New medicine and cycle plan

Based on the changes I've gone through in the last four weeks and the results of the CT Scan we have changed the cycle and medicine again. The pain in my stomach is a mass and the most recent medicine did not work well on it. The medicine did shrink the tumor in my lung but the mass grew larger. The mass is ON the colon, not in but on.

It is a three week cycle this time, one day a week for three weeks, one week off. Between Cycle three and four there will be another CT Scan to determine progress and plan of action, continue as is or change again.

My white blood count went up from 9 to 18 but in light of the fact that I've technically had no treatment for four weeks it was almost expected. The expectation is it should drop next week. The cancer markers took a HUGE jump up from 48 to 122. This was expected. I am not sure how long it will take for them to go down but as long as they are going down I am ok with it.

Anita (my chemo nurse) told me that 99 out of 100 patients have no issues with this medicine. One in 100 does in the first, second and possibly third treatment. Of course, I am the one in 100. The medicine targeted the mass directly and immediately increased my pain. This is actually a good thing..it means the medicine is doing its job. Painful for me for a period of time but I will deal with it if it shrinks the mass.

and to end the rough chemo treatment as we were walking out the door an older woman reached out to me and said 'Cancer survivor?' I said I am battling cancer.
she said 'and you will beat it. I am a 10 year survivor and I know you will beat it. You are beautiful'


The right person comes along at the right time....