Thank Goodness It's Chemo-Day

Thankfully Dr. Lee was able to get me in for my first cycle of chemo today! I went in from 8-2:30, but from here on out my treatments should last about 4hours.  My treatment plan is 6 cycles of Taxel and Craboplatin, each cycle is 3 weeks (roughly 5months). As I understand it, week 1 is where I'll be sick, and then have 2 weeks of recovery before the next cycle starts.  I've been advised however, that the recovery time gets shorter with each cycle.

This morning as my dad drove there, he said "Today we start fighting" which got me 1. emotional and 2. thinking.  See  up until this point, I've been told of the stage 4 cancer in my body, but for the most part felt fine, and as I sat in the chair with the IV in my arm, I am trying to grasp on to fact that these drugs are running around my body-attacking the cancer.  It's like today the switch was flipped, and fighting means, to be healthy, I first must get sick....it's a strange thing.  I'll go through bad bad days (not trying to be pessimistic-just keeping it real)  and will I try to bend God's will, or accept it?  I'm looking forward to future blogs....honestly.....feel so blessed to be in good spirits and energy today, I feel I don't have much to share.

Quick lesson--How does chemotherapy work?
Answer: Affects cells that are rapidly dividing which includes cancer cells and some normal  healthy cells (White & Red blood cells) The goal is to kill as many cancer cells without causing too much toxicity to the normal healthy cells. 

The session went fine, the nurses were great, and I walked out of there feeling the same as when I walked in.  They informed me that Sunday is when I would start to experience the side-effects.  I'll start to loss my hair in 2-3 weeks, other common side-effects they informed me of was mouth sores, and a weird numbness/pins & needles feeling in my hands and feet, along with the normal "sickness" witch includes fatigue, nausea, and change in taste.

What I've learned....

1. Everyone, including me, processes this journey in my life differently, and I need to have grace for whatever stage they and myself are at.  As I too am in a process, that really has only begun.  Many more "stages" to go through over the coming months (yes-stay tuned for the roller coaster ;)

2. After treatment, sat around the couch for awhile....but realized I felt pretty good, so I cleaned the house!  Felt good to be productive :)

3. God has orchestrated this all from the beginning, I am constantly reminded of this.  What an amazing Lord we serve! I will praise you in this storm! Thank you for answered prayers!  Your will be done Lord, your timing is perfect Lord, I know you are using this to not only sharpen me, but those around me, which is humbling-I am your vessel Lord.