Many of you know that I started back on chemo on Thursday, October 20. In preparation for this round of chemo, I was required to get an ECG (echocardiogram) to make sure my heart was in good shape. So, after work on Friday, October 14, I went and had the test done. I was the last test that day. I figured if there was a problem, I'd hear about it over the weekend and get the results in my portal on Monday -- at the very latest, Tuesday. Well, I waited and waited and waited some more.
On Thursday morning, I treated myself to breakfast at a local diner. I had one of my favorite choices -- Cinnamon Bun French Toast. YUMMY!!! It was nice to have a little me time before I started more chemo.
My oncologist appointment early Thursday afternoon before my infusion. They, too, were waiting for the results. The nurse even called the Cardiology department to find out why my results were delayed. Nothing. The only bummer of the appointment was that they forgot to tell me and give me orders for one of the tests that I need to have before chemo -- a urine test. I would need to do that before I could get chemo. I finished with my appointment and the good news ... my CA-125 had gone DOWN exactly 100 points since August 16!!! Why??? My doctor thought it might have been the COVID booster that I got, but I informed her that I thought it was a God thing. She agreed. After listening to my lungs, she also thought that my "large" left pleural effusion was not quite so large anymore. I also think that the decrease in fluid around my lung was also a God thing!!! God does work in mysterious & wonderful ways!!! It reminds me of these verses - Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV says:
After hearing that news, I headed up to the infusion floor and waited to be called back to my lovely chemo chair. Once there, I was given the little cup and pointed towards the bathroom. I finished my "test" and brought back the cup and it was taken to be tested. So, the nurse hooked me up and started me on fluids. Since I also had to have infusions of both magnesium and potassium, they could be given without the urine test or the ECG results.
While those two drugs were dripping into my body, the urine test results came back and I would be able to get the Avastin, but they were STILL waiting for the ECG results. My doctor even said that she was okay with using my ECG results from February if I was okay with using them. I just wanted to get this treatment in the books, I said, "Go for it!!!" As they were getting the Avastin ready to start dripping into me, SURPRISE, the ECG results finally populated into my portal. I will never know WHY it took so long to get the results. I only know that I now had them, and I was good to go to get the Doxil, too. However, because you can't get these two drugs at the same time, it was going to be a long day in the chair. I'll refer to this part of my chemo at the "A" portion (both drugs). In fact, it was 7:55pm when I finally got in my sister's car to go home and have dinner. At that point, I was so thankful that I had requested Friday off.
Philly sunset from my chemo chair.
On Friday, I relaxed, napped, and got a few personal things done before my sister & I had an event that evening. My friends, Jenn & Amanda, have started a ministry for women called The Remember Collective - We exist to create a collective of women who will use their various gifts to make God known and desire to call all women to remember God's Word & faithfulness. They are Godly women who have been gifted with making the Bible understandable to every woman. If you are in the Philly area, sign-up at the bottom of their website to be informed of events in the area. You won't be disappointed!!!
By Saturday morning, chemo fatigue started catching up with me. As much as I wanted to get things done, I just had no desire or energy. I could barely get to the post office and home without needing a nap!!! It became a lazy afternoon of attempting to watch college football between naps. Of course, napping all afternoon makes for a bad night of sleep!!! But I pushed through and went to church. Although the missionary message was good, I don't think I heard every word. It was good to relax again on Sunday afternoon and watch my Phillies clinch the National League pennant and head to the World Series for the first time in many years.
Then it was back to work on Monday morning and although still tired, I pushed through. I was never so thankful that my employer is allowing me to work part-time. Afternoon naps are a necessity for me to keep going. On Friday, October 28, I was invited to attend a High Tea and learn about survivorship presented by The National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC) - Mid Atlantic Region. The event was held at a lovely tearoom in Flemington, NJ. I did a lot of driving that day, but it was well worth it.
And just like that, it was another weekend and although fatigue is always tapping me on the shoulder, sometimes I try to fight it and sometimes I succumb. Most days, I get a few things done and then I'm done. However, I have noticed over the past couple of weeks that I don't get as winded as I was even a month ago. I think that God is slowly draining the nasty pleural effusion and allowing me to slowly get some energy and lung power back. I won't know "officially" until my next CT scan, but I can tell it's going. Thank you, Jesus!!!!!!!!
On Thursday, November 3 was what I refer to as the part B of a "round" of treatment. Again, there was a miscommunication and I had they had to draw blood before I could get my Avastin treatment. I had gone on Wednesday morning to the lab to do the urine test. I could have gotten the blood test then, but I wasn't told I needed it. I was not a happy camper, but thankfully, the infusion went well, and I was soon on my way home. I felt pretty good on Friday and worked my shift. And then Daylight Savings ended and theoretically, I got another hour of sleep. However, it didn't help that the Phillies were playing that night. Unfortunately, they lost, but I think most sports fans near Philly have Phillies Phatigue, but we are so proud of our team and how far they went this season.
During Bible Study this fall, we started going through a book "Prayer Journal for Women" by Shannon Roberts. This is not your typical journal. It has prompts and scripture throughout and is loosely divided into sections such as love & inner beauty, strength through faith, fear, etc. Each week, we were encouraged to memorize a verse(s) of scripture that correlated to that week's questions. One of scriptures that hit me was Psalm 139:13-14 NIV,
"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful, I know that full well."
When we arrived at class that week, we were challenged to write a characteristic on the board that you were grateful to God for giving you. I really had to stop and think for a few minutes. In fact, I really struggled with something to write. I finally settled on that I was an encourager. After some discussion time, our leader challenged us to come the next week with a much longer list. But over the next week, any time that I thought of something that God created in me, I thought, "I am fearfully & wonderfully made!!!" I haven't finished my list. Maybe I never will be finished!!! Since it's Thanksgiving season, what characteristics are you thankful to God for creating in you??? Your list should be very, very long!!!
While thinking and listening to music over the past weeks, I prayed that God would show me what He wanted me to use. And even though this wasn't truly on my radar, it is exactly what I want to use. The song is "Faithful Now" sung by Vertical Worship. It's amazing how God works!!!
On Sunday, November 20, I will "celebrate" God's faithfulness to me. It was on that Wednesday night in 2013 that God changed my life with the cut of a knife in the operating room. It was a night I should have been at choir rehearsal getting ready for the cantata. But God had other plans. God is still working in my life and even with a diagnosis of ovarian cancer, I can say with confidence ... "I am fearfully & wonderfully made!!!"
Prayer Requests:
Tuesday, November 15 -- Labs @ 7:30am ET
-- lower CA125 and proper levels for the tests needed to get chemo
Thursday, November 17 -- Oncologist appointment @ 8:30am ET followed by Chemo 2A
Tuesday, November 29 -- Labs @ 7:15am ET
-- proper levels for the tests needed to get chemo
Thursday, December 1 -- Chemo 2B
Only by His Strength,
Sandy
