tata tales

Adriamycin and Cyclophosohamide... (aka AC)....

I'm home from the first of the new chemo protocol....And not feeling too bad.  I was worried, because this one is supposed to be harder on people than the last 12 that I finished a couple of weeks ago.  One of the new drugs is so toxic, that if it gets on your skin, it would damage the tissue, and the four (in total) infusions of it that I will get, are the only 4 a person can ever have in a lifetime..because any more would damage the heart.  But now I only have 3 left. YAY! So that's what I'm gonna focus on!  I'll let you know how it goes...

Next round....

                    

Tomorrow starts the next, and last 4 rounds of chemo.  I wasn't able to start it last Friday, because my platelets were too low... But they did decide to give me two units of blood , and with in a couple of days, I felt halfway decent!  I was able to spend a few hours each day in my studio, and you know that made me happy!!

The new chemo will be every other Friday, instead of every Friday... and I am hoping that will give my body more time to rest in between, and that in that second week, I will feel good enough to get in there, and make some more jewelery!

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Change of scenery....

I spent the Labor Day weekend on the Mendocino Coast, as I mentioned in my last post... My folks took me to chemo on Thursday, and then over to meet up with my husband, and friends!   I had a blood transfusion that worked really well the next day...so I was able to go with my Mom and Dad into Fort Bragg, go to Glass Beach, and look at some shops in Mendocino.  The next day however, sooo tired!!  Luckily, I could just rest, catch up on some reading, and visit with people...the guys were abalone diving, so the eating was good! And the scenery wasn't too bad either!

  We got home on Monday night, and only had a couple of days, before we had to leave again...Thursday for another MRI, and we spent the night in SF, since chemo was on Friday.  Unfortunately, chemo didn't happen.  My blood platelets were too low to start this next round.  I was really nervous, about starting this new chemo, because I don't know how I will feel after... but I was so upset, because I really just want to get it all over with.  Giving my body this rest, should allow my numbers to get back up... and because last week was actually a week early, we are still on track, from the original plan. 

The Bee Queen......

                           
    It's been a couple of weeks since I've posted. I had a rough couple of weeks...even though I was coming closer to the end of the first phase of my chemo, the enormity of it all seemed to close in.  Still another chemo      phase...surgery decisions to make...possible reconstructions...and the time that it will take to feel like myself again. (hair,strength, etc).  I was beginning to feel overwhelmed, by how hard it is to even climb my stairs... by how much time I seem to spend alone...by all of the projects that I want to get done, but seem to take so much energy, and some that just won't get done.  I have felt on the verge of tears at any moment.  On one of my "bad" days, I received a package in the mail.  In it was the lovely original painting by Danita, that some sweet Bella friends sent me. She is so adorable!!  Thank you, Gina, Michelle, Cheryl, Sandy, Lonnie and Stacy!! It seems that both my local friends, and far-away friends seem to just be there at the right time... with a sweet e-mail, a mini shopping trip, movie, or a kind gift. 

   At chemo #11, last Friday, I had another blood transfusion.  It didn't seem to give me the energy that the first one did, but hopefully it kept my numbers up for this week.  Tomorrow I am going to chemo #12...a day early.  My Mom and Dad are taking me, and then taking me up the coast (Hubby left today), to spend a few days on the coast!  I'm looking forward to the fresh air, and cool breezes!  Then next week I start the next phase... 4 treatments every other week.