Date Night and Radiation Consult…
First, my apologies for not updating last night, I know that many of you are out with your families right now!
I had my radiation consult yesterday afternoon, as you know. It went rather well, honestly. He went over the side effects of radiation (losing your hair, nausea, fatigue). And then a strange thing happened. He used the “cure” word! My mom asked him if he expected a cure for me, and he said verbatim “Thats what she is here for, is it not?” We smiled, and agreed that we liked him alot!
I was fitted for the mask, and had a ct scan done, which wasnt bad. He said that he would take my mri’s from the local hospital and pin point the margins from that, if he could. If not, I will have to have another MRI next week. He said that I should expect to start not this week, but next, which is good because Emma has transplant clinic in Gainesville next Thursday. He said that the treatments would be 6 weeks (for 5 days) and last 15 minutes.
So we left there a little lighter, and with smiles on our faces. I really really like this oncologist and his staff.
Then Mark and I went on a double date with Shay and Michelle from Marks work. We had dinner at Applebees, followed with Icecream from ColdStone. We decided to walk around, because our movie wasn’t starting for 45 minutes. We ran into a group from a Non-Denominational church and started talking (well, they started talking!) They were there witnessing to the teens around them. Towards the end of the conversation the man pulled out his cell phone and said “Mark, let me ask you a question, You have 3 minutes to lead me to the Lord because I have a knife in my back. Can you do it?” I stood there in awe of my husband, and his knowledge of the bible and the salvation story. He presented the gospel so very well!
We then went to the Movie “Pirates of the Carribean, At Worlds End” were I slept thru the entire thing, honestly!
It was good to get out, and do normal things. It was good to be with friends. It was good to not think about my situation for an evening. Today I woke up with a new resolve, for lack of a better word. The consultations are behind us, and we have a game-plan. I am very well versed in my care, I have my family around me, and most of all I have my Savior beside me.
Who could ask for anything more…
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One down, one to go..
I was mistaken yesterday when I told you that I would be having a radiation/chemotherapy consult today. Today we met with and oncologist who will be handling my chemotherapy, and he referred me to a local radiation clinic here in Sarasota. I will have my radiation consult tomorrow at 4pm. We came home this afternoon with a pile of prescriptions, one of which was Temador. I will be on this medication for a year (not what I had hoped for, time wise, but it is standard protocol for cancer patients). I will share with you what I am on (in medical terms) tomorrow, we just dropped the script’s off at Walgreen’s. He put me on a nausea medication with a back up of Zolfran (or however you spell it) if I need it, an antibiotic (precaution for pneumonia while I am going thru chemo) and some more that I cant remember right now. (I am having trouble with my short term memory, so please pray for that) I will also be getting labs once a week on Fridays to make sure my white cell count doesn’t drop, if it does then I will have to stop chemo. His nurse was very nice, and gave me a hug when I left. I did have moment in the cafeteria where I cried. Reality hit me pretty hard when we walked in the door, seeing all these people with no hair made me really sad- I made it all the way to the cafeteria and broke down. But after that I was okay.
Here are my post op MRI’s. The second picture was with contrast, so that is why the spot is white.
I am amazed at the first image. My incision on the top of my head is so very visible there. And the second image, I am amazed that the tumor was that big… and I never knew that it was there. That is just unbelievable to me. The nurse asked me if i was on any seizure or edema medications, to which I replied “no”. She said that I was really lucky. I just nodded and said “I am blessed”.
And I am…
So there you have it. I will update tomorrow regarding my radiation consultation. Pray for continued strength for me…that I will go in there and I will beat this… and that I will not break down like I did today. My heart breaks for all those who are going thru this…but one thing I noticed today is that there is a fight in their eyes..
Just like mine.
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