Friday, April 22, 2011
Chemotherapy - Part One
Well, I have come out of the "chemo coma" - that's what I'm calling the first chemo experience. This is how it went. On Monday morning at 6:00 am, Wilson and I arrived at Texoma Medical Center to start this adventure. The surgery to place the port to administer the medication had to begin with an IV, of course. The nurse had a difficult time finding my veins, as always, and found one on the inside of my right wrist. She hit a nerve, and my hand kept going numb - uncomfortable to say the least. The surgery went well, and then I was supposed to go up to a room to begin the chemo. But, the person in charge told us we needed to go to the Cancer Center, so we did. When we got to the Cancer Center, they sent us to the oncology clinic, and they sent us right back to the hospital! The nurses on the oncology floor couldn't believe I walked in to the floor, they expected me to be wheeled in. By now, it was about 9:30 am. The nurse got me all comfy in the hospital bed to begin the chemo. The pharmacist had to do some testing on my blood before the first regimen of chemo could be given. Finally, at 2:30 pm, they started the chemo into the port. This was a very long, drawn out process. The medicine was very nauseating and strong. Wilson aptly called the process "wicked". They finally finished the procedure at 10:30 pm. Because the process finished so late, I had to wait until the next day for the pump to be put in with the next medication. We went in at 8:30 the next morning to get the pump placed. That medication ran until Thursday morning. I truly felt all the prayers and am confident I could not have made it without them. Now I know what to expect next time, and that helps so much! With all the prayers, I know I will have the strength to fight this!
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Port placement
Today the nurse called from the doctor's office and told me they were going to put the port for the chemo in at 6:00 AM on Monday, April 18, followed by the first dose of chemo. After that, I go to the cancer center and get the pump put in for the second dose of medicine over a course of three days while wearing the very cute and stylish "fanny pack". Monday is Wilson's birthday. Bless his heart. He gets to spend it running me back and forth.
Monday, April 11, 2011
The Plan of Attack!
This day has never really left the back of my mind since I found out I had cancer and the appointment was made - the very first oncology visit. I knew a lot of people had prayed over this day, and I truly felt a "peace that passes all understanding". I also knew I wanted a visual promise that I could look at and feel His presence. I put on my "Mamma Honey's" mother's ring. (My aunt had kept it since my grandmother had died, and had given it to me this past Christmas - such a precious gift!) I don't wear it every day because I don't want to lose it. Mamma Honey was my maternal grandmother. One of her pastors named her the "resident saint of Dorchester Baptist Church". That tells you a little about the Godly wisdom and pure love of the Lord that my grandmother lived every day of her life. She truly was a person I dearly loved and respected. Such a treasure! The ring on my finger helped me feel her arms around me and also feel the love and prayers of my precious family and friends.
Wilson and I got to the doctor's office early. And, of course, we had to talk to the financial secretary about the cost of procedures, drugs, etc. I have no insurance, and we had no idea of the cost of everything. She told us the particular chemo I would be taking would be provided by the drug company at no cost to us! What an answer to prayer. She is also working on help for all the rest of the expenses.
As we sat in that waiting room, I was struck with the sadness around me. People were talking about carcinomas and melanomas and being told they wouldn't live very long - their cancer was too far along. I sat there and just thanked God that He was in control.
We weren't there long until we were talking to the oncologist about the "regimen" I would be on. The surgeon will put a port in my chest, and on Monday I will have the first of the 24 chemo treatments. It takes about 2 hours to put the drug in, then I get to wear a pump for two days, like a fanny pack. :) Then the pump is taken out. This procedure happens every two weeks. This is the best course of action for me, and it has the best success rate of the cancer not returning.
He drew a diagram and showed us what they did in the surgery. He said my cancer was very "low grade". He then made a statement that kind of gave me chills. He told us that it is VERY rare, but he believes from all the pathology reports, that my cancer caused the appendicitis. He said that just rarely ever happened! That was another confirmation from the Father - He is in control!!
Thank you for praying me through this first day. I truly feel every one of your prayers and appreciate them so much! Keep them coming! :)
Wilson and I got to the doctor's office early. And, of course, we had to talk to the financial secretary about the cost of procedures, drugs, etc. I have no insurance, and we had no idea of the cost of everything. She told us the particular chemo I would be taking would be provided by the drug company at no cost to us! What an answer to prayer. She is also working on help for all the rest of the expenses.
As we sat in that waiting room, I was struck with the sadness around me. People were talking about carcinomas and melanomas and being told they wouldn't live very long - their cancer was too far along. I sat there and just thanked God that He was in control.
We weren't there long until we were talking to the oncologist about the "regimen" I would be on. The surgeon will put a port in my chest, and on Monday I will have the first of the 24 chemo treatments. It takes about 2 hours to put the drug in, then I get to wear a pump for two days, like a fanny pack. :) Then the pump is taken out. This procedure happens every two weeks. This is the best course of action for me, and it has the best success rate of the cancer not returning.
He drew a diagram and showed us what they did in the surgery. He said my cancer was very "low grade". He then made a statement that kind of gave me chills. He told us that it is VERY rare, but he believes from all the pathology reports, that my cancer caused the appendicitis. He said that just rarely ever happened! That was another confirmation from the Father - He is in control!!
