CHEMO IS DONE!!!

Elation, excitement, glee, exhilaration, relief, delight ... triumph!!!

These are just a few of the emotions I feel the day after MY LAST CHEMO!!

I have had a fabulous day so far.  I talked to my brother and sister about an upcoming, very exciting visit next weekend.  Then, Kate and I went on a superb power walk -- still trying to build my stamina. The quiet, gravel road meanders along the river and has gentle climbs and downward slopes.  I even managed 9+ minutes of running!!!! Now, mind you, that was NOT 9 consecutive minutes -- sometimes I could only make it for a grand total of 45 seconds before needing to slow down to catch my breath -- but, Kate kept track on her stopwatch and we did over 9 minutes!  My original goal was 7 minutes -- not only is 7 my favourite number but I got to sit in chair #7 for my last chemo yesterday.  Before I knew it, we were at 8 minutes -- well, yesterday was chemo #8 -- perfect! However, by the time we got back to the car, we had clocked an amazing 9+ minutes.  I realize that this might not seem like a major accomplishment, but when I look back on my days following previous chemo days, it is incredible.

After cycle #1, I was bent over the toilet bowl on Day 2. For cycles #2-4, I was lucky to leave the house and attempt a shuffling walk around the block on Day 2. That's why today's walk/run seems like such a major accomplishment.

Me attempting to be brave, but I couldn't make it to the top :)

We made it!! Back at the car.

Our healthy lunch when we got home.
Fresh veggies and a spinach, cucumber, banana smoothie.

A quick few words about my exciting, medical appointment-filled last few days.

THURSDAY:

9:40 a.m. - Dr. Proctor for my regular oncologist visit pre-chemo.  I did remember to ask him about the chest CT this time.  I was freaked out that he had felt something or suspected something and just wasn't telling me.  NOT THE CASE - thank the Lord!!  He said since I needed the abdomen CT to look at the lesion on my liver anyways, why not have a look at my chest and make sure all is well.  Normally, a patient wouldn't get any kind of check up like this until at least 6 months after chemo, so I should consider myself lucky that I was getting a CT now.  So ... it's a good thing ... it's a precaution ... it's checking that there is NO SIGN of any new growth of any of that yucky cancer stuff.

10:00 a.m. - off to the chemo ward to get my port accessed and to get Alteplase injected.  This was to save me an hour on Friday pre-chemo since my blessed port has been such a nuisance.  So ... Nurse April accesses my port and ... guess what?????  BLOOD!!! Go figure!! Then, my chemo brain took over and I didn't think to ask her to take blood for my lab work :( :(

1:30 p.m. - blood work at the lab

2:15 p.m. - CT time.  I lived through the excruciating pain joy of two attempts at putting an IV in the back of my hand.  PS ... that hand now has a beautiful, blue bruise that covers pretty much the entire back of my hand.  Since Nurse April had put a blood thinner in my port to keep it clot free for Friday, they were unable to use my port for the contrast liquid for the CT.

FRIDAY:

8:00 a.m. - Tissue expander inflation at Dr. Meredith's.  His best guess is one, or maybe two, more inflations and then I'm done :) :)  Apparently, he over-inflates a bit so that when the implant is put in (likely in February-ish), the skin will droop a bit.  That ongoing curse of a 54-year-old droopy breast he has to try to match up.  Good thing there's a "lift" happening on the same day.

Me checking out the latest inflation :)
Just about a matching set!!

9:20 a.m. - Off to Dr. Cinel, my optometrist.  I have been having trouble with a watery eye.  My left eye runs and runs and runs.  Not 24/7, but probably every third day or so.  It is quite a nuisance to constantly carry around a kleenex to dab away the tears.  YES -- chemo affects tear ducts.  Is there ANYTHING that chemo doesn't affect???  He gave me a long, medical explanation about the two kinds of tears we have and how chemo dries up the thick tears that moisturize our eyes constantly.  When these thick tears are destroyed by chemo, the eye compensates by producing the thin, runny, tears that we get when we're emotional or get something in our eye.  So ... even though it's a nuisance, my eye is trying to do the best job it can to stay moisturized.

10:15 a.m. LAST CHEMO - Esther and David were both with me for the first hour or so.  Then, David left to do errands again.  Esther has been a constant chemo companion since I've been home for chemo, and I appreciate her so much.  She gets me lunch, laughs with me, and patiently sits while I have my Benadryl-induced naps.  We were on our way about 3 p.m.  Stopping quickly for my LAST batch of Neupogen, we arrived home about 4:30 p.m.

Done!!!  Finished!!!  Triumphant!!!
I know this is only a step along my journey, and I still have many steps to take -- radiation and more surgery -- but it feels like a huge, huge accomplishment.

Chemo #8 -- DONE :):)