Tuesday, 12/14 -- Keep on Truckin'

Sorry for the late posting, but blogger.com has been acting up again. Couldn’t post this message until Wednesday morning.

The results from the doctor's visit yesterday was non-dramatic. Not that I'm looking for drama in the oncologist's office, mind you.

My blood work continues to improve, all across the board. I haven't had the need for the two "booster shots" that they had been giving me, Aranesp and Nupagin. I'm sure I misspelled these names. Each one works to stimulate blood cell growth, white and red cells. I haven't needed them. Wheee!

My iron level is also good, hopefully I can stop taking the supplements soon. I'll be tough as nails otherwise.

My tumor markers are well within normal ranges, no signs of new growth or activity (in as much as they can tell through blood work). My calcium levels are also within "normal" ranges.

Good blood. Good, good blood.

I got my bug juice and it has no pronounced side effects as of yet. I do have the yuck taste in my mouth, but I battle it with food and it goes away. Ironic, eh?

Next week I have off from chemo, but I start another 3 week cycle of the same stuff starting on the 28th. Possibly getting CT and other scans along the way or afterwards. The Doc said that he'd order scans sooner if I was displaying more intense or altogether new symptoms. Since I'm doing well, clinically and physically, he doesn't see a need to do one sooner. Fine by me.

I'm not upset about getting another round of chemotherapy. I was hoping that I'd be done for a while, but the oncologist wants to keep at it to make sure we take care of the remaining cancer cells. Kick their mother-loving asses.

The side effects of this kind of chemo isn't as crippling as the last kind. I'm able to go to work at least 4 hours a day (still trying to stretch that into more hours, but it's a slow process), my energy level is up because my blood levels are returning to a normal, stable condition, and my hair is growing back. It makes life more livable.

Sure I have my bad days and some of the side effects that I haven't mentioned are pretty bad, but all in all, I'm glad to be alive. Plus I can see better days ahead.

Keep on Truckin'.