Thank you for praying me through this first day. I truly feel every one of your prayers and appreciate them so much! Keep them coming! :)
Saturday, April 9, 2011
The "C" Word...the beginning
"I lift my eyes up to the mountains. Where does my help come from? It comes from you, Lord! You are the Maker of Earth and Heaven. And there is NOTHING that's too hard for you Lord. Lord, I run to you!" I love singing that song in choir because that particular verse in scripture was one of my mother's and grandmother's favorite verses to quote. I love the imagery it puts in your head when you recite it! The lifting up of your eyes, the expectancy, the yearning, the promises, the FAITH!
I have just begun a new faith journey. That's what I'm calling it. I have Stage 3 Colon Cancer, but it will be a journey of faith as God shows Himself strong!
On March 13, 2011 I awoke with a sharp pain in my right side. I just downplayed the pain and went on my merry way to church, then to work and other activities all week. By the time Friday came, the pain was really intense and I was running a fever. It was the last day of Spring Break and my sweet girls and precious grand babies and I were supposed to go to the zoo. Instead, I went to the zoo they call the hospital emergency room. After a few tests, they decided I had appendicitis, and needed an appendectomy. But when the surgeon came in, he wasn't as sure as the emergency room doctor. The surgeon told me he couldn't be certain about the diagnosis until he "got in there". So, my family was told the surgery would take about an hour. Five hours later, I awoke in the recovery room and the nurse told me the surgery was over. That first night was a blur of pain and morphine.
The next morning, Wilson was very quiet and serious (not his usual self), and told me he needed to tell me something. He then explained that when the surgeon began the procedure, I did have appendicitis. But, he also found cancer in my colon and small intestine and had to remove a section of each and restructure them both. We were both in shock. There were so many unanswered questions. We just sat there and stared at each other. I remember Wilson had opened the blinds in my room because I wanted to see the sunshine . My room was on the sixth floor. I literally lifted my eyes up and there straight out my window in some trees was a beautiful church steeple! I knew the Father was there and He was taking care of us. We cried and prayed and gave all this stuff to the Lord.
We had to wait two days to find out if the surgeon had gotten all the cancer. The oncologist came in on Monday morning and told us they had gotten all the cancer in the colon and small intestine, but it had spread to one little lymph node. So, because it is in one lymph node, they have to label it Stage 3 Colon Cancer. He then explained I would have to take chemo, but would be able to take it in pill form. Also, it should only take one round of chemo to kill the cancer cells. The Father blessed me with so many wonderful nurses during my hospital stay, one of them even prayed with me as she took my blood! Our wonderful friends have ministered to our family in so many different ways - we are truly blessed. Another chapter will begin as I begin chemo - I go to the oncologist next week.
I wanted to blog this journey so the Father would get all the glory and my faith would grow. I pray it will grow others and draw all of us closer to Him.
I have just begun a new faith journey. That's what I'm calling it. I have Stage 3 Colon Cancer, but it will be a journey of faith as God shows Himself strong!
On March 13, 2011 I awoke with a sharp pain in my right side. I just downplayed the pain and went on my merry way to church, then to work and other activities all week. By the time Friday came, the pain was really intense and I was running a fever. It was the last day of Spring Break and my sweet girls and precious grand babies and I were supposed to go to the zoo. Instead, I went to the zoo they call the hospital emergency room. After a few tests, they decided I had appendicitis, and needed an appendectomy. But when the surgeon came in, he wasn't as sure as the emergency room doctor. The surgeon told me he couldn't be certain about the diagnosis until he "got in there". So, my family was told the surgery would take about an hour. Five hours later, I awoke in the recovery room and the nurse told me the surgery was over. That first night was a blur of pain and morphine.
The next morning, Wilson was very quiet and serious (not his usual self), and told me he needed to tell me something. He then explained that when the surgeon began the procedure, I did have appendicitis. But, he also found cancer in my colon and small intestine and had to remove a section of each and restructure them both. We were both in shock. There were so many unanswered questions. We just sat there and stared at each other. I remember Wilson had opened the blinds in my room because I wanted to see the sunshine . My room was on the sixth floor. I literally lifted my eyes up and there straight out my window in some trees was a beautiful church steeple! I knew the Father was there and He was taking care of us. We cried and prayed and gave all this stuff to the Lord.
We had to wait two days to find out if the surgeon had gotten all the cancer. The oncologist came in on Monday morning and told us they had gotten all the cancer in the colon and small intestine, but it had spread to one little lymph node. So, because it is in one lymph node, they have to label it Stage 3 Colon Cancer. He then explained I would have to take chemo, but would be able to take it in pill form. Also, it should only take one round of chemo to kill the cancer cells. The Father blessed me with so many wonderful nurses during my hospital stay, one of them even prayed with me as she took my blood! Our wonderful friends have ministered to our family in so many different ways - we are truly blessed. Another chapter will begin as I begin chemo - I go to the oncologist next week.
I wanted to blog this journey so the Father would get all the glory and my faith would grow. I pray it will grow others and draw all of us closer to Him.
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