Today I had my 4th treatment!

I thought I would blog now that I'm home because normally the steriods and medicines they give that keep me going will last for a couple of hours before it tends to start taking me down. However, I'm believing the Lord for an even better time this time.

Thanks to those who say that I look good through this journey. All the Glory goes to God that I've not lost all my hair (only about 1/2 even though you can't tell it) and I've not lost a pound. In the past I would have loved to have been able to lose but not like this .....it is too painful. The steriods keep you from losing but the doctors have said those that maintain their weight will do better through chemo. If you are too small, the chemo drugs will decimiate you. Well, Ms. Fatty Pants here does not need to worry about that. :=)

I was trying to lose weight before I found out that I had cancer and couldn't lose. When I had my colon resection surgery at the end of July and they wouldn't even allow me to have an ice chip for 10 days, still NO weight loss! No food, no water...no ice.....I was out walking the halls every night. Other people on my floor would get on the scale each time and would lose 1lb.-2lbs. each day. I would get on the scale...no change. When I came back to the doctor to determine next steps, they sent me to an oncologist for chemo. The other guy that was losing all the weight, his family was called in to discuss his prognosis. His future seemed bleak. Big picture....maintaining my weight is a blessing in this journey. I feel by looking at others at Emory going through this and how much they've lost that this is part of God's protection.

All the wonderful dinners that everyone has brought to our family day after day has been amazing! I'm not picky and therefore want to taste all the different dishes that others prepare. This all helps to keep up my cell counts. So, thank you for all the meals...it is an awesome blessing to our family.

By the way, one of the most remarkable things that happened today was the equation they use to determine my white/red cell counts along with my platelets was actually up from my last treatment and the treatment before...!! Tell me that isn't God's protection. They are expected to continue to go down each treatment and mine was significantly up from the prior treatments! All the prayers, good food and vitamins! Thank you Jesus!

Oh, MRI results....they did not see where any cancer spread. YIPPPE-KI-YAY!! I wasn't looking for cancer spread but the cause of the intense pain in my back, which never goes away. They did not find anything related to the cancer. They found degenerative vertebre, etc that seemed normal with age. They are now sending me to a Spine Specialist. Just like I needed another doctor to go to....but it has to be resolved, as it does not go away and it is not a pain that can be ignored. As I remind myself in this journey, I have options....3 months from now....it could have been over....but God's grace sustained me and now I have choices of medicine that is available...that in itself is a blessing. Options vs. NO Options=No brainer.

I have my ultrasound scheduled for this Friday when I go to get my chemo unhooked. So I plan to have resolution on the 3 lumps they've found, maybe this week. If I can get all these tests out of the way and just focus on one area, I think my focus overall would be more profound and solid. I don't like so many unresolved issues with so little I can do. So if you notice bad spelling, grammatical errors, I'll chalk it up to the drugs I'm on. ha. Remember each time I have chemo, my dog gets sick....so that must mean something. He has short term memory loss too....he forgets that he is supposed to bark at strangers....ha. Just kidding....if you know him, you know that he would bark at you if he were totally asleep! :-(

They did note the lesion on my kidney, which I believe was already on a CT scan but my doctor said we would monitor it through my chemo and if it is cancerous, he felt the chemo would take care of it. The MRI pathology report indicated a CT scan needed to be done or a renal ultrasound....she here we go....more tests. They also noted the lump on my spine but they are pretty sure it is just a cyst also....Gee....my body is just full of lumps, bumps and cysts....isn't that a disgusting thought!! ha. Hey, I love the vessel God gave me and I'm so thankful he is going to give me many more years to reside in it for HIM! :=)

So far...no new spread of cancer and for that, I say "Praise the Lord, Victory is Mine"

Love to all,
Leah