a cute hat and a daily devotion book. Terri was out of town on my first day of chemo so she sent me a card that I continue to go back to. This is some of what she wrote...

If you are feeling sad go ahead and cry. If you need to have a little pity party know you're entitled! If you need a little giggle think of the picture of Ben on your bulletin board (it's really funny). If you need encouragement think of your sweet Mom and all the lessons she imparted! If you need strength remember your Dad. If you need your feet rubbed ask that handsome husband of yours (my feet are off limits)! If you need to feel joy think about Clint, Clair and Ben. If you need hope think of the beautiful grandchildren in your future! If you need faith rely on your Heavenly Father. And finally, if you need a friend look to me! I've got you!

I'm so blessed to have so many wonderful friends and family supporting me with your love, your prayers and your grace. You and my Heavenly Father are the most powerful medicine a girl could ever need.

xo