Monday Tom and I went to talk to the doctor and for me to get my third treatment. We had some things we wanted to discuss with her, and we felt like the appointment went very well. She changed or adjusted some of my meds, which were good changes. I asked her how she is monitoring the progress right now and when would we do the next scans. She said that it was too early to do scans at this point. It wouldn't show progress yet from the treatments. She wanted to do a few more treatments (maybe 4) then we would schedule the scans. In the meantime, she's looking at 3 lab tests for monitoring the progress. One is my calcium level and the other two are tumor marker blood tests.
After seeing the doctor, I went in for the chemo treatment. In the middle of treatment the nurse came to see me and she had gotten back lab results already. My calcium was normal AGAIN (Yay!!!) and both of the tumor marker blood tests showed improvement! The numbers had gone down significantly since the last time they checked. That all translates to believing that the chemo is doing what we want it to do...halting the growth of cancer. That is GREAT news!!! Thank You, God, so much!!!
Still, I would really like to see the scans to know for sure what is going on inside, but these tests are signs of good progress. SO...I'm very thankful for the results!
In the meantime, the treatments are still physical hurdles in this race. Each time I have treatment, Monday is very good because I receive 3 pre-medications that included steroids. So, that first day I have lots of energy that is not my normal level. This Monday... I actually got on a bicycle and rode a short distance that afternoon with our son Jamie jogging next to me. :-) That was so fun! It felt really great to do something like that! But the next day and today the steroids had faded and I was moving slow again, feeling pain again. This seems to be the pattern. But also... the post chemo effects usually get better each day away from treatment. So tomorrow should be better than today. That's good. That's what I'm hoping.
Prayer requests...mostly the same. For our whole family to be filled with peace and strength from Jesus. For the treatments to kill the cancer and for my body to be healed . For my appetite to improve. And for the pain to lessen as my body is restored with healing.
O God,
Thank You so much for the great lab results! I am grateful, completely praising You for this good news!
Thank You for holding me up day by day, hour by hour. I am trusting You, Father, with everything...medicines, emotions, pain, food, sleep...all of it, I am leaning on You for each day. I praise You and thank You for sending family and friends to lift our family up. It is life giving manna. Thank You. With a grateful heart and all my love,
Lisa
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Walking by faith
It's been 2 weeks since I have written. I had just received my second treatment that Monday.
I did fine on Tuesday...had lots of energy. I started doing things around the house that I don't usually have the energy to do...simple chores. I was so happy to be getting around so well. But on Wednesday, I woke up having a hard time. Physically hurting and emotionally down. I remembered that on Monday they give steroids with the chemo and that is why on Tuesday I felt so strong and able to do things. But the steroid buzz was gone on Wednesday and I had to deal with all the "stuff"...hurting and emotions.
I'd like to say that I rebounded on Thursday but the last two weeks have been up and down. Really, I just read my last blog, and it is the same thing. Good days and not so good days.
I go on Monday to see my oncologist. They will check some of my blood work...my CBC, the calcium and a tumor marker test. The real question is "Is the chemo working?" and I don't think they can really tell unless they do a scan. So I guess I will find out Monday if she is scheduling a scan.
I don't know "if it's working". I am trying to walk by faith, believing that the chemo is killing the cancer, believing when I cannot see. That's hard.
If I keep my eyes focused on the things that I "feel"...my physical symptoms and emotions...then I am not focused on the Hope of Jesus Christ and what I see in the Word of God. Please pray for my eyes to stay on Jesus and to hear and take in the Scriptures in my heart. Please continue to pray for healing. Please pray for strength in my mind to counter the discouraging thoughts that come and go in my mind. I want to fight. I don't want to give up. I can ONLY do that with God's strength. And please...continue to pray for my husband and our children. It is a lot to carry day by day. I love them so much and want them to be filled with God's hope and strength. Thank you again for your faithfulness to pray for all of us!
I did fine on Tuesday...had lots of energy. I started doing things around the house that I don't usually have the energy to do...simple chores. I was so happy to be getting around so well. But on Wednesday, I woke up having a hard time. Physically hurting and emotionally down. I remembered that on Monday they give steroids with the chemo and that is why on Tuesday I felt so strong and able to do things. But the steroid buzz was gone on Wednesday and I had to deal with all the "stuff"...hurting and emotions.
I'd like to say that I rebounded on Thursday but the last two weeks have been up and down. Really, I just read my last blog, and it is the same thing. Good days and not so good days.
I go on Monday to see my oncologist. They will check some of my blood work...my CBC, the calcium and a tumor marker test. The real question is "Is the chemo working?" and I don't think they can really tell unless they do a scan. So I guess I will find out Monday if she is scheduling a scan.
I don't know "if it's working". I am trying to walk by faith, believing that the chemo is killing the cancer, believing when I cannot see. That's hard.
If I keep my eyes focused on the things that I "feel"...my physical symptoms and emotions...then I am not focused on the Hope of Jesus Christ and what I see in the Word of God. Please pray for my eyes to stay on Jesus and to hear and take in the Scriptures in my heart. Please continue to pray for healing. Please pray for strength in my mind to counter the discouraging thoughts that come and go in my mind. I want to fight. I don't want to give up. I can ONLY do that with God's strength. And please...continue to pray for my husband and our children. It is a lot to carry day by day. I love them so much and want them to be filled with God's hope and strength. Thank you again for your faithfulness to pray for all of us!
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