"We Can Kill You with This Stuff!"

“Or paralyze you.”  That’s what the doc said, trying to impress on me the seriousness of side-effects such as I suffered with the most recent round of chemotherapies.  Having just begun my third round of chemotherapy yesterday, now adjusted to avoid the sort of problems I had during and after the second round, I am under strict orders to contact Tennessee Cancer Specialists at the first appearance of any intestinal problems like I had for a good 2+ weeks earlier this month.  No “powering through.”  No understating.  No waiting until my next appointment to let the doctor know what’s been going on.  I was concerned about going easier on the cancer by making adjustments and delaying treatments.  My doctors seem far more concerned to find treatments and dosages that won’t seriously and perhaps permanently debilitate me or even potentially threaten my life. 

So we’ve dropped altogether one of the chemotherapies I was receiving intravenously (oxaliplatin), remaining on the other (herceptin), and cutting the dosage of the orally taken chemotherapy (xeloda) in half.  Just a day into this 21-day round, so far so good.  It would be a great answer to prayer to find the right combination of chemotherapies and dosages that I could take physically and which would still be effective against the cancer. 

My neuropathy seems to be improving, even though I can’t feel any lessening in the numbness in my fingers, hands, and feet.  But my handwriting has improved (even if I’m the only one who can tell), and I had a far easier time typing this past weekend than I had the week before.  I don’t think I’m just coping better, so I think probably the neuropathy is improving.  Dropping forks and pens a lot less.  I even went to the driving range last week and was able to hang on to the golf club through about 50 swings.  Hit it fat too often, but I’ve had that problem for years.  I am truly thankful to the Lord that my hands are regaining functionality – the swift and potentially permanent loss of function was disheartening and frustrating, even though I know my "job" as a saint (and yours) is to trust the Lord with any crook in my lot as he may allow, and so prove to be one of his children.  That particular trial seems to be passing, and I'm thankful.

As always, I appreciate your prayers and love very much.