Chemo Schedule

My sweet friend Margie asked for my chemo schedule on my blog, so folks would know when to pray, so here it is . . .

I am scheduled on Mondays every 3 weeks for 6 times, beginning last Monday:

April 9 (Cytoxan, Epirubicin, 5-Fu or Fluorouracil)
April 30 (same 3 drugs)
May 21 (same 3 drugs)
June 11 (new drug instead of previous 3--Taxotere)
July 2--my birthday! (Taxotere)
July 23 (Taxotere)

I go the day after every chemo tx for Nuelasta, a drug that stimulates white blood cell production.
Also, I go for blood work every Monday in-between to check my blood counts (my red count needs monitored, as well).

After the chemo, I have 6 weeks of daily radiation therapy.

I don't tell you these things to whine, (although I was really ill yesterday and ended up over at the hospital on IV fluids, an anit-emetic [anti-nausea med], a steriod, and an antacid). If I had had the energy to whine, I would have! Thank God for my husband, who took charge when he got home (I was totally incapable of taking care of myself yesterday--I could not even imagine in my wildest dreams picking up the phone and actually talking . . .) And thank God for the wonderful folks at our Armstrong Cancer Center, who stayed to take care of me. Hutch and Dr. BuchBarker, I don't have words to say how grateful I am. Thanks also so Chris and Hutch, who called today to see how I was. (Shaky, but better!)

We have plans to try different anti-nausea meds next time so this doesn't get so bad. No one ever knows how they will react to chemo--some people breeze right through, so don't be scared.

Those of you with friends going through this, just please be aware that there is so much more to the regime that "just" surgery, chemo, radiation. There are tests and more tests, and surgery to insert a port, and doctor visits, and more tests, and complications. And even after tx is over, there are continuing tests (usually every 6 months) and monitoring, and always the concern that the cancer may recur. For many, there are financial difficulties. Keep them in your prayers.


From a person who hates to take medication (my previous repertoire consisted of ibuprofen and M & M's!), I now have a whole arsenal. It is hard for me to see myself as a sick person who needs taken care of. I want to take care of my family, not the other way around.

Please pray that I can submit to this better than I am. James says "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have it's full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing" [James 1:2-4 ESV]. I really do want to be perfect and complete in Him.

Thank you all again for you love, concern, and prayers.